Welcome back friends and a happy 2023 to you all! New year…new fan spotlight! Let’s kick it off and meet Alexis Leiva!

It was 1996, when the Blue album was popping, that Alexis became a 311 fan. “I’ll never forget the day my friend Chris Fox briskly walked up to me in the hallway of my high school in between a class. Whatever it was that he had to share with me seemed like it was an emergency. He said “listen to this!“ He played me jack-o’-lanterns weather and it literally blew my mind. I didn’t understand what I was hearing. It was high energy it was positive and I’ve never heard anything quite like it before. I didn’t know if it was electronic music or real guitars or if it was from this world. This fresh and alive energy drew me in.”

That day changed Alexis life forever. He said it was that moment when he found his central passion and life purpose which was to be a musician. “I instantly wanted to understand and imitate this great, cutting edge music that could have this kind of mystical, positive effect on others. Their albums drew me in but when I experienced the unparalleled energy of their Live shows plus the kind, rowdy 311 commUnity, I was had.”

Show count for Alexis is at 30 plus shows. His first show was at The Warfield in San Francisco in 1997. “Absolutely uplifting and electrifying! I reach very high-octane, Unity-charged, mystical heights at every single show I’ve been to.” Favorite event he’s attended was 311 Day 2020 with his then partner Lydia Sleeper. “That SF->Las Vegas road trip we took to get there was our 5th date and it ended up lasting 3months because of quarantine. Pandemic was announced on 3/11. We thought shows would surely be cancelled because every other event in Vegas was. Not only was it not cancelled, but they played all 3 nights and Lydia became the Slinky Girl I always wanted to meet, love and rock with!”

Song that means the most to him is “Freeze Time.” It hits him on his deepest, root level of his identity. “The song chugs along so hard and clean. And the lyrics are mystical AF and rapturous, which is my jam. And the production on Soundsystem is, by far, my favorite sounding album of theirs.” As for lyric he loves, Alexis chose the obvious one, “Stay positive and love your life.” “You just can’t go wrong with that. It’s a solid battle-cry to live by.”

San Francisco, California, is where Alexis was born & raised. He lived there most of his life. He also spent a couple of years in France and a couple of years in Mexico and Peru. “I love the whole globe and want to explore more.” Alexis funds his love of 311 by being an English/Spanish translator. “My partner Lydia and I often go to shows and 311 days. We recently felt like, “Excitable Dead Heads” by following their tour on a road trip. We saw 5 back to back shows, starting at Red Rocks. Glorious. And it ended in Berkeley at the Greek Theater where Lydia received a drumstick and setlist from SA. She had declared that that would happen a week before. And she then “Womanifested” it. Amazing.”

Alexis has a goal he’d like to obtain and that’s to open for 311! He is a performing musician. “I started writing, rapping and singing upon first listen to Grassroots. Together with Lydia aka Lummingbird, we make uplifting hip hop. She has a beautiful voice. We create and perform together a lot in California and Mexico.” Guilty pleasure? “I Netflix hard!” When not listening to 311, Alexis loves music by Stick Figure, Beastie Boys, Little Stranger and lots of bass music.

To 311, Alexis would like to say to S.A.: “Can Lydia and I record vocals with you at Holy Grailien? We’ll bring the drumstick you gave her.”

Now here are his words to all the other fans out there:

“The whole phenomenon of the 311 nation fam-base is phenomenal. Earth feels so much more like home with all you Excitable‘s on it. You are all precious to Lydia and I. Let’s keep Livin’ and Rockin’, always stretching beyond the gray sky, staying positive and lovin’ our lives as best as we can.

Made this Appreciation video for band and fans! Footage from 311 Day 2022 👽

---

Many thanks to Alexis for sharing his story! Of course, huge amounts of gratitude to all the readers each edition. Hope you all are having a good 2023 so far and sending out positive vibes to you all.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Another week is upon us and it’s time to meet another 311 fan. This week we have the story of Brian Bernard!

Brian and his wife were married right around the time that 311 was getting started. After they married they started a family right away, so much music in the 90’s slipped under his radar, including 311. “I did grow up playing a lot of music in bands and especially loved the late 80’s early 90’s sounds of RHCP / Faith No More / Beasties Boys etc. Around 2002 I started getting back to making music and made some recordings. I was playing them for a friend and he commented it sounded a lot like 311, and I actually had NO idea what he was talking about. I went out and bought From Chaos and was hooked. I have 4 great kids and they all enjoy the band and have been to shows either with us or by themselves.”

Show count for Brian is at 21. First show for him was in 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I took my son, who was and is still a huge fan.” As for favorite shows, he said the fall tour 2012 is it. “I took one of my boys who was in 8th grade at the time to the Fillmore in Charlotte and it was the night before Halloween. Setlist and the crowd was on fire. We spent a lot of time during and after the show talking about how blown away we were. Great night.”

There are many songs that mean a lot to Brian, but he narrowed it down to two, the first being “Wildfire.” “So many elements lyrically and musically that resonate with me. It’s a testament to the power of believing in yourself against all odds.” The other song is “It’s Alright.” “Life is so tempting to relive the past and dream of the future and never stop to bask in the moments. Plus Nutter throws down the funkiest bass riff which always makes me smile.”

As for lyrics that resonate with Brian, he quoted the following: “Nothing in life is above being honest,” “The river cuts its way through stone, not by sheer force but persistence,” and “Always an excuse if you need one.” The last one he’s used for years with his kids about breaking down resistance life sends your way.

Brian grew up in a country town called Seaford, Delaware. He said there wasn’t much to do there except play with cars, play sports, or play music. “My best friends and I formed a band in 3rd grade and played together for a lot of years through high school and beyond. Best of times to be alive. We moved to Philadelphia together to chase music dreams. We got so so close but that’s another story. I currently have lived in the Charlotte area since 2000.”

Cool story about Brian is that his brother-in-law played professional baseball for the Red Sox. “When his sister and I were first dating we went to a game, but had never met him before. In the 7th inning he hit a foul ball and I caught it. After the game we met and he asked if he could sign the ball. He did and wrote “Welcome to the family”. (We were married less than a year later) I still have the ball all these years later and we work together in the business that I own.”

Little thing that makes Brian unique is that he pretty much does everything right handed except throwing a ball, which he does as a lefty. “Sports were an absolute train wreck for me until one day my Dad said maybe I should try to throw with my other hand, lol.”

Guilty pleasure for Brian is anything with Drew Barrymore, he’s a sucker for her. He also loves the bass guitar and has been playing since he was 12. “I saved up mowing lawns and bought my first bass at a music store and it was missing 3 tuning legs and I had to tune it with pliers.”

Two of Brian’s other favorite bands, that he’s actually seen more than 311, are Dave Matthews Band and Umprey’s McGee. He also loves Revivalists, Marc Broussard, Kings X, Better than Ezra, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few. “And pretty much all 80’s early 90’s metal / glam / thrash.”

To 311, Brian would like to say: “Thank you for inspiring me musically and personally. Thank you to Nick and Aaron also for extending their musical reach to the fans and myself with personal interaction over the years via social media.”

And now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“I love how passionate the fans are about everything the band does. In all the passion, remember though, they are just humans with feelings, emotions, families, flaws and life struggles. They put their pants on exactly like you, one leg at a time. The past few years have been a challenge for all, and the resilience of the band has shined through this season also.”

---

Many thanks to Brian for sharing his story with us all! Of course, huge shout out of gratitude to all of the readers each week. Wishing you all a very, happy holiday season! See you in the New Year!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Hoping you are all well and ready to kick this week off with the new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Zach Fowler!

The year was 1995 and Zach was a kid when he found the music of 311, when the blue album dropped. “I was 9 or 10 at the time. This album, along with a handful of others, became one of the driving forces behind me buying my first guitar at age 11.”

For show count, Zach i around 7 or 8. First show for him was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 30th, 2002. They played with Jay-Z, N*E*R*D* and Hoobastank. As for favorite event he’s been to, he said hands down it’s 311 Day 2020. “Literally days before COVID shut everything down – Most amazing/right show plus incredible visuals & lighting. I walked away inspired from that weekend of shows.”

All time favorite song for Zach is “Jackolanterns Weather.” Lyrics that he loves are: “Singin’ an rhymin’s what I’m better for, When I describe I’m a scribe with a metaphor. I use a simile lightly ’cause that shit’s played, The common way most rhymes are made, ya know. I rock like this I flow like that, But all those comparisons are just that. Kickin’ different styles I’ll be right here, Today, tomorrow, next week and next year. I always say what I feel and that is a promise, Nothing in life is above being honest.”

Fort Mill, South Carolina, is where Zach was born and raised. It’s in the Charlotte, N.C. area. He is the singer/guitar player for the reggae/rock group called Sun-Dried Vibes. “I have an immense love for the scene and genre, so naturally I love being a part of the amazing 311 community.  I am married to my amazing wife Emily and we have two beautiful sons, Evan and Reid.”

Fun fact about Zach is that he has an accounting degree from the University of South Carolina and he loves math. He also loves to play disc golf. “SDV is sponsored by Innova Disc Golf and we play all the time, all over the country!” Guilty pleasure for Zach, well there are a few. ” Hall & Oates, a killer horn section in a band, Ice Cream (literally any kind) or Key Lime Pie!”

When not listening to 311, Zach is into a wide range of artists. They include The Dip, Gangstarr, Passafire, Led Zeppelin , Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anderson .Paak, Beastie Boys, The Police, Steely Dan, and Steel Pulse. “I could go on forever.” Also don’t forget to check out Zach’s band Sun-Dried Vibes!

To 311, Zach would like to say: “Thank you for the continued inspiration through your music and I hope we can have the honor of opening and touring with you all someday.”

Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Being positive is the only way to live. You reap what you sow and you get what you give. The Positive Vibe is the Reason I’m Alive.”

---

Many thanks to Zach for sharing his story with all of us! Always, so much gratitude to the readers and supporters of this little blog. Have an amazing week…sending you all many positive vibes!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there 311 nation! Welcome back to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week let’s hear the story of Jamie Ann Rosalia!

Jamie remembers listening to 311 in the 90’s on the radio, but it wasn’t until 2012 when she reconnected with a friend…now her fiancé…that she experienced a live show or listened fully to their albums. “The one cool thing about that is I had such a large catalogue of music to immerse myself in and I still got to experience new albums being released with Stereolithic, Mosaic and Voyager.”

For show count, Jamie hasn’t kept track. She did try to count back and believes she might be around 35. First show for her was Jones Beach in 2012. As for favorite event, she chose 311 Day 2022, since this is when she got engaged to Kevin LaBella on stage at the Unity All-Stars show at the pre-party. “It meant the world that so many people I love were there to share that moment with us.”

Favorite songs for Jamie include “Prisoner,” “Champagne,” “Whiskey and Wine,” “Flowing,” and “Creatures (for a While).” One of her favorite lyrics is from “Too Late” – “The river cuts its way through stone, not through sheer force but persistence. At the end of the day the relentless always win.”

Jamie grew up in a small town called Harrison, New York, which is a suburb about 30 minutes north of New York City. She is a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. “We grew up in a three-family house and lived also with extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins.” Aside from Harrison, Jamie has also lived in New Haven, Connecticut, The Bronx, Jacksonville, Denver, and is now currently residing in Aurora, Colorado. “I’m a mechanical engineer by profession and I work as a consultant for commercial real estate investors. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to Yale University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.”

Something you may not know about Jamie is that her white hair is natural and it’s been that way since she was about 5 years old. She did dye it for a while but then stopped. “My white hair and light eyes come from a gene mutation called Waardenburg’s Syndrome. I have a lack of pigmentation in my eyes and hair. “

Fun fact about Jamie is that her first language was American Sign Language (ASL). “Both my parents are deaf. My siblings and I were born hearing.  My sister and I always got full control of the radio station every time we went anywhere as kids 🙂 We also were able to blast music very late into the night without a care in the world.”

Guilty pleasure for her is exercising and she really doesn’t feel guilty about it. ” I have been practicing yoga on and off since I was 18 and every now and then I have delusions of becoming a yoga teacher – maybe one day.”

When not listening to 311, she can be found cranking tunes from Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Passafire, Soja, Less than Jake, and Incubus.

To 311, Jamie has this message: “Thank you for your dedication, for the music and for bringing us all together!”

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Thank you for being such amazing and positive people to be around. The energy I feel during shows really is different than any other show I’ve ever been to.  I can’t think of a negative experience I’ve had interacting with any of the other fans of 311. Everyone has always been so accepting and inviting.”

---

Many thanks to Jamie for sharing her story with us all! As always, so much gratitude to all those who read each week. I hope you all have an amazing week! Sending you all good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Happy Halloween 2022! It’s time for the next fan spotlight. Let’s hear it for Mario Ramirez!

For Mario, it was after seeing 311 live for the first time that he became an instant fan. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but I felt like the music went through me. The day after the show I went to the music store and bought all the 311 CDs they had.”

For show count, Mario has seen them 111 times. His first show was just after graduating high school, during the summer of 1995 at Hospitality Point in San Diego. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it was possibly an MTV Rock the Vote show.”

As for picking a favorite show or event, Mario said he really doesn’t have an answer because he has so many great memories over the years from all of them. ” I’ve gotten to this amount of shows because that is how much I love what these five dudes do to me musically. I’ve seen multiple 311 Days which are epic! If I had to single out two particular events, it would be the 2019 cruise, because two months before I boarded the ship I found out the mass on back of my head was not cancerous.  The other event would be the October 2021 Red Rocks show because it was not only a bucket list venue for me, but three weeks prior I successfully had the tumor removed from the back of my head. I decided to go to that show on my own for myself.”

One of Mario’s favorite songs is “Cali Soca.” “The reason why I’m choosing this particular song is because as 311 fans we all know that Nick and SA can sing and rap their asses off. This song does not include lyric it is just an instrumental. It is beautiful music to me. It is just the five of them making music. Whenever I play music, I tend to play this song first because it’s just a beautiful calypso summer song to me. I finally got to see this song performed live on night two at 311 Day 2022. That put the icing on the cake.”

As for a favorite lyric from 311, Mario said this line really strikes a chord with him: “I’d say you hung the moon if they asked me.” Mario then stated, “That’s just some smooth shit right there!”

Mario was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up in a very loving home with parents and sister. Being from San Diego, he is a huge Padres fan. “From the words of Eek-A-Mouse, “I love my city because it’s very pretty.” I say that because it is a privilege to live in Paradise. My trade is in the construction industry. I am fortunate that my career allows me to fund this 311 thing that I can’t get enough of.”

Fun fact about Mario is that he grew up surfing. Something that makes him unique? Mario said he’s a muse! “I make shit happen for myself and for others. I’m snazztastic! In all seriousness, I’m a halfway decent golfer.” Guilty pleasure for him is professional wrestling. “I grew up watching it with my dad, he was kind enough to order all wresting pay-per-views and took me to many shows. As I got older, I gave it up. The summer before my tumor surgery professional wresting came back into my left with a vengeance and I fucking love it!”

When not jamming the tunes of 311, one of the other artists that Mario really digs is Ozomatli. “One of the highlights of the 2019 cruise was seeing Ozomatli perform on the deck. I also like Little Stranger, reggae music in general, jazz, standards such as Frank Sinatra, and The Pharcyde.”

Mario would like to send this simple and wonderful message to the guys in 311: “Thank you for giving me beautiful music since 1995.”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:

“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

---

Many thanks to Mario for sharing your story with us all! As per the usual, I can’t go a week without thanking all the awesome people who read this little project. I wish you all an amazing week and a very spooky Halloween!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means we get to learn the story of another awesome fan. Let’s meet Rachel Milstein Varney!

High school is when Rachel became a fan of 311, in 1997, when she heard “Come Original” on the radio. “I was drawn to the uplifting beats and the positivity in their lyrics, and drawn especially to the hot lead singer! ;)”

Show count is unknown for Rachel, as she never really kept track. She dis say it’s quite a few. First show for her was Edgefest on June 29, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As for favorite show or event she’s been to, she said it’s a tie between the second cruise beach show, Pow Wow, and the last Red Rocks show.

While picking a favorite song is difficult, Rachel said that right now it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “It is such a beautiful display of remembrance and always gets me choked up when I see it live. ‘Freak out’ is my other favorite, played live, it’s such a display of high energy.”

Some of Rachel’s favorite lyrics include: “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may, all I can do, all I can say. Gotta move to trust my instincts, and surrender and let my song sing itself,” “I believe in your purpose baby, coming up to the surface,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where Rachel was born& raised, and she is still residing there. Growing up it was just she and her mother, so she had a lot of time to herself while her mom worked. “I remember using her tape deck to record songs from the radio. I would call in to request the song and wait with my fingers on the play/record button to record to my cassette. 🙂 (the original download, I guess)”

Rachel’s mom took her to her first concert when she was 8 years old, and it was Randy Travis, who her mom loved. “I fell in love with the concert scene! As soon as I was old enough to choose my own music, I started purchasing albums from 311, STP, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc. As soon as she let me, I went to my first show. It was Edgefest, with 311/Gravity Kills/Incubus, Smashmouth, Limp Biskit and many more! I had the best time and knew festivals were going to be “my thing”!”

In 2002, Rachel was working for a parking garage, so she ended up listening to the radio all day long. “With that comes many many opportunities to win all the things! I got sooooo good at winning, the promotions manager and I were on a first name basis. She’d even call me if I hadn’t won tickets to a show and offer me the meet and greet options with a pair of tickets! I won tickets to every show I could and even had to start using my friend’s names when I won in order to follow the station’s rules. One time, my sister in law jokingly asked me to win her some tickets. (in this case it was actually to a 311 show, so it’s an even cooler story here!!!!) We turned on the radio while hanging out and I got the cue to call about 20 minutes in. I got through as caller 10 or 3 or 5 or whatever it was that day, and was told I had won!!!!! When I told the DJ what had transpired, they almost didn’t let me win, but instead had me hand the phone to my sister in law so she could claim the prize! LOL The next week, the day of the show, she got the call that she had won a meet and greet with 311!!!!! Of course being a fan, she asked me to go… but my boss wouldn’t let me leave early so I had to miss it!!! She told the guys about the whole thing when she met them, and they made a point to autograph a paper especially for me with a couple of personal messages!”

For the 6 years that Rachel worked for that parking garage, she won a ton of tickets, which meant she really didn’t pay for a lot of shows during that time. Then she started adulting, working for a District Attorney’s office, and she didn’t have the radio time she had before. “I also realized that festivals and concerts aren’t cheap! Thankfully we had a 2 income household that supported my concert habit and I realized quickly how important it is to always have concert/travel savings! These days I own my own business as a Canna-yoga instructor. I educate people in cannabis, yoga and mindfulness modalities helping to instill a sense of wellness, wholeness and to help create a connection with their innate ability to heal from within. www.leafandlotus.org”

In 2011 Rachel and her boyfriend went to the Pow Wow Festival, and that’s how she turned him into a fan as well. “He was so blown away to be in an alcohol infused space, and to not see one fight! The only incident we witnessed the entire weekend was a chick shoving her man down the road as she yelled at him…. that was it! He quickly recognized how amazing the band is and the unity they evoke through their vibe and tribe! Since then, he and I have been traveling to see 311, catching them any opportunity we can. On the riverside in Jamaica during the 2015 311 cruise, after 17 years together, he finally proposed to me and this 2023 cruise will be our 5th time cruising with the band!”

A fact that many don’t know about Rachel is that she gets a ton of anxiety in social situations. “Most of the time I power through and appear to be a social butterfly!” Something that gives her a unique element is that she’s a really great teacher and guide, in Cannabis and Yoga. “I can help others find their perfect cannabis pairings to achieve their desired results and have been told many times I am an amazing yoga instructor.” As for guilty pleasure, Rachel said that it’s definitely traveling. “As often and as far as possible for as long as possible.”

For other musicians, Rachel can often be found listening to a wide array of artists, including Nirvana, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Gravity Kills, Tool, Samuel J, Satsang, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Hirie, Aer, Tropidelic & Ballyhoo. The last four bands she mentioned she found through 311ing.

For her message to 311, Rachel would like to say these words: ““Please don’t break up! Be the example of how we can be unified with others even when our views, ideologies and /or moral values do not line up. Be the example of how it takes all types to work together to transmute negativity, to educate and inform and how to love and accept each other, despite our differences.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Hey You! Life’s Not a Race! I’ve Got a Good Feeling that your Purpose isn’t Plain. We’ve come Light Years to Tune In, Reconsider Everything and Seal the Deal. Stay Strong All Along, Wake Your Mind Up and Thank Your Lucky Stars for the opportunities we’ve been given in this life! Mad respect to all the 311-est excitables in this community! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!”

---

Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her 311 story! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each week as well. Sending you all light & love, hope you have an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation! It’s time to meet the next fan spotlight. Let’s read the story of Ed Blake!

It was thanks to MTV that Ed found 311. Then he used to buy new CD’s on Tuesdays when they were released.  “I got the Blue album and loved it. I like all kinds of music and they incorporated a variety of styles. My buddies had Grassroots and Music too so it worked out. I may or may not have gotten some burned copies. Allegedly.”

For show count, Ed believes he is somewhere in the 50’s. He doesn’t really keep count, he just tries to have fun and enjoy the experience. First show for him was September 28, 1995. “My friend and I showed up and were the first ones in the parking lot. While we were hanging out before anyone else was there, we allegedly saw Nick get into a white Nissan, Acura, or Mitsubishi sports car right next to us with a lady friend. They left soon after we realized it was him. No Doubt opened for 311 and I remember Gwen Stefani came out after their set. She was super cool and chatting with everyone before 311 came on. Besides that, the show was pretty awesome. They definitely brought the energy.”

Picking a favorite live show for Ed was extremely tough. “Maybe the last Red Rocks show?? We were in the 5th row on the same level as the stage, eye level with the band.  Or maybe Austin in 2015? My wife Amanda, dog, and I took a trip to see 311 and SA got super star stuck when he met our dog, George Costanza. He even asked for a photo 😉 The cruise shows are really awesome too. There is definitely electricity in the air.  But usually the last show I’ve been to is pretty high up on the list as well.”

For songs that Ed loves, he said there are a few including “Homebrew,” “Don’t Stay Home,” and “Sweet.” As for favorite lyrics, he chose these: “If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing.”

Ed moved from the east coast when he was just in the first grade to Wichita, Kansas. “I went to college and then got married to my intellectually and visually stimulating wife Amanda, 18 years ago, after vetting her for 5 years. We moved to the DFW area,  finished school, and have been here ever since. For my career, I am a category manager who handles supply chain from start to finish (production , buying, shipping, etc.). Basically, I make sure product is on the shelf for the largest convenience chain in North America, who coincidentally, also has Eleven in their name. ;)”

Fun fact about Ed is that he loves yard work! Something else about him is that he bartended for 12 years and was a competitive bartender. “I did competitions for speed, accuracy, and flair bartending. I excelled in this and it was my passion for quite some time and helped pay off college. I have a pretty decent collection of trophies from it too. I could juggle four bottles and do some pretty cool tricks. I still love it and still find myself doing tricks with different objects around the house.” As for guilty pleasure, Ed says he loves late night ice cream eating.

Other bands that Ed can be found listening to, well theres a lot. “Too many to list… OutKast, Khruangbin, Beastie Boys, Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, DMB, Pantera, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Dire Straits, The Beach Boys, Tool, Snoop, Biggie, Pac, System of a Down, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Geto Boys, NWA, Metallica, The Clash, Post Malone, Grateful Dead, some country music, and Selena to name a few. 🤣 Some music I don’t like is the newer rap that is not good. You know the kind I’m talking about.”

To 311, Ed said he has this run-on sentence for them: “You are definitely one of the best live bands I have ever seen thanks for bringing me so many positive memories and making some of my all time favorite music.”

Now here are his words for all the other fans out there:

“If you are of the shorter stature and I am standing in front of you at a show just let me know and you can get in front of me. I let Brandon Scott do it all the time because he is very petite. ;)”

---

Many thanks to Ed for being a part of the fan spotlight! Always, many many thanks to the readers each week. Now go have an amazing week. Sending you all lots of positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back Excitable friends! It’s time to meet a new 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s hear the story of Brandon Scott!

This story starts with a little bit of illegal action, but the statue of limitations has passed according to Brandon, so it’s ok to tell it. When he was 16, he and his friends used to steal CD’s from the local Camelot Music store at the mall and them sell them at school for extra cash. “There was one CD that no one wanted to buy. It was 311’s self-titled album, commonly known as the “Blue Album”.  I vividly remember sitting in my white 94 Ford Probe looking down at the CD that I was unable to sell, debating on whether to throw it away, when I decided to open it up and slide the disc into my CD player. Little did I know, every day for the next 3 years, that CD would never leave my car’s CD player. That’s right… my car stereo partially broke; the eject button was fried and it would only allow CDs to play. I was annoyed by the circumstance at first, but slowly ended up embracing it. So, what drew me to 311…. fate. The rest is history.”

Exact count of live shows is unknown for Brandon. His first one was October 23, 2000, at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas, Texas. As for his favorite event or show, he said it’s hands down the first 311 cruise. “The first cruise was absolutely amazing. Everyone on the boat were cruise virgins, not knowing what kind of shitshow we were walking into. The energy throughout the boat was surreal. My favorite show on the boat was the second indoor theatre show. We were fortunate enough to watch from the mini pit. We were so close, my eyes were stinging from SA’s sweat.”

The song that holds a special place in his heart for Brandon is “Trouble.” “My interpretation could totally not be accurate, as I make up my own meanings and lyrics to most songs, but I took it as ‘hold yourself accountable for your mistakes’. I was a real bag of shit when I was younger and whenever I got in trouble, I would never take responsibility for putting myself situations and would blame my misfortune on anyone but me. I wasted a ton of time holding useless grudges and/or dwelling on it. This song changed my mind set and I can now own up to any mistake and move forward.  I’m not sure of the actual meaning of the song, but that’s what it means to me.”

As for favorite lyrics, Brandon said there are really too many to list out. Right now though, he loves this chunk from the song “Electricity:”

“I’m in disbelief at what people will believe

All along I thought we had our hearts on our shirtsleeves

If one thing I can say as a piece of advice

Don’t believe it till you see it and then see it twice.”

Plano, Texas, is where Brandon was born and raised. The infamous black heroin epidemic occurred there while he was in high school. Currently he is working as an Operations Manager for a National Mortgage Lender. He started his first job in mortgage lending back in 2000, which is where he met his beautiful wife of 14 years (they’ve been together for 22).

While Brandon is a huge champion of Marijuana, he’s always paranoid about bringing it with him into shows, thinking security might find it and if he was charged with anything he’d lose his job. For 311 Day 2012 he constructed a prototype of a product he invented that looks like a stack of credit cards and fits in your wallet. “After 311 Day that year, I decided to start a hobby business so other like-minded individuals could benefit from the product. I got a patent, had it designed, and went into production. It’s called the Wallet Caddy and available at Walletcaddy.com. If you think you could benefit from, or know someone that would, feel free to support. 20% off with promo code: PLUGS.”

Interesting fact about Brandon is that he has claustrophobia and globophobia, which is the fear of balloons. “Balloons that ignite my fear have to be latex (mylar doesn’t bother me) and must be inflated.  Also, the balloon must be compromised (in the grasp of a child or being bouncing untethered by the wind). When I see a balloon in this state, I immediately cover my ears and go into a panic state (sweating and hearing blood pulsate through my ears). These two examples are the only things that give me any sort of anxiety.”

Unique attribute for Brandon is that he is a self-proclaimed pinball wizard. “My awesome wife bought me a South Park pinball machine for my 30^th birthday and I have put more hours into it than I would like to admit. I have perfected it and the same angles translate over to other pinball machines, so I basically just figure out the gameplay aspect and can hit high scores. Playing really isn’t enjoyable anymore because I will end up playing a single ball for 45 minutes while others wait their turn. Now I just let others play.”

Guilty pleasure for Brandon? That would be the reality T.V. show Big Brother. “I have watched every season and consider myself a super fan. Along with everyone else who is a fan of the show, I believe I would absolutely kill it as a contestant; most contestants right now on BB care too much what America thinks of them, and I don’t give a shit about that. I have a strategy to win all planned out and have applied to be on the show over the past few years with no luck.  My dream is to give a shout out to 311 after a jury vote. “I want to say what’s up to Tim, Chad, Nick, P-Nut, and my man SA Martineeeezzzzz….311’s got the boom y’all!!!”  So, if anyone knows any Big Brother casting directors, holla atcha boi.”

While Brandon said he feels like he’s the only 311 fan that doesn’t really like reggae that much, he does like a few bands that he was introduced to thanks to 311 like Dirty Heads, Rebelution, and Prof. He also likes Incubus, but is mostly into rappers like Kanye, 50 Cent, Post Malone, Chainz, and Lil Wayne.

For what Brandon would say to 311, he directs his question directly to Nick: “To Nick about his changing of the R-word on the song Lucky. My question to Nick would be, “Of all the words you could choose from…why ‘rehard’?”  Now hear me out, for all I know, he is not saying ‘rehard’, as I have not seen the updated lyrics, so if he is saying something else that makes sense and not just replacing one letter of the R-word, then it’s a moot point, but let’s say it is ‘rehard’.  “Why?”  I think a better option would be to replace the word with “Jake Paul”. ‘Bernard’ and ‘hard’ have a certain drawl on the song that I think it could be pulled off… “I throw down like a crazy Jake Pauuu(l)”.  I think there would be a certain inuendo there for us old school fans.  Plus, Jake Paul might talk about it, which would open 311’s music to a younger fan base. Possibly re-record/release and “Lucky” goes tik tok viral…who knows?  All I know is, I’m not a fan of ‘rehard’ (it’s my opinion, chill) …and I want my 10%.”

Now here are his words to the other 311 fans out there:

“

Hello other fans,

If you read all the way to this point, thank you.  My personal message to you is just me wanting to spread some knowledge that I have learned from my years on this Earth.  First, buy a washlet (toilet seat bidet/$200). It will change your life forever if used properly (fill up the chamber, empty out the chamber…think: fracking). My hope is to normalize washlets in the States like they are in Japan so that I can go on vacation and there will always be one available. Second, join the revolution…of only tipping employees who make below the standard minimum wage.  As you may have seen, every place under the moon is now displaying a tipping option.  It’s ok not to tip on everything. Don’t feel pressured because you think you will be judged. Whenever you find yourself in that moment, just think back to this spotlight and know I think you’re a dope for tipping. And finally, if you ever get a tattoo with writing, always triple check it once it’s on you, but before the tattooing starts, no matter how stoned you might be… or you might find yourself with a slightly different quote than what you expected…with that said…

“Stay Positive and Live Your Life” – Brandon Scott 

---

Thank you Brandon for sharing your story with everyone! Of course, many, many thanks to the readers each week. Thank you for coming back and being the amazing people you are. Have an excellent week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Are we ready for the newest addition to the 311 fan spotlight? Let’s meet Brandy Sirk Rakes!

It was when the self-titled Blue album was released that Brandy became a fan. She was in the 7th grade and heard “Down” on the radio. “I was blown away. They were so different from the grunge/alternative music I was into at the time. When I finally got my hands on the CD, I knew I’d be a fan for life. The melodies, beats and harmonies – what’s not to love?”

As for live shows, Brandy thinks she’s only seen 311 live about 5-6 times, outside of seeing them on the cruise. First show for her was in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. “I went with my best friend who was also a huge fan. It was an amazing show! :)” Favorite event for her was the 2012 cruise. “I went with my husband to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. We had the BEST time and we met some great people. Watching 311 perform on the beach was definitely the highlight of the trip!”

While she couldn’t narrow it down to one song in particular, Brandy said the whole album “Soundsystem” is special to her. “Not only is the album badass, but the reoccurring theme of being true to who you are was what I needed at the time. I was 17 when the album was released, so not a kid and not quite an adult. I think that’s definitely the point in life where you realize that being “cool” isn’t important and it really is ok to be yourself.”

Lyrics that really connect with Brandy are from “Beyond the Gray Sky.” She said the words are just so powerful. “I think we’ve all known someone who’s wanted to, or maybe has, ended their own life. The song is a reminder that you are loved and that things can get better… one day you’ll see the clear blue.”

Brandy was born in Germany, where her father was stationed at the time. They lived there for 3 years before moving to Nebraska, not far from Omaha. When her parents divorced she and her mom moved to a tiny town in Arkansas. “I lived there until I got married and we moved to the Little Rock area. I currently work in the legal department for a public utility.”

Fun fact about Brandy is that she has a degree in Geology! She’s also a very organized person. “I have lists and spreadsheets about things I need to do and goals to reach. I even help my friends keep their lives in order. Haha.” Guilty pleasure for her is the soap opera “General Hospital.” ” I know, I know. I’ve been watching it since I was a little kid, and I can’t give it up.”

When not listening to 311, other artists jamming on Brandy’s playlist include The Toadies, Queens of the Stone Age, Primus, Nirvana, and Stone Temple Pilots, just to name a few.

To 311, Brandy would like to say these words: “Thanks for not only creating great music, but for building a community.”

Now her words to all the other fans out there:

“Enjoy the music and forget about everything else! :)”

---

Thank you Brandy for sharing your story with us all! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each time. Thanks for coming back each edition. Have an amazing week friends.

Much Love – The Runt