Greetings everyone in 311 nation! Welcome to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. Without further ado, I give you the story of Maurice Kemp!

While Maurice a.k.a. Mo knew of 311 since the mid 90’s, but he was mostly into the industrial and house scene at that time. It wasn’t until the late 90’s when he started hanging around with some young, cool ladies who were really into the band that he started hearing more of their songs, specifically more of the blue album. He thought the energy was astounding and being a metaphysical being, their lyrics talking about energy being a color made him want to know more about them. He bought the 311 Day 2004 DVD and had it on repeat for an entire summer, then bought the greatest hits CD and Don’t Tread On Me. “They said Lift the roof off your Soul, Fuck the Naysayers and I’ll be here for Awhile. With all that they say Love your Life. I was hooked by the meaning of it all. Went live 2005 in Atlanta, GA and never looked back.”

That first show for Maurice was at the Hi Fi Pavilion in Atlanta in 2005. He’s been to 15 shows total so far and of those the cruise in 2017 was his favorite event. “I never ever thought I’d go on a cruise period! So that right there is a huge check mark off the bucket list. So many amenities, cool peeps and the buffet…lol. For a stoner it was perfect. The water, the beach , the sand, the ship, and of course the music.”

The song “I’ll Be Here Awhile” is Mo’s anthem. “The old skool 311 home version reggae beat with this meaning is a pledge for all of us that we will survive and deserve to be here for a while through rage, solace and healing. I dare not to say anymore otherwise I’ll start crying. I do have to say that this band has brought down some walls that hide my emotions.” One of his favorite lines from a song is, “Smoke the weed that come from Northern California, don’t do no cocaine that come from Columbia. That the thing that mash up your nature, mash up your body and mash up your culture.”

Washington, D.C., is where Maurice was born. “Not a city nor state so filling out certain paperwork was and is always interesting.” Then in his early years he was raised in Trenton, New Jersey by his mom and grandmother after his parents divorced. “These women were very interesting together and apart. Although they were on the same path of righteousness for the community, my mother went the Burning Bra, Black Panther, Military single woman route while my grandmother started a NonProfit for children and adults who needed a community center. As strong black women in the 70’s they also raised many eyebrows politically as well. This is my foundation.”

Mo’s mom remarried to a military man and he became an army brat, moving from place to place, which he said made him develop a social awkwardness because every time he made friends, he would then be moved away from them. Then there was some family drama that eventually forced his mother to uproot them and move them out to California. “My first earthquake was life shattering lol. My sister and I were in school and after it was done they were like, go back to class. LOL. Hell no. Our young behinds got on a bus and headed home crying to momma that we needed to go back to NJ. Til this day I never regret growing up there. Hollywood, concerts, the weather and me learning street smarts was awesome. Oh yes and especially the 420 and after hours house meet ups. PLUR!”

Maurice’s life went down a dark path for awhile, including jail and attempted suicide. He ended up in a hospital and then was kicked out due to lack of insurance. Eventually Mo ended up in San Francisco thanks to a friend, and he said that’s where his journey really begins. “With the foundation of community, the anger from society and the strength from not being afraid to die. San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Albuquerque, Hawaii, Texas, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Germany, Milwaukee are just a few places I, dubbed from one of my friends, the hippie nomad has lived.” Eventually Maurice ended up in Hawaii where he was able to obtain unemployment and work at a hostel for his room. “Room right by the beach and skydived 15000 feet with a bunch of Irish folk for my birthday. Maui Wowi 420 on my side. I moved to Germany to get away from the USA and learn about other cultures.” Mo is truly a unique individual, who can only be described using his words that he wrote: “What sets me apart from others is that I truly and with every bone in my body, follow my own path and rules. I go with feeling, a bit of logic and full on street. With that I take on the consequences and loneliness. I fund my 311 addiction and with most of the things in my life with pure energy. I put it out there and get it back. I’m a minimalist who doesn’t like material objects except for my skate shoe fetish and who has, even homeless, given his last dollar to someone else. In order to read and learn more about the Mo please contact him intimately. Thank you and have a good one. LOL.”

As if Mo wasn’t already interesting, his middle name is very unique. “CHARM. Acronym for Charles Harrison Alphonso Richard Marcellos. My uncles on my fathers side and his name Charles which his name before was actually Maurice. Before what? The adoption. My family is crazy. So when he was younger his mother had to go off to work. Deadbeat drunk daddy needed money and sold my dad. The buyee then adopted my dad. From Maurice Miller to Charles Kemp. Oh and being hippies that my parents were Charm comes also from the Lollipop. Freaks!”

Special talent for Mo is that he has a picture perfect memory. “I can learn things just by looking.” Guilty pleasure is that he sits down for at least an hour each day and listens to music through his headphones, pretending to be the artist that is playing. “From dance moves to live action shoots, my mind goes on a full adventure. Like literally somewhere else. I’ve practiced those moves live that when i hear the song live I am back in that video. I’ve knocked things off the counter doing those moves in my chair. It’s really ridiculous and animated. I surprise myself how far I actually go and get into it. I’ll make a video one day.” Some musicians Maurice loves are Earth, Wind, & Fire, Ministry, Journey, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Beastie Boys, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, and Madonna. “Music is my salvation.”

To 311, Mo would like to say: “Your constant impact on the community throughout the years through verse, melody, actions and sound minds give me hope!”

Now to all the other 311 fans:

“Thank you for showing me a way to live without so much anger. Unfortunately I never had the chance to get help and even though I can now, you guys helped pave that way. Helped me believe. These past 2 yrs of being the ‘311 fanatic’ has been an honor. So I leave you all with this: Hate is committing murder in your heart!”

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Maurice, thank you for sharing your story with us all! As usual thanks to everyone in the community that reads and learns about your fellow fans. This community is such a wonderful entity to be a part of. Until we meet again my friends, stay positive and love your life of course!

Much love – The Runt

Hello again those out in 311 nation! New week has arrived and so has the new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Timothy Eytalis!

The time was the mid 90’s and Timothy was in college when a friend of his that he was in a band with had a copy of the blue album. They decided to cover “Down” and once Timothy checked out the rest of the album, he was hooked.

Show count, he wasn’t really sure until he asked his wife. “She said 34 shows so far.” First show was on the Transistor tour in Madison, Wisconsin and the Dane County Expo Center with Jimmy’s Chicken Shack as the opener. Forced to pick a favorite of the 34, he chose The Grassroots Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. Why? “Because my daughter, my wife and I finally got to meet Chad and his mom and had the opportunity to be backstage for the last part of the show. And I had him sign my 1997 copy of Modern Drummer with Chad on the cover. Great experience.” As for favorite song, he chose “Brodels.” “Just cause of the groove.” One of his favorite lyrics is the live version of, “Take a moment to smoke a joint once in a while.”

Timothy grew up in a small town in Midwest Illinois. He’s lived in central Illinois and also St. Louis, Missouri. For work, he’s a union guy that builds cabinets, which helps fund his 311 habit. Timothy has been playing drums for 31 years and gave it a really good shot early on in his life, but he said he’s happy where he is now  with his beautiful family.

A fact you might not know about Timothy? “I have big thumbs! LOL.” He also has a unique love for music. “I can jam with almost anyone.” Other artists he loves include RUSH (one of his guilty pleasures that he calls Geek Rock), Zappa, and Method Man/Red Man. He loves tons of Reggae/Dub/Rocksteady, lots of Jazz and old school Hip Hop Rap. A guilty pleasure for Timothy is the movie “The Princess Bride.” “Best movie ever made! Some would argue but I would disagree.”

Timothy said if he ever gets to do a meet and greet with 311, he would tell them this: “What’s up guys, dig the joints, let’s get this done, there are a lot of people behind us in line” LOL.”

His message to the other fans out there is simple:

“Stay positive and love your life. Sums it up!”

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Now you’ve met Timothy Eytalis! Thanks for taking the time to read his tale. Now go be as awesome as I know you all can be!

Much Love – The Runt

Happy belated 311 Day to all! Let’s say hello to our next fan spotlight, Jennifer Keane!

The mid 90’s is when Jennifer became a fan. The blue album came out and she recorded “Down” and “All Mixed Up” on a cassette tape with her first stereo. “I was in high school and 311 was at the height of their popularity. All of my friends were fans back then, some of them still are. Hometown Excitables!”

Jennifer hasn’t kept track of her show count but she knows her very first show was the summer of 1997 at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York. “De La Soul was the opener. I need to sit down and figure out my show count one day lol. If I had to guess maybe 25-30.” Favorite show for her is a toss up between the second cruise and the March 2016 Indio show. The cruise was great for her because it was her first vacation with her brother and best friends, without her family. “The island beach show with the splash pit was so epic and unforgettable!” Then the Indio show she was lucky enough to be back stage. “I was standing next to Nick Hexum’s dad and stepmom. Deanna was dancing while Terry sang along to the songs. He was beaming from ear to ear. I’ll never forget that proud look on his face.”

So many songs are special to Jen for different reasons. “Don’t Stay Home” reminds her of getting ready to go on her first cruise ever. Then “Beyond the Gray Sky” she said “hits her with all the feels.” She also mentioned “Beautiful Disaster” and said, “What slinky girl can’t identify with that song.” As far as favorite lyrics, some of hers include, “It’s alright wherever you are right now. That’s where you’re supposed to be now,” and “Trust your instincts and let go of regret.” She loves the last lyric because she said that those are two things she struggles with and thinks a lot of people do.

Jennifer was born in New York on Long Island, but she’s lived many places including Germany, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, and upstate New York. She is the oldest of 5 siblings. Her brother, Wil Kilcommons, is a fellow excitable and her younger sister Alli just started to get into 311. “I’m hoping she will start joining us at events and shows.” Jennifer went back to school to finish her degree and is hoping to continue on to her Bachelor degree. She is also debating taking a semester off so she can go back to Mexico to teach English while exploring the country. “I’m also hoping I can improve my Spanish speaking abilities.”

Jennifer struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder, something she says makes relationships of any kind very difficult for her, and makes her family relationships VERY difficult. “There’s also such a negative stigma attached to having BPD. I struggle daily but I’ve learned to cope over the years.” Special talent for her is that she is really great at speaking other languages with the correct pronunciation and she can mimic foreign accents very well. “My friends and I spend hours and sometimes days doing different accents.”

Guilty pleasure for Jennifer is the show “Project Runway.” “I used to dream of being on the show. I would loveeeee to do an unconventional challenge. I just think it would be fun to take unexpected materials and create a wearable outfit. I’s like combining art, sculpture, crafting, and fashion. Those are just a few of my favorite things in life so it’s definitely in my wheelhouse.” Other music that Jennifer can be found listening to includes Ballyhoo!, Passafire, Bumpin Uglies, Dirty Heads, The Hip Abduction, and most recently The Joey Harkum Band. “Broken Thing really hits home.”

Jennifer has this to say to 311: “Thank you for all your hard work and for bringing such wonderful and inspiring people into my life.”

To the fans:

“It’s never too late to follow your dreams and become the person you want to be. Keep striving to be the best person you can. Pics and hugs are ALWAYS welcome.”

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That’s Jennifer’s story of her love for 311! Happy to share it with you all and thanks for your continued support.

Much love to you all! – The Runt

Hey all, we are back at it again with the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s read the story of Adam Palkowitsch!

The year was 1993 and Adam was really into Guns N’ Roses when a friend of his made him a mix tape that had the song “Visit” on it. “He brought it over and I listened to it once and was hooked. There was just no one making music that sounded like that. 25 years later and it’s still one of my favorite songs.”

Show count for Adam is 38. “This question always makes me laugh because people always ridiculously over estimate how many shows they’ve seen for some reason.  I remember in like 2010 someone asked me this.  I could have sworn it was easily like 50.  Then I looked, and it was like 20.” Adam does know a weird statistic about a show he saw. “The last show I saw, the 19th song played was the 1000th live song I saw 311 perform. It turned out to be Sick Tight which was pretty cool I guess.” First show he saw was May 16th, 1996 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.

There are many moments at shows and events that stand out to Adam, like in 1997 when they were doing the curtain drop into “Hive” as the opener. Then the sail away show during cruise one was amazing. “But I gotta say, nothing tops that beach show on cruise 2. Standing in the ocean listening to Strong All Along…I can picture it like it just happened.”

Song that means the most to Adam he says really depends on his mood, like so much of their music does. Some songs that really stand out to him are “Six,” “123,” “Strong All Along,” “Sweet,” “Uncalm,” “Jupiter,” and “Sun Come Through.” He said if he kept going he would end up naming all of Grassroots. “Can I go with that? Yeah…all of Grassroots.” Some lyrics that stand out to him as favorites are: “The jaded ones will wither while we optimistic grow,” “Savor the sun, but when the clouds come, make animals,” “Be sure that the dream’s alive, there are only short bursts in life, are you able to be satisfied? Do you expect fun all the time?” and “You can make a mean hand outta what you’ve been dealt.”

St. Paul, Minnesota, is where Adam grew up and still lives. He’s really only ever lived around the area. “I’m like a living version of that meme that says, Hey, it’s me, your friend from high school who never left our home town and still thinks Olive Garden is fancy.” Adam grew up playing hockey, he started at the age of 5, which he said is kinda like a given in St. Paul. “It’s kinda like Texas football or whatever.” He’s also been skiing and snowboarding since he was 3. His dad is ski patrol so he and his family always were able to go for free.

How does Adam fund his 311 habit? “Credit card debt. Massive, massive credit card debt.” In all seriousness though, Adam works for Wells Fargo in the mortgage side of the business. “Before you freak out about how my company steals from people, I do not work in retail banking; the mortgage side is a separate business.  I earned a BS in Biology with a focus on cellular bio and genetics, and I work for a mortgage company.  Neat right?  Basically what I do is data analytics within the property loss department.  I help people learn what they need to do to get their insurance proceeds to rebuild their homes in disaster events and act as a liaison between them and their insurance providers.  So, I’ve been pretty dang busy in the past few months.  I analyze our procedures and identify problem areas for our customers and then implement things to make it less painful for them.  That’s the short version, minus all the coding and systematic stuff I do as well.  So there’s that, and also I put 20 dollars in a drawer every single Friday.  That funds cruise cabins and it works awesome.”

Interesting fact about Adam…he beat Apollo in Rocky 2, haha. But he said for real, he can bend his second toe and keep all the others straight. “It’s banay cray.” Something that makes Adam unique? He’s a world class buffet line stander. “Like, I’m supes good at standing in line.  I’ll be all standing in line and people will be all, “dang, that guy knows what he’s doing.”  I’m so good at standing in line, that sometimes I stand in line when I don’t even need to be standing in line.  Ask Preston Pearson.  I thought about going pro last year.”

Other artists that Adam loves include Full Service, the Dead, Lagwagon, Sublime, LTJ, RBF, Wu Tang Clan, Dirty Heads (before sound of change), Zappa (kinda), Raffi, Yanni, Squidward, Nickelback, Johnny Karate, and Blood Dumpster. Adam said his hobbies and likes really aren’t guilty ones, but he used to play competitive fighting games and won some tournaments, so he thinks that counts. He also said he has unpopular opinions about bands that tons of people like and he doesn’t. “But I’m not sure that counts.”

Adam’s message to the band: “Like most people, it’s usually just “thank you.”  I’ve only had a couple times where I had the attention of the band members in a candid setting, like outside of a set meet and greet, and that’s usually about all I manage to say.  It was super awkward last time I talked to Nick.  I kinda looked at him and went, “woah.”  Then I just stood there like an idiot.  Thankfully my wife was actually able to say words.  It kinda helped to divert his attention from how uncomfortable I was.”

Now to all the other fans in 311 nation:

“In n Out is over rated – it’s just fast food.  Omelets are just egg tacos.  Put Doritos on your sandwiches.  Pineapple belongs on pizza.”

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Thanks Adam for sharing your story! I thoroughly enjoyed writing it and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Thanks to all who are a part of this blog, either being a spotlight or reading each week. I love knowing each and every one of you! Until we meet again.

Much Love – The Runt