Oh hey there friends in 311 nation! Thanks for coming back for the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let me introduce you to Don Sablosky!

The year was 1995 when Don first heard 311 on the radio, the songs being “Down,” and “All Mixed Up” of course. However it really wasn’t until the year 2000, when he heard the song, “I’ll Be Here A While” that he was truly drawn to their sound. “I ran out and bought From Chaos immediately. As they say, the rest is history.”

Show count is around 32 or 33. First show was  in 2003, at Eastern Michigan University. “I had to have a friend buy the tickets cause they were only on sale for college students and people who lived off campus.” The second cruise is Don’s favorite event so far, with Pow Wow coming in a close second. “Seeing them on the beach was always a dream I had. I’ll never forget the feeling I got as they opened with Outside, and of course, who can forget the Amber splash pit.”

Song that means the most to Don is a difficult question to answer, as it is for many fans. Right now his current favorite is “Made in the Shade.” “I love how it’s overcoming your challenges and accomplishing your goals, so then you’ve got it made in the shade.” Some of his favorite lyrics are, “The same force that flows through every circuit, the juice that’s spent every time you work it, every life form is based on this simplicity, the soul that you have is electricity. You can’t avoid that. Evolution is fact,We’re all from the same Lucy, Despite differences you see,” and “Ode to an alien, I know you’re out there, cosmic lonely heart, tell me if you care. I’m listening to your sound, here on the ground.”

Don grew up in a city about 10 miles south of Detroit called Lincoln Park. He’s lived his whole life in “down river” Michigan, except for a year when he lived in Texas with a friend. Currently he works for Amazon to fund anything he can afford regarding 311.

Something you may not know about Don, he said people can think he has a dark or “too soon” sense of humor. Other musicians he likes are The Deftones, August Burns Red, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The only music he really doesn’t listen to is country or modern hip-hop. Guilty pleasure for him is the band Kings of Leon. “Just something about their sound appeals to me.”

Don has been lucky to have met P-Nut and S.A. and both times he’s made sure to thank them for everything. So keeping in true form, that’s his message to the band now. “Thank you so much for everything you do. Thank you for being one of the harder working bands out there today. I don’t know what I would do without 311.”

Don’s message to all the other fans:

“Keep livin’ and rockin’. Love yourself and someone else. Be excellent to each other!”

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Thank you Don for telling your story of what 311 means to you! Much gratitude goes out to everyone who reads each week. Until we meet again….keep being awesome!

Much love – The Runt

We meet again 311 nation! New week means new fan spotlight time. So without further ado, let’s read the story of Lauren Menier!

The reason Lauren became a 311 fan is because her best friend who lived across the street from her bought the blue album and they would listen to it on repeat together. Lauren was determined to learn all of the lyrics because in her mind, she and her best friend were in a competition as to who could like the band more. “I apparently had something to prove, ha!.” It was the bands style that really attracted Lauren because it was so unique and interesting. “I quickly bought Music and Grassroots and would listen all the time. I didn’t come to really appreciate their musicianship until Transistor. That’s when my fanatic ways blossomed. It wasn’t until then that I really got the message. Their message really drew me in at that point.”

Show count will be at 91 after 311 Day this year. Back in 2002 Lauren went to 311 Day and then did a road trip for the next 7 shows ending up in Atlanta at the Tabernacle. Then she did a couple more road trips in October 2002 and August 2003 which contributed to the bulk of her show tally. First show was back in 1997 at what was then called the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona. “I’ll never forget that curtain drop and them busting out ‘Hive’ as the opener.”

Favorite event for her was 311 Day 2002. “My friend was able to get us working passes that let us into the venue to watch them soundcheck. I remember them sound-checking Mindspin which hadn’t been played in a looooooooong time at that point. We were on the floor for the show and remember freaking out when they played Nutsymptom as that was the one song I was hoping to hear.” Favorite regular show for her was the Rushmore Room in Rapid City, SD on October 19, 2003. “Saw Nick before the show and asked if they could play My Stoney Baby to which he replied ‘you haven’t heard that one live yet?’ and chuckled cause by this point he started to recognize me and my buddy Lori from all the shows we had gone to. He obliged and even gave me a shout out before they played the song ☺️ ‘By special request, here’s my Stoney baby.’  At the time I was big into bootlegging so I happened to be filming that show so I got that all on video to commemorate the moment! It’s a prized possession for sure!”

Song that means the most to Lauren is “Sun Come Through.” Some lyrics that she loves include, “On the scales of desire your absence weighs more than someone else’s presence,” “In the shadow of those looming battleships I love our canoe,” and “I’m finally at home. I don’t have to roam. I can see it all now. Out of nowhere came a clue. Truth I hid, the truth I hid from me. Hit the skids. I hit the skids only to find a light to light my way home.”

Ronkonkoma (Long Island), New York is where Lauren was born but she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 3 and has been there ever since. She said she had an awesome child and was very active including rollerblading, softball, and kick the can every night with the neighborhood kids. It was in middle school where she started to realize that she was different than everyone else. “It took me a LONG time to admit to myself and everyone else who I was. I was so depressed and sad a lot of the time. I finally came out at 25 after meeting someone who changed the course of my life and that’s when my life really started. Up until then I was a lost soul trying to figure out what I wanted in my life.” After this she went to culinary school because she thought that’s what she wanted to do but then realized it wasn’t for her although she does still enjoy cooking. She also tried the rock start thing and was in a band for a bit. She finally fell into medical coding, which is what she does now, because her dad suggested it and she could do it from home. “Started my life over and went to school for it and graduated in 2016. It’s been a great career so far and I recently just got a fantastic new job working for Honor Health in Scottsdale. 33 years later and my life is finally coming together. :)”

Lauren mentioned she had been in a band and her musical talent there was as a drummer. “Been playing on and off since I was 12. Was in a cover band with my sister called Dave, Dave and the Double Ds. Hehe 😜  Played out for a few years until we broke up. Joined another cover band for a bit. I don’t really drum anymore cause I don’t have the time or energy though.” Guilty pleasure for Lauren is the TV show “The Bachelor/Bachelorette.” “It’s such a train wreck that I can’t look away.” Other musicians she loves besides 311 are  Coheed and Cambria, Jason Mraz, The Donnas, Incubus, No Doubt, Radiohead, Muse, Alien Ant Farm,  and Sheryl Crow.  She was also turned onto a lot of bands thanks to 311 such as 2 Skinnee Js, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, Dredg. 

Lauren’s message to 311: “Thank you for never fading out any of your songs. Not one. Ever.  And thank you for always helping me see the good in everything.”

Her message to all the other fans:

“It could always be worse. ‘You’ve got it good, it’s not hard to be what you are.  Thank your lucky stars!”

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That wraps up this week’s 311 fan spotlight! Thank you Lauren for sharing your tale of your love for 311 and your life. Many thanks to all the readers out there. You are all awesome! Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Back again my friends in 311 nation for another week and another fan spotlight! Take a moment to meet Mr. Michael Frye!

Michael was just a regular fan of 311’s hits from the 90’s until he met his now wife Tonya, who was a HUGE fan. He said it was a slow progression of his appreciation for their music and live performances. “But now I’m all in. So many songs have such positive and deep meanings for me.”

Show count is at 25 for him which includes four 311 Day events and one cruise. “My first show was in 2003 at the Boathouse in Norfolk, Virginia.” Of those 25 he said that the 2017 cruise takes the cake for favorite event so far, with 311 Day 2008 coming in as a close second. “Hearing ‘Too Late’ for the first time on last years cruise, what an epic moment out on the ocean. Its not too often that the first time you hear a song it blows you away. Every time I hear it live now it takes me back to that moment with Tonya and our friends Dave and Brooke.”

“Creatures (For A While)” is a song that Michael absolutely loves and he doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of hearing Nick say, “Let’s just be creatures for a while” live in concert. Song that is most meaningful for him though is “Beyond the Grey Sky” and he can directly relate to the lyrics. “It hits home. Nick put words to emotions and thoughts in a way I never could. When they play it live its bittersweet for me, its always an emotional experience and sometimes I don’t wanna feel that way and somewhat hope it doesn’t get played.” Lyrics that he says continue to describe his life are, “It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

Maryland is where Michael grew up and he joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18. He spent 22 years in the Marines and retired in 2011 after serving in Desert Storm and in Iraq from 2004-2005. North Carolina, California, and Japan are some of the places he’s called home. “I traveled all over the world during that time, and saw some amazing places, Australia, Hawaii, Singapore, Hong Kong are on the top of my list.” Michael has a total of 6 kids and his two oldest daughters have given he and Tonya 3 grandchildren so far. “Yup, 311 has grandparents as fans.”

Posters have become something Michael and Tonya have started to collect and they have at least one poster in every room of the house. “We didn’t always collect but the artwork and memories are amazing, its hard to imagine not having them now.” The love he has for 311 has also brought him something he never really thought it would. “Sometimes its hard to believe the friends and relationships I’ve built because of this band. I have met some amazing people through this community, and hope to continue to do so.”

Something you may not know about Michael is that he leads a sober life and is part of a group for fellow 311 fans like him. He said many people are surprised that a 311 fan can be sober which is why they have the group. “It’s a Facebook group, 311 Sobrodels, and we are just a group of sober fans or fans that want to support those of us that choose to be sober, we don’t push any agenda we are just there for anyone that wants some support from like minded excitables.” –  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesober311community/

Something Michael has a talent for is solving Rubik’s cube puzzles. “I know that sounds strange but I’ve been doing it since I was a kid in the 80’s. I have dozens of different size cubes and similar puzzles lying around.” Guilty pleasure for him is 80’s hair bands. “I love that stuff I did back then and I still do now. I have a playlist for when I’m alone in the car and feel the need to rock out to a power ballad. Lol.” Aside from that, Michael also loves artists like Dropkick Murphys, RDGLDGRN, Stone Sour, Ballyhoo, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Guns n Roses, Led Zeppelin,  and BB King. “I am literally all over the place and really depends on my mood.”

To 311 Michael would like to say, “Just keep writing songs that mean something and I’m sure we will all still be here listening.”

To all the fellow 311 fans his message is this:

“We are what makes this community great and I hope to meet even more of all the amazing fans out there.”

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That was the story of Michael Frye! Thank you Michael for being part of the fan spotlight and sharing your story. As usual, thanks to all the readers! This community is such a wonderful entity to be a part of. Stay awesome my friends!

Much love – The Runt