Welcome back friends to the newest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! Take a break and let’s read the story of Anthony DiDomenico!

Anthony said that becoming a 311 fan is a multi-layered story. The year was 1996 and he was just 10 years old when he started watching MTV and seeing the music video for “All Mixed Up.”  “Up to that point I listened to what records my parents had. Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Michael Jackson, and Tower of Power. I gathered up my money from mowing neighbors lawns and bought three albums; 311-Blue Album,  Sublime-40oz to Freedom, and No Doubt-Tragic Kingdom.” He listened to the blue album over and over. Even as his music library grew, he always would go back to the blue album. “I wore that CD out so much that I knew when the skips would come and sing it with the skips.”

A couple of years later Anthony’s best friend, Anthony Daratany, had an older sister Nicole who got them even more into 311 and the culture around it. He said it was like discovering them all over again. “Diving into the their first four albums, the lyrics, their message and figuring out what all that means to me. I started learning to play guitar and of course the first riff I learned was “All Mixed Up”! Then six years later, the most important thing to any concert addict happened. I got a car and could drive me and my friends to concerts!” Seeing 311 live added another layer of fandom for him. “What has always drawn me to 311 and their music is the people who listen to it with me. The friends I had in 5th grade that listened to 311 with me, to this day, still listen to 311 with me. That crowd has grown with every show, more and more every year. Especially within the past ten years and social media bringing us together. From the parking lot to the pit, the connection that we all have because of our love for 311, the music, and the unity…IS INTOXICATING. Every show is like a recharge of positivity flowing through my veins.”

Show count for Anthony is at 32, which includes Pow Wow, two 311 Day events in New Orleans, and 5 out of the 6 cruises. “Missed the last one because I’m a new daddy and homeowner.” He’s kept every ticket stub of every concert he’s attended and they go into a Star Wars lunch box. First show for him was July 25, 2004, at Jones Beach in New York. “I came back from a family vacation (a cruise, which are the worst when its not 311!) and an awesome Slinky bought me tickets to my first show!” Favorite show for him was the beach show on the second cruise. “The clouds were grey and we were worried we were gonna get a rain out/wind/ cancellation of the show, then literally 311 forced the sun out with the words “Sunshine! Are you Outside?”!!!!  The splash pit was epic! And the experience of seeing a show in the water…the groovy island setlist made it the best 311 show and the best concert experience I have EVER had!”

Two songs of the 311 catalog mean a lot to Anthony and they are “Purpose” and “Livin’ & Rockin’.” “Purpose” was the first love song that he truly felt. “”They say love is a stream that will find its own course’ – those words still resonate with me to this day. It might have made its way to a couple of mix tapes.” Then there is the song “Livin’ & Rockin’.” “I wrote a script about 311 fans going to see a summer show and figuring out the problems of their lives. Taking years to complete (still trying to fund it!). When it came down to pick a title I thought about every single song in the 311 library. I needed a title that not only is catchy and exciting but explains what life is as a 311 fan, a title that personifies youthful exuberance, and provides an answer to life’s questions….the answer LIVIN AND ROCKIN!!!!!”

Lyrics that Anthony loves include ” You’ve got to trust your instinct and let go of regret. You’ve got to bet on yourself now star. ‘Cause thats your best bet.” “As recent as two months ago I needed these words in my life. I went through a dry spell with work, a business venture didn’t happen quickly enough for me and I was hemorrhaging funds.  I contemplated quitting my career as a filmmaker and have a normal steady job. I was applying to anything and everything; carpenter jobs, marketing jobs, even working at an Amazon warehouse.  The world LITERALLY told me no, you shouldn’t do this or that job. I hustled to make ends meet taking film jobs I shouldn’t be doing at this stage in my career, I doubled down, and bet on myself. Putting my ideas to pen and with the help of a friend, we are in discussions about developing a show with a new online network!” He also loves the line, “” What if it were true, that you weren’t so blue. And you felt like you could just do anything. But we’re facing the sunset and for a moment it looks like it’s rising. And we are on the other side of things.” “When I hear this song, the heavy chords, Nicks rap, analyzing society, educational system, and ones self…I get lost in thought, and I start contemplating on some topic. It’s like a mental spark to me.”

Born in College Point, Queens, Anthony moved out to Levittown, Long Island, New York, when he was 5 years old. After he graduated high school, he went upstate to Utica College where he played football. After graduating with a degree in Business Marketing, he decided that a cubicle in an office was not where he belonged. He cashed in a bond that his Cuban grandfather gave him when he was born and the attended New York Film Academy to learn filmmaking. “  I’ve been making movies and television since fall 2009. I’ve worked on close to 50 projects some not so note worthy but some ABSOLUTELY. AMAZING. I got to travel the country working on America’s Got Talent (the Howard Stern years), I got to work (very intimately) with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their “Go Robot” music video, the Daily Show, day played on Gotham over four years, and the MTV VMA’s. I’ve worked on over 30 movies with some really great actors; Chris Evans, Keanu Reeves, Ray Liotta,  Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Alice Eve,  Rachel Brosnahan, Jesse Eisenberg, Olivia Wilde, Vincent Piazza,  and THE MAN John Leguizamo.  And of course, being one of the additional fan footage contributors on ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL 3! Thanks for using my footage B Love!!!! I produced my first concert film for Ballyhoo! called Ballyhoo! Live in NYC. If you didn’t buy it in their PledgeMusic Campaign, its all good! We’re in discussion to release it on Youtube for free! You’re welcome everybody.”

Before he bought his house, Anthony had the greatest apartment in Brooklyn with his “heterosexual life mate” Shawn Van Houten. “My brother and I hosted everyone in the familia that visited NYC, from Bobby Jones to J Randy! Cooking food, playing tunes, and feeling good! Thats what the familia apartment was all about!” For funding his 311 habit, Anthony has these words: “It’s all about allocating your money for what’s important to you so this is how I explain it. I got to personally meet 311 on the fourth cruise, the fan film crew got invited to their suite and we met them while grooving to The Green rocking the boat.  When Nick and I greeted each other before I say anything, Raspler said “This guy never misses anything”. Nick laughingly thanked me for my hardcore fandom and I said…”The Cruise is the greatest experience of my life, I’ll never miss one…Conedison is gonna have to wait to get paid because the cruise payment comes first!” Everyone laughed because the whole room was listening to me. Great. Moment.”

Fun fact about Anthony: “If you don’t know…now you know…I’m the guy who is always dressed like BATMAN!” Talent that Anthony has is that he’s a really great piano player…except when he’s drunk though! Guilty pleasure for him is fishing and being a suburban dad living on Long Island! “Give me the ocean! Now I just need a boat!” Anthony also loves to cook, especially on the grill. Check  out his families instagram where they share their creations with the world! @didomenicofamilydelicacies

As far as other music that he loves, he said he will fully immerse himself in a band for months at a time. “Right now, I’m all in on Tool, in anticipation of FEAR INNOCULEM. I’m listening to 10,000 Days, Lateralus, and Aenima on loop in my car when I drive to work, I’m reading Maynard’s autobiography, and watching every Youtube video on Tool guitar & bass tutorials.  A couple of months ago I got heavily into The Clash. Spotify ran an AMAZING audio documentary on them; Stay Free : The Story of The Clash narrated by none other than CHUCK D! The documentary stroke a chord with me and I bought their Live at Shea album on vinyl and CD, and trying to start a cover band for the Godfathers of blending musical genres called POLICE & THIEVES! Who’s in?!?! I never miss a Rob Zombie concert and always buy his albums, groovy monster music you can dance too?!?!? I’m in! I have to mention here how special The Beatles are to me. The Beatles One album changed my life, I was thirteen, it is the line of demarcation for me from child to young adult.  I constantly think, listen, talk, and read about the Beatles. I have Beatles paraphernalia everywhere! I have every album on vinyl, books, paintings, posters, I have even have the Monopoly Game, Beatles edition!  I was super excited to see the film Yesterday which was a very cool and interesting film! Hope everyone sees it! And probably the coolest thing is The Beatles are sooooo cross generational. My parents loved it…I love it…even my daughter loves it!  I bought belly buds (headphones for pregnant bellies) so I could play Beatles music while she was in the womb. When Nicole was in labor I wanted the Beatles to play while Isabella was being born. My phone went through all of Abbey Road and then to Sgt. Peppers, when Isabella greeted this world it was to the tune; Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds! We almost changed her name to LUCY!!! Later when the doctor came in and did the auditory test for Isabella, there was a one second moment that breaks my heart to this day. I imagined a world that Isabella would grow up never hearing The Beatles. Never knowing what their music means to the world.  Never sharing their music with me….But as quickly as that thought entered it quickly was gone because the doctor said her hearing is perfect. And I’ve been playing her the Beatles everyday since! Her favorite song is Twist and Shout! One of her favorite shows to watch is Beat Bugs. For those without children, this is a kids program on Netflix where each episode is a Beatles song, and the story ties in/involves the song in some way.  She loves the show AND the music…and when you see her dance to it. You wish that you enjoyed ANYTHING the way Izzy loves to dance to The Beatles.”

To 311, Anthony has these words: “Stay true to yourselves…and we’ll always be here.”

To his fellow 311 fans:

“To everyone out there saying P.L.U.R….don’t just say it…live it. Put down the phones, get off social media, be in the moment! How can you enjoy anything in life if your concentration is on a phone?! Take care of your bodies, minds, and souls….and I’ll see you at the next show, in the parking lot with a beer and a hug waiting for you. Thank you for giving me life long friendships, hilarious stories, and moments I’ll never forget.  I love the Familia and everyone in it!”

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Thank you Anthony for sharing your awesome story! Much love to you and to everyone for reading this edition of the fan spotlight. Have the best week you can! Until next time!

Much love – The Runt

Welcome back my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s that time…we are about to learn all about another awesome fan! And today is his birthday! So give him a big shout out as it’s time to meet Ryan Boozer!

It was summer of 1996 and Ryan was on a church youth trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A friend of his saw his Rage Against the Machine shirt and said he had a band for him to listen to. “He then proceeded to let me borrow a copy of the blue album. Popped it in, miT starts the opening riff of Down and by the time the whole band drops in, I was hooked & finally had found my all-time favorite band.” Ryan then went home and got his own copy of the album, and shortly thereafter picked up Grassroots and Music, as well as some live bootlegs. He wanted to listen to everything he could get his hands on.

The music of 311 was so unique to Ryan and different than most everything else he heard, which is what attracted him to it. “I really liked the hybrid sound/blending of different musical styles. It immediately grabbed me like nothing else to that point, and only a handful of other groups/acts have come close since then.”

Number of shows is at 92 for Ryan. His first show was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 8/31/97 during the Transistor tour. “De La Soul opened up for them & I was 9 rows dead center behind the pit.” Out of the 92 shows, the cruises are the shows that stand out to him as favorites. “It’s very magical to me to have that many other hardcore fans from all around the globe to come together & see the music we love on a boat for a few days. I feel lucky that 311 does them.”  A close second for him would be 311 Day events or Pow Wow.

Favorite song for Ryan is “Time is Precious” and he has a good reason – he proposed to his wife during it at 311 Day 2018! “I was able to ask a close source to the band if they had plans on playing it and got confirmation the day before we left that it was going to be played and when I needed to be ready. 311 means a lot to me and my wife (she has been to 41 shows with me & saw them a few times before we were together) so it was amazing to have that special moment to hold onto. Nick also says ‘These memories will last forever because time is precious’ before they play it. To most that’s just another line of the show but warms my heart to have that as part of MY 311 history.” A favorite lyric of his is from “Offbeat Bare Ass” – “Do what thou wilt.”

Ryan has spent most of his life in Charlotte, N.C, at least 34 out of his 36 years. He was born in Tampa, Florida, and also lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Dallas, Texas, for short periods of time. Over the years he’s been employed at a video game store, a few pizza places, a mail/packaging store, and a head shop. He currently owns his own business with his wife called GB Unique Creations. “We help other people/bands/companies make merchandise & sell our own products online. We also set up merchandise booths at different EDM shows. We are lucky enough to be able to work in town as well as other cities in the Southeast. Anything within a 4-hour radius of us we try & hit if we can. It’s a lot more work than we both thought but we love it. I’m going to do it as long as I can.”

A hobby for Ryan is that he’s an avid CD collector. “I have over 500 CD’s total. For 311 alone, I have 47.” Fun fact about Ryan is that he’s had the opportunity two times to make merchandise for 311. “The first time I helped them make the 311 Day 2016 wings pins (1^st official lapel pins). The 2^nd time I helped them make the official pin & patch for 311 Day 2018 (2^nd ever official lapel pins).  I feel very honored to be able to say this. When I started my company, I said I wanted to help them make their 1^st ever official pin so to turn that into a reality was pretty surreal.”

As far as uniqueness for Ryan, he has an interesting story. “So, it’s well known that the guys are into aliens (especially SA). I had a session with a sound/energy healer a little while back where she told me that she had never felt a vibration like mine & then proceeded to tell me that this was my 1st time in a human body. According to her I had several other life’s & have been to several different galaxies beyond our own. It was a very cool experience. My wife Grace wasn’t surprised at all when she heard this.”

As far as guilty pleasures, Ryan is a die-hard sports fan. “Love me some Carolina Panthers football & Charlotte Hornets/UNC Tar Heels basketball. Was able to see the Tar Heels win a Championship LIVE in 2009 in Detroit, MI.” Other music he loves includes Story Of The Year, Bassnectar, Pendulum, Funeral For A Friend, Tauk, Atmosphere, Grieves, Adair, Disturbing The Peace, STS9, and The Police (just to name a few).

To 311, these are Ryan’s words: “You guys are my version of The Beatles/Kiss/James Brown/Grateful Dead (that’s what you mean to me compared to other legendary artists thru time).  You will always be my favorite band, thanks for affecting my life the way you have. I know I’d be on a very different path without it.”

To Ryan’s fellow 311 fans:

“Go see as much live events (whatever you are into-music, comedy, sports, theater, etc.) as you can. 311 is my favorite so they get the most of my time/$/energy, but I also go see other music (as well as comedians & sporting events) on a regular basis. At this point I have been to a bunch of very special shows (some 311 some not) & some of those if I hadn’t gone, I might not have ever been able to see that act/band/performer ever (or at least that line up/version of the band). A lot of these shows were out of town, but had I not made the effort then I would have missed out. I’ve also been able to meet a bunch of these artists because of going to the show & even hung out with a few. It’s pretty cool when you get to tell any performer (musician, comedian, athlete) what they mean to you. Life is short, buy the tickets!”

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That my friends is Ryan Boozer’s story! I hope you enjoyed the read this week and thanks Ryan for being a part of this project. Of course, all who keep reading, you absolutely rock! Go have an amazing week, stay positive & love your life!

Much Love – The Runt