Welcome again to all the peeps out in 311 nation! New week means we get to meet a new fan! Let’s all give a big warm welcome to the one & only Steve Faust!

It was thanks to the Hoax 2 skate video that Steve first heard the sweet sounds of 311 and it was the song “All Mixed Up.” It was back in 1995 or 1996. Then he attended his first show in September 1996. “That show is not in their archives. The Urge opened and 311 opened with what they now call the transistor intro into Homebrew but it was just a kick ass intro way before that album. Hex and Chad rocking the blonde hair and I had the ball chain necklace like Nick rocked.”

Total show count for Steve is at 133. He’s attended all the 311 Day events since 2002. He’s also been on all of the cruises. Two of his favorites are the second cruise and 311 Day 2004, because himself and two of his friends got to watch the show from the side of the stage. Another one he loved was the Atlantic City show when they performed two sets. And finally, there was the very first cruise. “Oh but the feeling of that first cruise set one was right up there also when the boys walked out was electric!!”

Songs Steve loves include “Summer of Love” and “Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm.” “Jacks in 04 311 day the lights panned up towards the end of the song just when kicks back in the rock and I remember looking up at all the fans and thinking to myself wow this is amazing everyone here for love and unity of the band.  Almost a feeling of reaching nirvana, got a little emotional to be honest.”

The northern suburbs of Chicago is where Steve grew up. He now lives in Baltimore and has been there for the last 10 years. Steve got to see 311 about 40 or so times for free because he knew a guy that did the lighting, who would hook him up with tickets and backstage passes. This is how he ended up on the side stage for 311 Day in 2004. “Funny story about that 311 day, we had tickets then sold them cause my friend got us on the list and we walked up and were directed to go around the venue and we walked through the back of the venue where the buses are.  So we were running late and inside the arena not knowing where to go.  Finally ran into a guy who asked us what are you guys doing back here and showed him the pass and he then directed us to the side of the stage Pnuts side.  2 minutes later 311 comes on stage imagine if we had been just a little later we would’ve run into the guys. Oh and Nicole Scherzinger was there also rocking lol.  On the dvd at the end of freeze time and Nick is asking the how is everyone doing out there people in back and then how you over here meaning left side crowd and at the right time as the camera pans up if you hit pause you can see me and my friends holding our hands up.”

Fun fact about Steve, you can actually look him up on IMDB. “I was in my friends movie back in 07.” Steve can be found constantly quoting movies. He’ll be hanging out with friends and someone will say something or do something and he can instantly relate it to a movie scene or quote. 

Guilty pleasure for Steve is that he loves watching movies or T.V. shows like Ozark, Shameless, Suits or Sons of Anarchy. He said he’s even been known to get sucked into Vanderpump Rules sometimes! He also enjoys playing video games.

Other musicians that he loves include Ballyhoo!, Passafire, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Stick Figure, Phish, and Umphrey’s McGee.

Steve’s words to 311 are as follows: “Thank you for the music and all the great friends I’ve met because of your music and “good talk Russ and don’t let your mom smell that beer on your breath”🤣😂 ‘national lampoons vacation’.”

Now his message to all the other fans out there:

“Well it’s been a wild ride especially since social media! Been able to keep in touch and grow so many friendships.  “I mean just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on grandest ship in the world smoking pot and doing shots with you fine people” 🤣🍾 Titanic.”

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See, Steve really does remember a lot of movie quotes! Thanks Steve for being a part of the fan spotlight. Much gratitude to all the readers out there as well! Now go have a rocking week!

Much Love – The Runt

Oh hey there 311 nation! Who’s ready to read the next fan spotlight? Ok then, without further ado, let’s meet Ashley Thomas!

Ashley’s 311 journey began when her best friend in high school became a huge 311 fan, and Ashley was really into AFI. It wasn’t until she saw 311 live that she really fell in love. “We went to the Vans Warped Tour on 6/29/2001 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. AFI came on first and I waited for AFI to start for the 30 minutes while Alien Ant Farm performed in a crowd of so many people I could barely move. As soon as AFI started I thought I was going to die and I had to crowd surf out of there for the first time. As soon as 311 came on stage I was in love. The vibe of the crowd was 1000 times better and I immediately started jumping up and down. I probably crowd surfed at least 5 times during their set. The people around me were amazing and kept helping me up to crowd surf. I had a blast and I was hooked.”

The next show Ashley attended was the Halloween show at Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood. “My best friend and I were on the floor right in front and this show definitely sealed the deal for me as being a major fan. I bought every CD that came out after that and saw them for a total of 5 times from 2001-2003. Unfortunately, when I went away to college I no longer had my bestie to go to shows with and did not see them again live until I finally found some people to go with on the 2017 Caribbean Cruise. The cruise was completely life changing for me. I fell back in love with 311 even more and discovered the 311 community aka familia. I met so many amazing friends which have now become family. I realized how close everyone was and loved how everyone I met on the ship was family from the beginning.”

After the cruise, Ashley decided to travel to Chicago to see 311, and she ended up at a barbecue that some fellow excitables were throwing, even though she didn’t know the couple throwing the BBQ! “Family and friends did not understand how I was going to someone’s house that I did not know. I said their family and sure enough everyone at the BBQ was family. I met so many more amazing people and that show was definitely one of my favorites. I was on the rail and there were about 30 of us familia all together loving the show together.” Total show count for Ashley is now at 24.

Favorite events for Ashley have been the cruises in 2017 and 2019. “I would have to say that although the 2017 Caribbean Cruise got me back into 311 and was super live changing the 2019 Caribbean Cruise would definitely have to my favorite for sure because of my amazing roommates and how many of my favorite people were on it.” One of her favorite memories comes from another event, and is as follows: “I went to the Manhattan Beach DirectTV taping while I was still recuperating from ankle surgery. I went on my Knee scooter and I had a crutch. I danced the entire show on one foot right up front with a crutch. After the show Pnut saw me and realized that I was there still rocking out with a crutch. His face was classic I wish I could have taken a picture. He looked at me with the biggest sad puppy dog look, jumped off the stage and gave me the biggest hug.  I will never forget that day. I saw so frustrated that my ankle was still a mess, but I went to the show anyways and I made the best of it. Pnut made it completely worth it.”

A song that is a favorite of Ashley’s is “All Mixed Up.” But then after her life changing 311 cruise experience, “Island Sun” is now one that means the most to her. Some lyrics she loves include, “Every day there are mountains, and some times the ocean,” “You’ve got to trust your instincts, and let go of regret,” and “Cuz there’s a better place to be and it’s one you need to see in this lifetime, so get on board and be on your way.”

Van Nuys, California, is where Ashley was born. Her parents divorced when she was just 1 and she moved to Culver City to live with her grandparents. In the summer before she went into first grade she moved to Manhattan Beach. “I grew up with a single mom who sacrificed everything for me to be in a good school district. In third grade I suffered from a brain aneurysm that burst and I was paralyzed on my whole right side. I was hospitalized for the first month of third grade and had to learn how to do everything again learning to walk to learning to read and write again. When I returned to school I had to transfer schools in order to placed in all day special education class, because my school that I had attended since 1st grade did not offer the class until 4th grade. I attended this new school for the rest of the school year and then we able to return to my home school with all of my friends the following year which I was back in general education classes with just pull-out special education support.  Although I still struggle with reading and writing I was able to go off to college and get all A’s and B’s with a lot of work. I would never be where I am today if it was not for all of the help from my resources specialist teacher; therefore, I decided to a resources specialist myself.”

Ashley attended Fresno State where she got her bachelors degree and teaching credentials. She had chosen Fresno State because of the small class sizes and there was snowboarding. “There was a mountain that was only an hour and a half away. While I was in school I was able to go snowboarding like every weekend during the winter.” When she graduated she moved back home and started teaching. She continued snowboarding but had to drive 6 hours to Mammoth to do it. She is currently a middle school special education teacher but has also taught kindergarten through 12th grade.

Every summer, Ashley volunteers for a week at a YMCA resident camp. “I have been going to camp since I was in the 5th grade.” We’ve already learned that she loves snowboarding, but Ashley said that she gets in about 30 plus snowboarding days each season. Guilty pleasure for her is that she watches all episodes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

For other bands, Ashley said she really enjoys all music except country. “Punk has definitely always been one of my top music genres, but I also really like Ska, Reggae and Alternative.” Musicians that she loves include  NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, The Vandals, Reel Big Fish, Too Rude, Rebelution, Stick Figure, and Slightly Stoopid.

To 311, Ashley has these words: “ Thank you for always putting on amazing shows and bringing us fans together. The positive energy you guys put out is what keeps us fans together.”

And to all the other fans out there:

“Thank you to all of the family I have met. I love spending time with all of you and sharing our love for 311. Thank you for always being there for me. I can always count on you guys to be there. Stay positive and love your life!”

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That is the story of Ashley Thomas! Thanks for sharing your tale and as always, much gratitude goes out to all the readers. Have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello out there my friends in 311 nation! The time has arrived to learn all about another fan. This week we meet Andrea McIrvin!

For Andrea, 311 came into her life when she was working at a rock radio station KRRO in Sioux  Falls, South Dakota. “All Mixed Up” and “Down” were in rotation at the time. “  Our salesman brought some tickets in to giveaway for a show in Sioux City (an hour down the road on I29), for 311 and Shootyz Groove. It was 1996.  (I think!? Hazy on this.) I gave a bunch of tickets away on air, and kept a pair for myself, and I had the best time!  I bought the Blue CD, and then started listening to the entire album on repeat. And put my first 311 sticker on my car in 1997.”

Count for shows she never really tracked until she met people in the Familia who kept tabs on their shows. She believes it’s somewhere around 25 shows, over 23 years. Her favorite event was 311 Day 2018, which was her first. “It was a dream-come true, after being a fan for so long and never getting a chance to attend.  I went by myself, and stayed in Las Vegas for 4 days.  Made new friends on the 311 Facebook pages before I went, so I had people to connect with once I got there.  And the person sitting next to me both nights of the shows was a total stranger, but totally cool and we are still friends to this day!”

One of her favorite songs is “I’ll Be Here Awhile” and has been the one she turns to when she needs to remind herself “living is a worthwhile thing.” She loves the harmonies and upbeat vibe, the lyrics, and when Andrea sings it out loud in her car, she knows she can make it another day. She also really loves the song “Get Down.” “I made an effort to get in shape after one particular 311 show (and I was dying from exhaustion.)  I listen to that song to begin every walk I take, and I have logged thousands of miles now, with 311 as my soundtrack.” She loves the line, “It’s time to get down, boots to the ground, you know I won’t stop until I hear the bell sound.”

Andrea, who’s radio name is Audrey and to her friends she goes by Aud, grew up in northwest Iowa. She said she’s just as old as the guys in 311. She attended college in Maryville, Missouri, which is just south of Omaha. After graduation she went into the radio field. “I’ve been moving up and down the dial for 27 years now.” She’s been lucky to have worked at several alternative radio stations in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, so she had lots of access to the new stuff from 311. “The Live Album, and then Soundsystem, and all the goodies that went with it from the record company.  Tickets, backstage passes, headshots signed, etc… I ways considered 311 to be my happy pill….. I can listen to many different artists, but when I wanted to be feel GOOD, I put on 311.”

Now working in her hometown of Cherokee, Iowa, she continues to he in the radio industry. She moved back there when her son turned 3 so she could raise him in a safe environment. Her son Jack is now 13. Andrea said she’s and optimist who is “annoyingly” positive and looks for the good in people.” “I go to concerts as a religion, hobby, escape…. I have seen hundreds, and hundreds of shows of just about every artist in rock or pop.”

With her profession in radio and loving to go to concerts, there are many artists that Andrea loves. She loves Butch Walker, his solo stuff and his bands Floyds Funk Revival, The Floyds, and Marvelous 3. “I have seen Butch in some form over 40 times, since 1994.” Other musicians she loves include Toadies, Madonna, Morphine, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Janet Jackson, Prince, and Deee-Lite.

Interesting fact about Andrea is that she lost 45 pounds in preparation for 311 Day! She did it walking and to be healthier in general. “I  started walking 6-7 miles a day, from August 2017 to March 2018.  Headphones, 311, and good shoes. It helped having a purpose to be in good shape for that long weekend in Vegas.” Guilty pleasure for her? “PBS Masterpiece is my jam!”

To 311, Andrea has these words: “ I would just thank them for taking their fans seriously… for not overlooking the devotion we have.  I appreciate how much they practice, and the attention to details…. the planning they put into everything they do does not go unnoticed by me.  From marketing, to stage design, to light shows/visuals, album covers, interviews, merchandise and special appearances, in-store meet n greets.. they can literally do it all and always with class, humor, and goodness.”

Her message to all her fellow fans:

“I went to a show in Lincoln Nebraska in June 2017, after taking several years off from concerts to raise my son.  After that show, I googled anything 311, and that’s when I discovered The Familia.  I had NO IDEA there was an entire community of weirdos like me.  I literally thought I was the only one!  I engaged with a lot of different people in the Familia, and eventually got invited to join other 311-inspired groups… I have made SO many new friends, and learned so much more about positivity.  The only message I would want other fans to know is to keep on truckin’.”

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Thanks Andrea for sharing your fun story of how you became a 311 fan! Much gratitude for participating and to everyone else for reading. Hope you all have the best week you can have, go spread the good feeling!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back friends and fans of 311! It’s about that time that we meet a brand new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Jeffry Chambers!

Jeffry’s story starts when he was living in his brothers basement, recovering from his divorce, and his four kids stayed with him every other week. After some time he got his own place again and as he said, “the world began to turn more perfectly on its axis.” Since Jeffry felt a little more secure he began to self medicate but only when the kids weren’t around. “They busted me anyway and let me know by introducing me to this band that openly sang about weed.  It was interesting but not quite like my favorite Steely Dan style.  Christmas they gave me “From Chaos” and my musical world changed forever.  I listened to it every Sunday during what I called “kitchen church”.  Head nodding and solo kitchen mosh pit became a religious experience.”

Jeffry was happy with just that CD for some time until a friend of his, Tim Zinkan, whom he calls the “true master of ceremonies,” told him that there was so much more to 311. “Learned  about iTunes and downloaded 9 of their other albums to my computer in one setting.  I had found my bible.  Was given Stereolithic long cd by my people who went to 311 day 2014.  I have had 311on shuffle exclusively for three trips to Florida and back as well as for my own listening pleasure at home.  The number of plays is amazing as well as the fact they are still fresh and enjoyable.    Would have to say the fact that my kids were so into them was the first draw and then “Champagne” and “I’ll Be Here Awhile” filled me with lyrical and musical joy.”

Show count for Jeffry isn’t the highest but he’s loved every one he’s been to. First show for him was in 2005 in Indianapolis and The Roots opened. “Drove an old motorhome to it.  My youngest son was a senior and wanted to know if he and his friends could go back in the back and burn one on the way?  Youngest daughter was with us so it was kinda uncomfortable.  She said “don’t worry about it Dad it’s all good”.  And it was and is.  Even as a straight designated  driver who was fretting about his kids taking on one of the habits that their mother disapproved of 311 (The Guys) made me want to bounce.  Got bad knees so had to fake bounce.  Sure felt the music.” Jeffry also attended a show in Cincinnati and went on the 2015 cruise, which he said was his absolute favorite. “A highlight of my life.”

Some songs that Jeffry loves are “Beyond the Gray Sky” and “Made In The Shade.” Some lyrics he loves are: ““I got a mind full of weapons in the battle of me versus myself,” “Can you get with a melding of two minds?  What’s the worst thing you could find?  A paper trail that prevails in demystification.  People want to believe in mysteries.  Is the truth so bad?”

About Jeffry, he said like the song “Trouble” again, he’s just a kid from the middle. He had horses growing up so shoveling “natures best” and wanting to be a cowboy is how he spent his formative years. He left town after high school for 10 years to try and be a cowboy. “ Colorado, Wyoming, Lake Tahoe, San Jose, realized the limitations of wrangling came back to Indiana got married had four kids wanted to and still want to be a singer songwriter musician.  Didn’t help my marriage but remain signed on to musical aspirations for life.  My songs are a little too country to fit the 311 but I bet “the guys” would do them proud.”

An interesting fact about Jeffry? “Other than being Dad to some awesome people, I’m just ‘tall that’s all’.” As far as what makes him unique, he said he may be the oldest 311 fan. “I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want some of that”!  (From an In Living Color episode.)  Some of you may remember it.”

Some other musicians that Jeffry loves include Steely Dan, Here Come The Mummies, The Green, Frank Zappa, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Guilty pleasure for him is playing bass and pretending he’s a non-jumping Pnut to some of the songs on “Don’t Tread On Me.” He also has a Thursday night board meeting with some classmates and has only missed 8 of them. “ All the problems in the world are continually solved and opinions are tolerated while beer remains the binding elixir.  Females and sports are replaced somewhat, by blood pressure, prostate, blood sugar, etc.  Tolerance of our differences and the love for one another make the pleasure stronger than the hangover that grows as the number of barley pops decline.”

To 311, these are Jeffry’s words: “ “I’m not saying you’re greater than Jesus” but your songs help guide my life!”

To all of Jeffry’s fellow fans:

“Just be a good person, follow the “Golden Rule” whether it is reciprocated or not!”

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What an awesome story! Thank you so much Jeffry for sharing your tale of your love for 311. As always, many thanks to everyone for reading. Have an amazing 4th of July week! Summer is here!

Much love – The Runt