Hello excitable friends! The time is here…it’s new 311 fan spotlight day. Time to kick this week off and meet Mr. Joe Kirk!

1995 is the year and Joe, like so many, saw the video for “Down” on MTV. Unlike others though he didn’t like the song at first. Then his childhood friend Steve had purchased the album from the local music store and put the CD on while they were hanging out one day. By the end of the day, Joe had traded his friend 5 other CD’s so he could have the blue album. Then around Christmas that same year Joe first heard Grassroots and he realized just how special 311 is. “What drew me to their music was the combination of excellent instrumentals, unusual unique lyrics, great energy, and an overall positive message.”

76 shows total is where Joe stands currently. His favorite so far was 311 Day 2004. “It was my first 311 Day!” Next in line is the beach show from the second cruise, then the 25th Anniversary show with the set at The Hive. He also loved the double set in Atlantic City, New Jersey back on 12/2/11…and then of course Pow Wow and Halloween 2010 in Atlanta.

It’s hard to pick just one song that means the most to 311 fans, so Joe picked a few that mean the most to him, including “Welcome,” “Lose,” “1,2,3,” “Inner Light Spectrum,” Stealing Happy Hours,” and finally “Coda.”  A couple of his favorite lyrics are as follows: “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity,” “Challenge comes and goes and there will be another, I say bring it on,” and “Let’s think of all the good times, instead of wish we could times.”

Joe is currently 32 years of age, born and raised in New York. For the last twelve years he’s been working as a mental health therapy aide for NYS. “I provide care for the mentally ill, currently work in a Community Residence overseeing 16 patients.  It’s a challenge everyday and I enjoy it thoroughly.” Joe met his amazing fiancé Angela (Gonzalez, another fan spotlight!) through 311 and thanks to the Facebook Familia page. They are planning to get married on October 1st in California.

Cooking is something Joe loves, as well as Mexican food. He also loves to hike with his dog Riley. He has an ethnicity tattoo on his right calve which is an Italian leprechaun holding a pot of spaghetti. Secret talent? “I do an amazing vocal rendition of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World.” Guilty pleasure is on the T.V., the show “New Girl.” In his free time Joe likes to play video games, mostly on Xbox one. He also builds and repairs computers on the side.

Joe loves music and aside from 311 his top five bands are Passafire, Bad Rabbits, Coheed and Cambria, The Roots, and Stick Figure. (There are many more too, but it was a long list haha.) He also runs the Passafire Army fan  page on Facebook and says you should check them out. Not only does he enjoy listening to music, he likes to play it as well. “I’m mostly interested in playing bass guitar; playing for about 7 or 8 years and know quite a few 311 songs. I own 2 bass guitars, 1 electric and 1 acoustic guitar, and a drum kit. I recently acquired an accordion, so I’m slowly focusing on that.  Be on the look out for my 311 accordion tribute album (lol jk).”

To the band, Joe’s words are simple but spot on: “Thank you.”

To all the other awesome fans out in 311 nation: “Stay true and go after what makes you passionate in life!”

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Thank you Joe for your story! I know I enjoyed writing it and hope everyone enjoyed learning about him. Thank you all for reading and being a part of this amazing organism we make up, the one and only 311 nation! Until we meet again, keep on spreading that positive vibe.

Much love – The Runt

What’s up excitable nation? Happy new fan spotlight day! Let’s get kicking and introduce Mr. Gregory Rock!

Back in 1995 Greg bought the blue album because he learned that 311 was going to be playing a show with Korn. By the time the show rolled around, Greg was more excited to see 311 than he was Korn! “What drew me in at the time was their unique combination of rapping and heavy guitars. Also, that first live show sold me!”

We now know Greg’s first show and since then he has seen them 63 more times. Only one show has he seen without his wife and that was his first one. He’s been to every 311 Day since 2006, the cruises in 2013 and 2015, and Pow Wow, which he says is his favorite event by far. “It was like a little piece of heaven, survival and glory.  We were glad we [Didn’t Stay Home].” Greg also mentioned that he loves seeing them play at Mandalay Bay in Vegas and was at the show last summer when they performed the blue album live.

Favorite song was a tough question for him to answer. “All Mixed Up” and “T&P Combo” were the first two songs he really liked. “Beyond the Gray Sky” strikes a chord because he almost lost a dear friend and band member to depression. Then there’s “My Stoney Baby” because of his wife. The first thing he said to his wife was, “I like your boots,” and there is a reference to a girl looking fresh in her boots in the song. Favorite lyrics come from “Right Now:”

“I’m not one of those fools, With an ecclesiastical whitewash to set my ethical standards, You’ll never catch me lookin’ to Ann Landers, Or Moses or the Law or even Buddha. If there’s one thing I know, It’s always be true to myself.”

Salem, Ohio is the town that Greg grew up in and still lives in today. He lives in this small town with his wife Emily and they own a small business together. The company is Logue Monument Company and it’s pretty much where he says he grew up. “My father bought the business in 1973, and we bought it from him in 2011.  We sell and make cemetery monuments.  With a name like Rock, I guess you work with stone, right?” Greg also spent some time living in Columbus, OH in the 90’s where he attended “THEE Ohio State University.”

Greg also plays drums (which he said is in case that was the intention with his last name). He and his wife were in a local band called OhM for around twelve years and they got to open for many cool bands such as Phunk Junkeez, Slightly Stoopid, The Expendables, Tech N9ne, Jimmy’s Chicken Shack, Downset, Nonpoint, and more. The band even toured back in 2009 with stops in Brooklyn, NYC, Burlington and Winooski, Vermont, Geneva-On-the Lake and Salem, OH.

Greg and his wife Emily were married on 3-11-2005 and have been living together since 1996. “We moved in together in 1996 because her Mom wouldn’t let her go to a 311 show in Dayton Ohio on P Nut’s Birthday!” Then at their 50th show they were blessed to be gifted a signed poster, back in Detroit in 2013.

Something that makes Greg unique is his ability to read people and offer insight. “I usually can see both sides of an argument or discussion, and try to keep the peace!” He’s also really talented creating personalized memorials and sculpting flowers in granite with sandblast.

When not listening to 311, Greg can be found jamming music from Rush, Black Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Pink Floyd, and Bob Marley. Guilty pleasure for Greg currently is Far Cry 4 for PS4. He also likes watching YouTube conspiracy theories for some entertainment.

To the band Greg has these words: “Thank you for your dedication, creativity, and positive philosophy.”

Now to all his fellow fans:

“Live your life as best as you can, and enjoy yourself.  Look out for one another.  Also, Go Browns, and one more thing……  LeBron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

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The story of Gregory Rock my friends! Hope you enjoyed reading another edition of the spotlight, I know I enjoy writing them. Now go be the positive, awesome people you are. Have an amazing week! Until next time.

Much love – The Runt

Welcome again slinkies and brodels! It’s my favorite time of the week (and hopefully one of yours), time for our next fan spotlight. This week we read the story of Craig Schweitzer!

It’s 95 (and we go for the hive) is where our story begins for Craig. 311 was in heavy rotation on radio stations this year and Craig was fortunate enough to live in an area with one dedicated solely to alternative-rock music. This is where he first heard 311. “What really drew me to their music is the unique combination that really can’t be described.  They incorporate so many genres and blur all lines.  What has kept me is the positivity and genuine happiness and respect that they preach.”

Statistics on live shows for Craig stands at this: 29 shows, 38 sets, 138 unique songs, and 770 total songs live. “Yeah I know my stats, I’m a math nerd.” Of those shows, Pow Wow in 2011 had the biggest impact on him. “Pow Wow was so significantly higher than any other show by them or anyone else.”

There are many songs that strike a chord with Craig and it’s hard for him to choose one that stands out the most. “Although overplayed, ‘Down’ was the first song I ever heard so I’ll say that, but it isn’t my favorite song.” For his favorite lyrics, he’s got an inside joke with friends so he said they are, “Golden buttered jam, golden buttered jam for you slam!”

Chicago is where Craig was originally from but he was raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He now currently resides in Orlando. Work comes in the form of a Senior Analyst which he says he does solely so he can go to concerts. “Every vacation day I have taken in the last 5 years has been for a concert/festival trip. I have been to over 250 concerts and 25 festivals in the last 5 years.  Suwannee (location of Pow Wow) is my favorite place in the world.  I hated camping until I realized you could make it about music which sparked my love for it.”

Craig has a wide range of interest for music. Some of his favorites include SOJA, Pearl Jam, Tool, Primus, Josh Heinrichs, Nahko and Medicine for the People, and Passafire. He said there are many others, some no longer together. Music clearly has a major impact on Craig and he said he’s met 90% of his friends through music in one way or another. His guilty pleasure comes in musical form – the band Presidents of the United States. “Love them and just saw them live for the first time in New York in 2012.” Something you may not know about Craig, he has a 311 Familia tattoo on his back!

What Craig has to say to 311, he’s actually said to all of them already, but wants to say it one more time – “Bring back Pow Wow, please! It may not have been the money maker you wanted, but it revitalized lost fans.”

Now to all the other 311 fans in the world:

“Live with positivity and love in your life and it will overcome the negative.  Be the person you want the world to be.  And lastly, you’ll always have a family if you look for it.”

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Thanks for sharing your tale Craig! I hope everyone enjoyed reading it! Thank you to all of the fans for being the positive, amazing people you are. Until next time…keep up the unity and spread the love!

Much love – The Runt

Well hey there excitable friends! Welcome back to another edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s get this party started – it’s time to meet Parker Buehler!

Twelve years old and riding around in the car with her older brothers, that is where Parker’s love of 311 begins. The two songs that drew her in were “Hydroponic” and “Do You Right.” She said those were the two songs that really jumped out at her during those car rides. Flash forward to when the music video for “Down” was released on MTV. “I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t wait to show it to my brothers. When I did, they reminded me that 311 was the same band who created the two songs I begged for every time in their car. It was curtains after that. Ride or die for life…LOL!”

Every time someone asks Parker how many times she has seen 311 live she always has to go count her ticket stubs, usually because she’s added some since the last time! “This past 311 Day were shows 49 and 50 for me. My first show ever was at the HoLLYwooD Palladium in April of 2000. I was 16 years old rolling with my dad and his girlfriend. My mind was blown.” When asked what show of the 50 is her favorite, she said, “You can’t ask me that…LOL. Oh there are so many! One of the most epic moments for me was sitting on my tube floating in the ocean while 311 rocked the F out on the beach of Half Moon Cay on cruise 2. Such a magical moment.”

When asked what song or lyrics mean the most to her, Parker also said these were tough questions! “So many have gotten me through all the good times and bad. I can’t even begin to claim a favorite. 311 has been there for every moment.” While there are a lot to choose from and she doesn’t have a favorite, she did pick three that stand out to her. “I’m a big fan of Electricity. Golden Sunlight and Eons tug at my heartstrings more than usual.” Some lyrics that she loves are: “Life’s a bowl of punch, go ahead and spike it,” “We’re all from the same Lucy despite the differences you see,” and “I got a mind full of weapons in the battle of me versus myself and everything that I kept in, I’m finding the courage to tell.  The sweetest repose comes in the strangest of places,  I never supposed clarity would find me.”

Parker was born in Los Angeles, California, and spent the first half of her life there. After that she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then on to Indianapolis, Indiana. Mom is a stylist and dad is an actor, who she says you may or may not recognize depending on your age. She’s still in Indy and has two sons, ages 6 and 12, who also love 311. Parker is also recently engaged! It happened while in New Orleans for 311 Day! Congrats Parker!

Parker is a stay at home mom but plans escapes to 311 events. Other than that she likes being at home doing crafty things. “I like to create things, fix things, learn things.  I’m a big nerd.  I am the person who made all the bottle cap magnets back in 2013.  I made over 1000 to pass out to fellow fans. I’ve had a lot of requests to make more so I may have some to pass out this summer.  I’m also the person who does the 311 Day rockets.  It started out as my celebration on the odd years of March 11th.  I live in Indiana so there’s not much to do.  I build model rockets and decorate them 311 stylee.  Then we launch them on March 11th, weather permitting. Then it turned into every year.  4 out of 5 years have been successful launches.  Yay for nerds!”

While Parker is mostly left handed, she sometimes is ambidextrous depending on the task she’s performing. She also has the ability to read people very well and thought about going into psychology because of it. “I would love to help people, especially with mental illness.” Back to her craftiness, she can make pretty much any craft and loves her hot glue gun. Talent also comes virtually via video games. “My high score on Ms. Pac-Man is 527,340 and I will kick your ass with Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2.” A little bit of  trivia you may not know – Parker collects Barbies! “I have over 150 of them.  Most of them are in storage.  I have like 4 out in my bedroom, but just wait til I get a bigger house…LOL! One day this crazy lady will have a Barbie room.”

Another band that had Parker’s heart prior to 311 was The Smashing Pumpkins. “I still love them so and am catching them in Louisville here in just a few short weeks.  So excited!” Other bands she loves are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dirty Heads, Sublime, and No Doubt. Lately she’s really been getting into Queens of the Stoneage. “I’ve seen them a few times now and they are amazing.  They may take my #3 spot away from the others.”

Parker’s message to 311 is simply this: “Thank You for existing in my lifetime.”

Now to all of you amazing fans:

“You guys are the absolute best!  Strangers coming together during the good times and the bad makes my heart sing beyond words.   I’m so blessed to be a part of this.”

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Thank you Parker for sharing your story! I hope everyone loved it as much as I did. I love sharing all of your stories so you can learn more about your awesome fellow fans! Thank you all for reading and until we meet again…keep being awesome!

Much love – The Runt