Hello 311 nation! Last day of 2018 and it’s time for the next edition of the fan spotlight. Without further ado, let’s meet Jason Cori!

Jason’s story starts out like his brother Bryan’s, with his love of the band The Urge. He was going to their shows every other weekend from 1993 to 1995 and The Urge would play with 311. That’s where his love of 311 was born.

Show count for Jason is at 134. Favorite of those he said is this years 311 Day and for many reasons. “It was me and my wife’s first 311 Day together and I was blown away that they get better and better. My favorite regular shows were Kansas City on 6/8/1996 (they played an extra long set and I remember exactly how I felt. The weather was excellent and vibe was amazing.”

Song that means that most to Jason is “Two Drops in the Ocean” because it’s he and his wife’s song. He also loves “Livin’ and Rockin’,” “Existential Hero,” “Brodels,” “Plain,” and “ “Extension.” 

Some of his favorite lyrics are: “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate freedom than to make up a set of goals and cold beat ‘em,” and “Stuck in circles.” He said that the last lyric helps him when he gets in a mind funk. “I think of that so I can get out of the circle.”

Back in 2010, Jason unfortunately had a traumatic brain injury. It caused him to miss 311 shows from that year up until 2016. However he said that their music is what helped him get through the rough patches. Seeing 311 live is a priority for him because it’s his therapy session and an excuse to “Visit” the world.

The Urge and 311 are really the only bands that Jason listens to. He has an Urge inspired tattoo on his left arm and a 311 one on his right.

Jason just married his beautiful wife Theresa in Vegas. He said she is 55 and can rock out with the best of them! “She walked down the aisle to the Transistor Intro and Two Drops in the Ocean.” Jason also said that a little over a year ago he saw his wife sitting in the driveway beating on the steering wheel to Chad’s “Applied Science” drum solo and that the next day he went out and bought her an engagement ring!

Something unique about Jason is that he knows how to juggle! Guilty pleasures for him include basing work around the Unity Tour dates and smoking a little herb to help center himself when he needs it.

To 311, Jason has this to say: “You guys have been the most consistent, brilliant teachers and your shows are my church.”

To all the other fans out there:

“You are in good hands, old and new fans alike. You chose the right band to fall in love with. They will do what they say and say what they do. There is nothing better in this world, so Don’t Stay Home!”

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Ladies & gentleman, the wonderful story of Jason Cori! Thank’s Jason sharing your love of 311 with all your fellow fans. Of course, a big thank you to everyone for reading this weeks edition! Happy New Year my friends, see you all in 2019!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello all out there in 311 nation! If you celebrate it, a very Merry Christmas to you all! Let’s take a few moments to learn all about the next fan spotlight. Everybody meet Bryan Cori!

In high school  and college, Bryan used to follow the band The Urge. This was in the 90’s and early 2000’s. “They toured with 311 for multiple years. After seeing 311 live once, I fell in love with the music and entertainment aspect of them.”

Number of shows for Bryan he does not know exactly, but he believes he is somewhere in the 80-90 range. “My first 311 show was at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis, Missouri in the 90’s. I do not know the exact day or year.”

Favorite event for Bryan so far is the 311 cruise. “It is the just an amazing experience.  All like-minded people in one place.  311 goes above and beyond for their fans to create an event like that.  I am going on my 4th one this coming March!”

Like many 311 fans, Bryan said trying to choose a song that means the most to him is a hard question to answer. He chose the song “Unity” because he said that is what the band is all about. “No matter what race, religion, sexual-orientation, political views, etc 311 creates an atmosphere of togetherness and that is what that song and the band is all about.”

Some of Bryan’s favorite lyrics include: “Groove as your soul sings,” “It’s who we are,” “Conjunction junction, what’s your function,” and “On the periodic table, they got it all wrong, let me lay it down for you in this song.” He said he could go on all day but he’ll leave it at that!

St. Louis, Missouri, is where Bryan was born and raised. He said he was just a normal kid growing up and learned his love of music from his brother Jason. “I was terrified of mosh-pits as a kid but grew to like them.  Going to concerts is the only therapy I will ever need.”

Bryan loves traveling, movies, concerts and reading. He teaches middle school Language Arts and loves every second of it! He currently lives in Fort Myers, Florida, and aside from teaching also works as a service at Cheeburger Cheeburger on Sanibel Island. He said that’s how he makes extra cash for all the 311 fun. He is currently also in the process of adopting a teenager. “It still may be months before it is finalized, but it is extremely exciting.  Please welcome him to the 311 family.”

We know that Bryan loves The Urge and because of them, 311. However other artists he is in to include Phunk Junkeez, Kottonmouth Kings, 2 Skinnee J’s, Pomeroy, Ludo, and Ballyhoo!

An interesting fact about Bryan is that his grandmother is a Holocaust survivor. “I am really into learning about that time in history.” Something unique about him is that he is a crazy Rocky Horror Picture Show fan! “One day I want to go to London to see the REAL production of it.  I just love the songs and love the message:  Don’t Dream It, Be It.” Guilty pleasure he said for him is going to see musicals like Chicago, Annie, Christmas Story, Little Shop of Horrors, and of course Rocky Horror.

Bryan has this to say to 311: “Thank you for continuously touring and putting out new music all the time, but why have you guys never professionally recorded (audio or video) a 311 cruise show?”

Now his message to all his fellow 311 fans:

“This is an amazing family to be part of.  Everyone has their ups and downs, but the 311 family always sticks together no matter what.”

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That was the story of Bryan Cori! Thanks Bryan for sharing it with everyone. As always, thank you to the continuing support of all the people that read these week after week. You are all amazing! Have a fantastic week and we’ll be back next week to close out the year with one more fan spotlight.

Much Love! – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation! As we kick off another week, we get to learn all about our next 311 fan spotlight! This week, let me introduce you to the lovely Caity Lopez!

So Caity had never heard of 311 until a friend of hers said he was going to a show at Jones Beach and that he had a free ticket if she wanted to tag along. “I said sure, why not. He wasn’t even a 311 fan himself he just loved going to Jones Beach for shows. I never knew how much I’d enjoy watching 311 that night and what it would grow in to.”

That fateful show was in 2006. She had started to count at one point how many she went to but lost count. She said her guess is that she is somewhere in the mid 70’s. Her favorite show so far was 311 Day 2012 in Vegas.

Caity said she keeps hoping to hear “Give Me A Call” or “Uncalm” every time she goes to see 311. Favorite lyric she said, even though she thinks it’s somewhat cliché at this point, is still, “Butterfly in the wind without a care.” She even has the lyrics tattooed on her back!

Florida is where Caity was born. She didn’t move to New York until she was 8 years old. She said her mom and dad didn’t really listen to a lot of rock or reggae music. Her mom was more into country music and her dad listened to his cadences. “I always listened to everything but I think once I went to my first 311 show, it definitely opened my eyes to different music.”

Caity is currently a project manager for a software company which funds her 311 habit and all the other fun things she likes to do. “I also sell as much as I can through virtual closet apps or selling apps, ya know killing two birds with one stone, empty out space and get money for shows and events. It’s a win, win.”

Another artist that Caity absolutely loves is Bassnectar. “His music is totally on the other end of the spectrum, one of the reasons why I love it! He mixes everything from Biggie to James Brown to Metallica and the community is just as amazing as 311’s.” She said that even though 311 and Bassnectar are different, they also have some similarities in the way that they have a talent for fusing all different types of music, no matter the genre.

Fun fact about Caity? She has never, not once in her life, had a soda! “And I never intend to.” Something Caity loves to do is get gifts for people. “No matter what the occasion, but definitely around the holidays. As much as people hate going out shopping around this time, I enjoy it. I like seeing the gift that you think would be perfect for the person in mind. And I love seeing people’s faces when they open something and it makes them happy.”

Guilty pleasure for Caity are true crime shows. Ones like CSI, Law & Order, or anything similar, real or fake. “Not too many people know that but I love it. I can binge watch Making A Murderer like no one else! LOL.”

To 311 Caity has this to say: “Thank you for everything you give in each and every performance. Thank you for making everybody jump!”

To all her fellow fans out there:

“Another cliché probably, but DON’T STAY HOME! XOXO”

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Now you all have met Caity Lopez! Make sure to say hi if you see her at a show. Thanks Caity for sharing your story and to each and every person who read these week after week. Now go kick butt and be awesome!

Much Love – The Runt

Why hello there peeps out in 311 nation! Are you ready for the next edition of the fan spotlight? This week let’s meet the lovely Noelle Dion!

Growing up, Noelle remembers listening to a Boston radio station, WFNX, and it was there that she first heard the sounds of 311. “They were different than anything I had ever heard before….they had resemblances of other stuff I liked but completely unique in their own right.”

While Noelle has never really thought to get her exact show count, she believes she is somewhere in the 40 range. First show for her was in 1995 at Avalon in Boston. “Clubs were 19+ OR a college ID. I was only 17 but already in college so I could get into all the clubs, it was great!” Favorite event so far? “Cruise 2 for sure! It was my first 311 cruise. That beach show was insane! The splash party in the ocean…meeting everyone floating around, nothing could ever duplicate that!”

Song that Noelle says she’s pretty partial to is “Don’t Stay Home.” “For 7 years I was in a bad relationship and lost most of my friends, never went out, never enjoyed life. When I finally ended it and started enjoying life and going to all the concerts I wanted to, that song was LIFE!” She also loves “Can’t Fade Me,” “Homebrew,” and “Give Me A Call.” For lyrics, she loves the last lines in “Can’t Fade Me.” “Desperate the cling I make to positivity, stay getting it on til the doubt is gone. If you could be dissuaded you were dead all along, like what’s up now, you can’t fade me. Still in the same old trade of positivity.”

Salem, Massachusetts, is where Noelle grew up. She spent her summers in New Hampshire at a campground where her parents worked. At 18 she moved out and lived all around New England, then eventually moved to Colorado. From there she moved to San Diego, and then landed in Florida where she has now been for about 15 years. “My family always said I was a gypsy, always loving to move and travel around. I’m hoping to move back to Colorado in the next year or two, I miss the mountains a lot!” Noelle is a bartender at Chili’s and she loves her job. She also bartends special events such as concerts and festivals. “I am looking forward to bartending backstage on NYE for Stick Figure! I was lucky enough to be asked and even got to design a menu based on their songs, so it’s pretty exciting!”

Interesting fact about Noelle is that she used to be very shy. While she isn’t really anymore she said she does have her awkward moments where the shyness can creep back in. “Being a bartender makes me always very social so when I’m off I like to be alone and can be introverted.”

Noelle loves helping people – strangers, friends, and especially animals! “I have a rescued prairie dog named Pfife Dawg, 2 rescued pups named Chara and Falkor and a stray cat made house cat named Snaxx. I look forward to helping people and try to even on vacations.  Volunteering in Mexico during CTTS was the best part of the trip. And I often collect items for donations in my county or for disaster relief around the country.”

Other musicians that Noelle loves include Jane’s Addiction, A Tribe Called Quest, Bad Religion, Flogging Molly, Björk, Social Distortion, The Interrupters, Digable Planets, Operation Ivy, Beastie Boys, SOJA, G. Love,  Big Data, and Faith No More. One of her guilty pleasures is Justin Timberlake. She also loves reality T.V. “I even tried out for Big Brother but froze up on camera, haha!!”

To 311 Noelle would like to say: “Thank you for breaking me out of my shell and helping me discover who I truly am, and bringing unquantifiable amounts of positivity into my life! And bringing me the bestest friends anyone could ever ask for!”

Her message to all the other fans out there:

“Always help others! Even a smile to a stranger could change their day. Always give without expectations. And in the words of my best friend….Do no harm but take no shit! 

Also if you see me, I could be in shy mode, so please say hi!!!”

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Thank you Noelle Dion for sharing your story! As always, many thank you’s to all who read each week. Until next time, keep being awesome!

Much love – The Runt

Hey there, all people out in 311 nation! Another week is upon us which means it’s time for the new edition of the fan spotlight. So let’s read all about Kristy Weick!

During the 90’s Kristy listened to a lot of radio, and that’s where she first heard 311 songs like, “Down,” “Don’t Stay Home,” and “All Mixed Up.” She didn’t have cable at the time but a friend did, so when she was there and they were watching MTV, she finally saw the video for “Down.” “I was absolutely taken with Nick – his shocking blonde hair and his singing – and so the song hit hard right then! I don’t care how ridiculous that sounds, it’s 100% the truth!” She then ran out and bought the blue album and obsessed over learning all of the lyrics – even SA’s parts! “I was already hooked on the unique sound and combination of musical styles and rapping/singing, so I bought Music and Grassroots at the same time some point not long after that (at good old Circuit City!), and ever since, Grassroots has been my favorite 311 album.”

For Kristy her show count is somewhere in the 50’s and she just added one more yesterday! Her first show was back on August 19, 1997 at Darien Lake, near Buffalo, New York. “The setlist is nowhere to be found, so if anyone can find it, please let me know!” Favorite event for her was the very first 311 cruise. “It really gave me a true sense of the 311 community, and the excited anticipation of not knowing exactly what would happen on such a special vacation, then it turning out to be truly magical, really solidified how important and impactful being a 311 fan was to me.”

Some songs that Kristy says really connect with her soul are “Weightless,” “Tranquility,” “Seems Uncertain,” “Golden Sunlight,” plus “And a Ways to Go.” Some of her all time favorite songs are “Homebrew,” “8:16AM,” “1,2,3,” and “Do You Right.” One of her favorite lines from a song is, “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity.”

Rochester, New York, is where Kristy grew up. She lived in New York City for a few months during college but then moved back upstate to save up enough money to move to Orlando, Florida. She was in Florida from 2004 to 2007 and then she moved to Los Angeles for a job opportunity for two years. “I learned so many valuable life lessons living in LA, and that is also when I started taking live photos for 311.  What an adventure that has been, and I am so thankful that this is an occasional special thing that I can do to support the band that I love and share the photos with other fans. I have been shooting bands in general since 2004, and even though I haven’t shot for a publication in years, I still get to shoot a live show a few times a year, and can say that I have taken live photos of nearly all of my favorite bands.  My favorite moment shooting 311 was at Red Rocks in 2013 – so surreal!” Here is the link to Kristy’s photography: http://www.facebook.com/kapturecreative

While in L.A., Kristy figured out what she wanted to do with her life so she moved back to Orlando, bought a house, and went back to school to get her master’s degree because it was required to have in her chosen career of being a mental health counselor. “Being a person who has been active in the LGBTQ+ community of Orlando before and during the Pulse tragedy in June 2016 has solidified how much I love this city and the people in it. We support each other, we have amazing people living here and contributing to the community in so many ways, and even some pretty awesome politicians, believe it or not!  #OrlandoUnited #LoveWins”

Some other musicians that Kristy loves include The Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Fear Factory, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Ghost, Twenty One Pilots, BT, Armin van Buuren / Gaia, Ferry Corsten, a ton of other trance music DJs/producers, Stabbing Westward, Alex Vargas, Carpark North, Radiohead, The Verve Pipe / Brian Vander Ark, The Civil Wars, Genesis / Phil Collins, Imogen Heap, Jimmy Eat World, Kenna, Missio, Soul Coughing / Mike Doughty, Lo Moon, Muse, Mutemath, Nero, Our Lady Peace, Tool / A Perfect Circle /Puscifer, Robert DeLong, Royksopp, Say Anything, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Underworld, Walk Off the Earth, The Cure, 2 Skinnee Js, The Urge, and The Dirty Heads. “311and all of my other favorite bands/musicians get me through SO MUCH, I don’t know what I would do without music.  I am so thankful to my mother who instilled in my brother and me how important it is to enjoy life, especially through music.  She made countless multi-hour drives to make sure we enjoyed special concert moments when I was in high school, teaching us the value that living life to the fullest is what life is all about.”

While Kristy became a mental health counselor, her Bachelor of Arts is actually in Music Industry. “I was so inspired by my favorite bands during the 90s that I wanted to support them in any way I could, and to discover and promote new bands who blew my mind and I thought the world should hear, too.  Many life changes later, I am now a mental health counselor – life’s a journey!” 

Kristy loves belly dancing and Arabic music but she hasn’t done it in a few years. “I always practiced at home or in a small class, but never performed in public until the first 311 Caribbean Cruise during the talent show.  It was a bucket list item of mine to perform a dance in public at least once, and I am so thankful I was able to make it happen, as challenging as it was with the boat rocking in the waves!” Guilty pleasure for Kristy come in the form of the game Candy Crush Soda Saga.

To 311, Kristy would like to say, “Thank you for being you and sharing part of your lives with us!”

To all the other 311 fans, here is her message to you:

“I want all LGBTQ+ 311 fans to know that I am here for you – please reach out if you ever need a friend!  <3 I also want to thank everyone who has supported me as a photographer over the years – it means so much to me to be able to do this for you and the band.”

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Thank you Kristy for sharing your story with everyone! Everyone check out her photos when you have a second for some lovely shots of our favorite band. Much gratitude to all of you who read the spotlight each week and support your fellow excitables. Have a fantastic week!

Much Love – The Runt