Welcome my friends in 311 nation! I hope you are all staying healthy and safe during this crazy time. Are we ready for this weeks fan spotlight? Let me introduce you to the amazing drummer of Ballyhoo! – Donald Spangler! 

Like many, Donald saw the video for “All Mixed Up” on MTV and that’s how he was introduced to 311. “Can you remember those days, videos on MTV. I remember liking the groove of it.” 

Number of shows he’s attended eludes him because he’s been to A LOT of shows, not to mention played a lot with 311. “I think the first time I saw them was back in ’03. I had been listening to them for years and never saw them, I was super excited.” 

Favorite event for Donald was the Pow Wow Festival. “That was the best time. It was probably one of the best sets I’ve seen by them, not to mention our set was pretty good too, haha! I’m just hoping they do something like that again.”

For song that means the most to him, Donald chose “I Told Myself.” “I was going through a self-inflicted misery at the time and that song really pulled me through.” One of his favorite lyrics comes from the song “From Chaos” – “Everyone tends to forget upon reentry, orbiting space quantum saints we’re the only.” 

Donald was introduced to music at a very early age, he said probably around the age of 4. His father was really into the bands Ratt and Poison and took him and his brother Howi to their first concert. “I just remember thinking, that’s what I want to do. The whole spectacle of the thing, the lights, the loudness, it was entertaining to say the least. We used to “play band” instead of riding our bikes with the other kids or watching cartoons. I would use unsharpened pencils as drumsticks, they had to be unsharpened, haha. We also had some neighbors once that had a band. They would let me mess around on their drums, I was hooked.” Then when Howi entered high school they started their band Ballyhoo!. “From the basement to the stage, I can say music has defined my life. I don’t know what I would do without it.”

Donald played little league growing up and he was a pitcher. “I was pitching one game and ended up striking out 13 people in a row. That’s one of my Uncle Rico stories for ya.” Something unique about him? He brushes his teeth in the shower! “I know thats probably more gross to some people than unique, haha. It saves time and you can get that shit everywhere.”

Guilty pleasure for Donald? It’s the show Judge Judy! “I like watching some justice in action, she’s also super smart and fucks people up when they get out of line, haha.”

Some other artists that Donald loves include Lamb of God, Deftones, Slipknot, and All That Remains. “I like a lot of metal. I still listen to a lot of old stuff too. Nirvana, STP. I don’t mind putting on some classical music either.”

Donald has these words for 311: “Thank you for bringing a unique style to the forefront. Your music has helped me deal with some shit in my life and I can’t thank you enough. As a drummer I would say to Chad, it’s good to have someone to look up to and to force myself to get better everyday. Much appreciated.”

Now his words to all the other 311 (and Ballyhoo!) fans out there:

“To the fans of Ballyhoo!, the past 25 years in this band has been a wild ride and we wouldn’t be where we are without you! So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We’ll keep rockin if you keep listenin! More to come in 2020!”

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Thank you so much Donald for being a part of this! I’m sure everyone loved reading your story and are grateful to you for sharing it. To all the readers, keep being awesome! 

Much Love – The Runt

Happy 4/20 my excitable friends! As always, I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Today we have a very special spotlight nominated specifically for this holiday, so let’s read the story of Antonio Roumeliotis! 

It was back in high school that Antonio was introduced to 311 by his friend Mitch Lyons, “over lots and lots of blunts and hits from the bong.” 

Show count for Antonio is at 74 and his first show was when 311 was touring with Snoop Dogg and he saw them in Illinois. “Have every single ticket stub saved and when I reach 100 I plan to have them framed in chronological order!” 

As far as favorite event or show, Antonio said the second cruise wins hands down. “Nothing beats the splash pits at the island show. Bunch of grown ass adults splashing around like children. I’m getting chills just thinking about it!”

Song that means the most to Antonio is “Still Dreaming” and he said it’s his all time favorite song. Naturally, his favorite lyric comes from this song: “”No I’ll not renounce my views and do what others do. I’d rather drink the hemlock than be like you, to my soul untrue.” Antonio said that the Socratic reference speaks a lot to his Greek upbringing. 

Chicago, Illinois, is where Antonio grew up and then in 2012 he moved to Denver, Colorado. He was raised in a traditional Greek family. “If you’ve seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, other than the windex, that is spot on how I grew up haha.” Antonio has a son, Aristotelis (Aristotle) who is one and a half years old and a daughter set to arrive in May. His non-Greek wife went to Greek school so she can help teach their kids to speak Greek. 

Antonio speaks fluent Greek and guess what? His name isn’t Antonio. “I just have people call me that because it’s easier than explaining every time I meet someone that my name is Antonios. Pronounced Andonios. In Greek, if there is a T after an N it turns into a D sound. My family calls me Andoni for short.”

Guilty pleasure for Antonio is the show “Ancient Aliens.” “Don’t really believe many conspiracy theories, but love watching anything related.” Other artists that he loves include Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Beastie Boys, and Sublime. 

To 311, Antonio has these words: “There aren’t words to Express the thanks I have for you and this community you have created!”

Now his message to all of the other fans out there:

“I started going to 311 shows because I loved their music, now it’s much more than that, I go just as much for the community. Seeing all the great friends I’ve met throughout the years. (Some even ended up as groomsmen at my wedding) Love you all, and I’ll see you at the next one! And p.s. Shawn Van Houten is a pussy!!!* Haha now 6 year running inside joke…”

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Thank you Antonios for being a part of the fan spotlight and sharing your story! As always a huge thank you to the readers each week. Please stay safe & healthy, support each other. We will get through this! And again, happy 4/20 to all that celebrate it! 

Much Love – The Runt 

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Greetings & salutations my friends in 311 nation! Hoping you are all staying safe & healthy during these crazy times. Let’s take a positivity break and meet this weeks fan spotlight, Keith Bowman! 

It was the video for “Down” that introduced Keith to the music of 311. “I just loved it and was not making much money and my friend bought the blue album on cassette from Tower Records.”

First show for Keith was in Sacramento on November 1, 1997. It was his 21st birthday present from his brother. “It was supposed to be a surprise but my younger brother ruined it.” For show count, he is somewhere between 20-30 and says all of his shows have been special. “Cruise #2 on the beach, 311 Day 2012, small venues in Sacramento, House of Blues in Las Vegas, UC Davis at freeborn hall .. all very memorable shows. Living on the west coast and in Sacramento makes the opportunities not often but very quaint.” Favorite shows were from the second cruise. “Front and center for all shows including the beach show!” 

The song “It’s Getting Ok Now” mean a lot to Keith as he said the lyrics are pretty bold and SA is what really drew him to 311 with his lyrical rapping in the song “Down.” One of his favorite lyrics is one from SA – “We’re facing the sunset, but for a moment it looks like it’s rising and we are on the other side of things.” 

Keith was born in Spokane, Washington. His mom and dad divorced when he was just 5 years old. “I was born in the 70’s, raised in the 80’s, so music was my freedom of entertainment, that or my BMX bike.” He was raised by his mom in Sacramento, California. They always rented and he was never able to have a dog like he always wanted. “I currently have 3 dogs and once had 2 Jack Russell Terriers and 1 Doberman.”

Fun fact about Keith that many don’t know is that he never really played any sports. Unique attribute for him is that he says he can make a pun out of pretty much anything! Guilty pleasure for him? “I am obsessed with everything to do with the Golden State Killer.” 

Other musicians that Keith can be found listening to include Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Beastie Boys, and Soundgarden. 

Keith’s words to 311 – “Thanks for staying together!”

To all the other 311 fans out there:

“Stay positive and love your life! It is great to have other excitables.”

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Thank you Keith Bowman for sharing your story! Love and gratitude to the supporters of this venture each week as well. Remember to stay strong, send out as much love as you can and we will all get through this together! 

Much Love – The Runt 

Hola excitable nation! Sending you lots of love & hope you are all staying healthy my friends. Let’s distract ourselves for a few by meeting a new 311 fan spotlight…here is the story of Angela Bowman! 

It was thanks to Angela’s boyfriend (now husband) that she found the sounds of 311. He started playing the music for her and she fell in love. “We listened to it all the time.  I just liked the positive vibe that their music has and it is great to rock out to in the car.”

Angela has no clue how many shows she’s attended, but she knows she started going to them back in 1997. Her first show was at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. “After that show, I was hooked!” 

Favorite show for Angela was the beach show on the second cruise. “Hands down the best show.  On an island all to ourselves, 311 playing so awesome rare songs and people listening in the ocean.  That was the best show!!!”

For the song that means the most to Angela, she chose “Made in the Shade.” “It is a song about perseverance and having a positive outlook.” Naturally some of her favorite lyrics are from that very song: 

“You gotta keep on climbing the hill
‘Cause if you think you’ll make it you will
Go swimming quick like a fish and every wish will be fulfilled
Strike up and start the parade
Cutting down the weeds keep slinging the blade
And when they fire that warning shot
You’ll have a spot made in the shade.”

Born and raised in Northern California, Angela is an only child, which she said if you know her it probably explains a lot. She played sports her entire childhood, from competition swimming to soccer. Angela decided to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and she never once looked at the fact that it wasn’t really a degree a woman would choose. “I was the only girl in all my engineering classes and that never bothered me.  It made me want it that much more.  Thanks to my husband I got into designing mechanical systems for hospitals and I did that for 15 years.” She has since changed careers and is now a Project Leader for a general contractor. Her main client is a large healthcare provider in Northern California. “I love the challenge of trying to navigate through a controlled chaotic environment.  It keeps me on my toes and provides a new challenge every day.”

Fun fact about Angela – when she was in college she was on a competition hip hop dance team! “Our choreographer, Calvin Harris, was also one of Janet Jackson’s choreographers.” Something else you may not know about her, she is currently showing her Doberman in AKC dog shows to get his championship. “We are almost there!” Guilty pleasure for Angela is binge watching shows. She is currently watching “The West Wing.” 

Other artists that Angela can be found listening to include Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Dirty Heads, Prince, Smashing Pumpkins, Los Stellarians, Nick Hexum Quartet, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. 

Angela’s one sentence to say to 311: “Keep being you, don’t bend to the trends or fads.” 

Here is her message to all the other fans out there:

“Make a difference no matter how large or small. Remember your legacy.”

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That was the story of Angela Bowman friends! Much gratitude to her for sharing and as always to all of your support each week. Stay safe…stay healthy…stay positive and love your life! 

Much Love – The Runt