Hello again excitables! Welcome back, it’s time for a new fan spotlight! Let me introduce you to Mr. Darien Saiidifar!

The young age of 5 is when Darien first heard 311. His brother was 12 at the time and he remembers his mother taking them to Best Buy to pick up the album Soundsystem the day it was released.

First time seeing 311 live was at the University of Lockhaven on March 24, 2002. He was only 8 years old at the time! Since then he has been to 10 shows total. Favorite so far was on July 28, 2012. “I had just graduated from high school and as a gift my mom and I split the VIP Platinum ticket cost, and I finally got to meet 311 after 13 years of growing up with their music. My life changed forever that day.”

Trying to pick a favorite song for Darien proved difficult as it does for most, he said it’s nearly impossible. If forced to pick just one he would choose “I Told Myself.” “Reason being I have lots of summer memories riding in the car with it playing.” Quote from a song that is a favorite is, “If there’s a shadow in your life, then there’s sunshine.”

Darien was born in Houston, Texas but only lived there for about 5 months. He then moved to northern Virginia and has lived there ever since. Darien just turned 23 and has only had one job so far, which is working at the grocery store Wegmans. He is working there until he completes his college degree from George Mason University.

It was thanks to 311 that Darien decided to pick up a musical instrument. It was their influence that encouraged him to play drums, guitar, and also some bass. “I absolutely could not be musically inclined if they never came along. I play in 2 bands, one original band (which still needs a name) and a Sublime cover band called Garden Grove, and I play drums in both of them. My ultimate dream is to become a touring musician.” Darien said in case the touring thing doesn’t happen, he is getting his undergrad degree in Tourism and Events Management, preferably to work in a music related job following graduation.  He also mentioned that he loves to play gigs with his band and loves his cat Velcro!

Interesting fact about Darien? He is absolutely disgusted by pineapples on a pizza. Talent comes in musical form. “Somehow I’ve been blessed with the ability to play drums and guitar. I don’t know how, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it!” Guilty pleasure he said is that he watches Spongebob Squarepants on a regular basis. When not listening to 311 he can be found listening to Ballyhoo!, System of a Down, Twenty One Pilots, or Sublime.

Darien’s message to 311 is: “I would not be living the life I had imagined if you guys never came along and I can’t thank you enough for helping me pick up music and for spreading positivity.”

His message to all the other fans:

“It’s a pleasure to feel like a family in this fan base, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

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That’s Darien’s story my friends! Thanks to him for sharing his tale of his love for 311. Such a great family of fans we have thanks to this amazing band! Thanks for reading, see you all next week!

Much love – The Runt

Hello again excitable nation! Another week is upon us and so it’s time to meet another great fan. This week we say hello to Jordan Goodman!

Jordan said he loved 311 before he even knew who they were. “I always connected to their music on the radio, it just spoke to me.” Then he got his first iPod and a friend told him to download Grassroots. “It all came together then, it was so amazing!”

June 11, 2009 was Jordan’s first live show in Salt Lake City, Utah. Show tally total so far is at 17. His favorite so far was last summer in Seattle. “I had gone to meet them, this was the day after seeing them in Portland, Oregon. I walked up and Pnut, who I look up to so much for his positive mind and spirit, looks at me excited and says, dude you were blissing out all night last night! That he remembered me and my passion for the music was such an uplifting moment.”

The song “It’s Alright” is the one that means something special to Jordan. “It was a huge motivation for me when diagnosed with cancer, it kept me level headed and in a positive mind. The cruise was 5 years cancer free!” Favorite quote is “Stay positive and love your life.”

Jordan grew up in Clinton, Utah, right by Salt Lake City. He moved to Seattle and is still there currently. He works for Amazon in delivery. “It’s alright, pays the rent and for my 311 obsession.” Aside from loving 311 he loves to go out and have adventures. “Seeing and trying new things, visiting the world. I also love meeting new people and helping those in need.”

Since Jordan’s experience with cancer, he’s wanted to give back to those suffering from the disease. He volunteers for a non-profit organization to help spread cancer awareness and support those with cancer. He has a huge passion for helping other people and does anything he can to help those in need!

Guilty pleasure for Jordan is food. “I love to try new food and to cook.” When not listening to 311, he loves to jam out to Slightly Stoopid, Ballyhoo!, Rdgldgrn, People Under the Stairs, Atmosphere, Pepper, The Expendables, and Rebelution.

To 311 Jordan’s message is this: “Thank you. You all have been an inspiration in my life to live the fullest and to stay positive.”

To all the other fans out there:

“Hope you are all well. It is so amazing to be a part of this amazing community and I hope to see a bunch of you this summer! Also…stay positive and love your life!”

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Thank you Jordan for sharing your story! And congrats on being 5 years cancer free! Such an amazing thing. I hope you all enjoyed his tale of his love for 311. Thank you all for reading and being amazing fans! You guys make my week a lot brighter, I can tell you that. Until next week.

Much love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in 311 nation! Happy belated 311 Day! I hope all that went on the 311 Cruise to Cozumel had as an amazing time as I did. I got to meet so many of you in person! Including this weeks awesome fan spotlight. Say a very excitable hello to Christa Dohy!

How did Christa fall in love with 311? Well she said she’s a total bandwagon fan. “I always liked their music, but for whatever reason didn’t start following them until I started dating Aaron about four years ago.” Aaron has been a fan of 311 since the 90’s and because of this 311 went on Christa’s live shows I want to see list. So in 2015, Christa went to her first show, which just happened to be Red, White, & Boom in Vegas. “We literally bumped into a couple excitables in the Mandalay Bay while trying to find the venue and were introduced to a ton of other people who we now consider family. We thought we were just going to a concert, but it turns out that we joined a cult of awesome!”

Since then, Christa has been to 11 shows. “I love the energy in the music – Do You Right has always been one of my favorite songs to bounce along to.” Favorite event she says is probably the cruise that she just got back from. “The cruise is in a class by itself; it’s not even comparable to anything else.” Outside of the cruise she said her favorite show is 311 Day 2016 night one. “The band played a lot of my favorite songs that night.”

Song that she says is her jam is “Neverending Summer.” “Every time I hear the ‘3-11, 3-3-11…’ whether live or just in my car, I get the chills. Between summer tour and my love of warm weather, it’s the perfect song for me.” Favorite lyric? “I met some weirdos and had myself a real good time.” “Pretty much sums up my excitable experience so far.”

Christa grew up in Northeastern Ohio but said she never really felt like she belonged there. So in her early 30’s she had a “mid-life crisis” and moved on out to Seattle. Then through life’s twists and turns, she had a son (who is now 11) and now has a new husband (Aaron and Christa just got married 3-11-17 so everyone say congrats!). Her son now also loves 311 and he went to his first show last summer.

In 2012 Christa developed a spinal condition that required surgeries and by the time the found it, she had developed permanent nerve damage in parts of her body, mostly her legs. “I do my best to control it with medications, but I’m somewhat limited in some things that I cannot do, like jumping up and down and standing on my feet for extended periods of time. So if you see me chair dancing at a show, I’m not just being a lazy bum, I do try to hang with the party as much as I can. Besides, I don’t drink so I’m a built in designated driver too!”

Unique attribute for Christa? She said it’s mom skills. Seriously! “Seriously, ask my friends, it’s a thing. Although it’s probably just my extreme OCD when it comes to planning and organization. You need help planning something I’m your girl. Some of my friends refer to me as the den mother because I keep things organized. Oh and another nickname I have is Mary Poppins because I always have good surprises in my bag at shows.”

Guilty pleasure for Christa is that she loves puzzle games. “Every piece of electronics that I own has Frozen Free Fall installed on it!” For other music and artists that Christa loves, she said she came to 311 from a harder/punk music background. “I love Social Distortion, Authority Zero, Deftones, and Ballyhoo! But I’m also digging the reggae bands that seem to come with 311 like Rebelution and Soja.”

To 311, Christa’s words are these: “Thank you for all of the good times and helping me find my tribe.”

To the 311 fan community:

“Money is better spent on memories than on stuff, because you can’t take it with you. And to all of my Excitable family, I can’t wait to see you all during the summer tour!”

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Thank you Christa for sharing your story and congrats to you and Aaron on the 3-11 Day marriage!! This fan community, in my opinion, is the best ever and I love learning about you all and sharing your stories. Never-ending fan spotlight! That’s my goal! Until we meet again my friends, go be awesome and spread the good karma.

Much Love – The Runt