Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s time for yet another awesome fan spotlight. Let’s learn the story of Brinton Thrasher!

It was at the age of 10 back in the mid 90’s that Brinton heard 311 on the local alternative radio station. “One particular scene that comes to mind was hanging out by a pool and All Mixed Up played on the radio – the beat, the sound, and the way it added to the general ambience of the area near all of my friends drew me to their music immediately.”

Show count for Brinton is approximately 20 and he believes his first show was around the year 2000, in Kansas City. As for the favorite event he’s attended, he chose the last two cruises. “The lineups, the people – AWESOME!”

For the song that means the most to him, Brinton said he would choose “All Mixed Up” because of the nostalgia it brings him. He also loves “Good Feeling” because it’s such a happy song! As for lyrics that stand out to him, Brinton loves the thought process of “Evolution.” “We have the ability to do so much as a species but there is fear in the unknown that hinders.”

Brinton was raised in a small suburb of Kansas City, on the Kansas side. His dad was in the military so they moved around a bit but ended up settling in Kansas. “I was able to make a ton of great friends and find myself listening to lots of 90s alternative and grunge. My parents were pretty strict especially with the type of music I listened to so I tried really hard to find as much punk rock, hard rock, and rap as I could find to listen to. All of those types of music were my means of escaping and relaxing.”

Music was such a love of Brinton’s that he started playing it as well as listening. “I can play a little bit of guitar and drums so now I make my own music all inspired by those bands that I listened to growing up.” 311 has always stayed as Brinton’s go-to music choice. “All of my immediate friends liked them so we would always put them on when hanging out at the pool, skating around the park, running through the neighborhood, etc.  The mix of hip hop, funk, rock, was the best of all worlds for me. I loved that I could relax to the sound of All Mixed Up and then listen to SA rap about our Galaxy.”

Fun fact about Brinton is that he won a hula hoop contest at Universal in Orlando when he was a sophomore in high school! Something that makes him unique is that he is a pilot, a commercial driver, and a scuba diver. “So I have conquered air, land, and sea! I just have a TON of interests!” Guilty pleasures include playing Call of Duty or playing disc golf with his pup!

Brinton listens to many types of music so there is a big list of artists that he can be found jamming out to. Some of them include Incubus, RHCP, Sade, Enya, Ice Cube, Zebrahead, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Ozomatli, Pennywise, and Metallica. “These were all the types of bands I listened to growing up.  I still listen to them now but have added a lot of other bands, especially metal to the list.”

As for Brinton’s message to 311, he would simply like to say: “Thank you for the years of great music, great fun, and all of the fun life experiences that came along with it!”

Now here are his words to 311 nation:

“Most of the 311 fans I have met have been super nice which is why I am drawn to the overall 311 vibe – I am used to the Midwest niceness and want to spread that everywhere I go.  Thank you to all of you who spread that love wherever you are!  I know for a fact we don’t all agree politically or socially but when we get together, none of that matters because love and music take over.”

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Many thanks to Brinton Thrasher for sharing his story of love for 311! Per the usual, much gratitude goes out to all of the continued readers and support of this blog. You all rock and I hope you have an amazing week. It’s almost 311 Day! YAY!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again all of you amazing Excitable people! As we inch closer and closer to our favorite holiday, let’s learn about yet another awesome fan. This week we meet Chris Colby!

Like many other fans, it was thanks to “Down” and “All Mixed Up” that Chris was introduced to the magic of 311. He heard them for the first time when he was still in high school and was immediately drawn to their unique sound.

While Chris doesn’t know the exact count of shows he’s attended, he believes it’s above 70. That includes shows at Red Rocks, Halloween 2010 and 2021, Pow Wow, and 311 Day in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016. His wedding day was on 311 Day in 2010! He’s also attended 5 out of the 6 cruises (they only missed the second cruise due to his wife being pregnant). First show he believes was August 13, 1997, at Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, MI.

As for favorite event/show, Chris couldn’t pick just one. Best he said he could do would be his top 3. “311 Day 2010, 311 Cruise 6, and 311 Pow Wow Festival.”

Of all the 311 songs that exist, Chris said picking a favorite is another tough question. He chose his top songs which include “Life’s Not a Race,” “Use of Time,” and “Outside.”

As for favorite lyrics, Chris has many that he loves including: “Of course we’ll bring the dog”, “Why are you sleeping… gotta get outside”, “Listen to your heartbeat, flow and imagine”, “To be one who loves, to be one who works, the nazz not something that can be given, the Brodel is inside you it comes from within”, “A day like today is for you… to let your mind unwind like you ought to”, and “…lover of animals, yeah I wanna hear ’em”!

The area near Grand Rapids, Michigan, is where Chris grew up and will always consider home. Half of his family is Canadian, so he also spent a lot of time in Ontario, Canada, as well. Central Michigan University is where Chris graduated from and it’s also where he met his incredible wife Megan! Chris was a DJ on the college radio station Modern Rock 91.5FM and played a lot of 311’s music during his time there. “We’ve lived in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida area since moving here from Michigan in 2005. I fund my 311 travels as a Creative Design Manager – designing product packaging, web, etc.”

Very cool fact about Chris is that his great uncle, Ray Getliffe, was the oldest living winner of multiple Stanley Cups before he passed away. “He played for the 1939 Boston Bruins and 1944 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup winning teams.”

Chris is very into Volkswagen vehicles and he said it’s sort of an addiction. “I’ve owned three 1967 VW Bugs, including my first car. All were originally the same color – VW Blue. I still own one of them today. I’ve owned many other VW’s too.” Guilty pleasure for Chris comes in the form of treasure hunting T.V. shows, like “The Curse of Oak Island,” amongst others.

For other musicians Chris can be found listening to, the list includes TOOL, Beck, Cake, The Elovaters, Thievery Corporation, Rebelution, Incubus, Turnstile, The Urge, Rage, Weezer, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Fatboy Slim, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Tears for Fears, and Dire Straits.

To 311, Chris has this question: “Want to get some tacos and a beer sometime?”

Now here are his words to the rest of Excitable nation:

“Much love to all the amazing friends and family we’ve made over the years in so many different places – you know who you are! All the thanks in the world to 311 for bringing us together!”

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Thank you to Chris Colby for sharing his 311 story! Without a doubt, I thank you all for reading each week. Thanks for the support and love my friends. Have an excellent week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends! Welcome back to another 311 fan spotlight. Let’s get right to it and meet Jimmy Clausen!

The year was 1995 and Jimmy was sitting in a friend’s college basement apartment, waiting for them to get ready so they could head to a party. They tossed in a CD and skipped right to track number 6, which was “Guns (Are For Pussies).” Then the next two tracks played and Jimmy was thinking, who the hell is this band? “The punchy verse’s, the rhythmic bass and melodies encapsulated me. I sat there alone tuned into the lyrics (trying to understand what Nick and SA were saying. I knew it was something I wanted to listen to! After Purpose played thru, I had heard 3-4 different styles of music between 3 songs, that blew me away. The friends surfaced from the bathroom and bedrooms by the end of Don’t Stay Home, I was waiting like 10 minutes to ask who the hell is this BAND! Instant Fan, bought CD’s the next day I think.”

Show count for Jimmy is a little fuzzy, but he believes it to be somewhere in the 35-40 range. First show for him was at the Barrymore Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 16, 1995. As for favorite show, it’s a tough choice, but he said it has to be his first show. “Went with a large group of friends, many of which was their first show also.  We all became loyal fans, and saw many more shows together, but always talk about #1 the most.  Nick started the show with,  “Yo Madison WI,  what up? I was born here if anyone gives a fuck!”   I think he was still finding a little positivity in the Fall of 1995. He also lit a J on stage, passed it down to the crowd, and surfed during the show at one point.  No Doubt was the second act on, before Tragic Kingdom was on the radio, they were pretty punk, and played super hard and that was cool to see.”

Song that means a lot to Jimmy is “Silver.” “There is no major reason other than I just want to nod and dance to it. It has a funny intro and I like the message.” As for fave lyrics, he loves these from “Silver:” “Now I got a click but it’s more like a family, not an ethnic trip, more like an ethic. See, I write the rhyme today, tell it to you later. Whether we’re coming in whack or what it’s a waste to be a hater.” Jimmy also loves the opening verse from “Applied Science:” “Nod your head to this, as a lot of apprentice, some of this were standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Jimmy was born and raised in the midwest, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. He was pretty quiet as a kid and didn’t talk much because he stuttered (which he still does but uses speech skills to try and be more fluent). “It’s a horribly psychological impairment (especially as a kid) because you know what you want to say, it can be hard to get it out, and then the cruelty of kids can leave some scars.” He played a lot of sports and liked exercising growing up. When he was around 10 years old his father bought a southern Wisconsin tavern and from 13-18 years old he worked there. “I definitely learned a lot in that place and got more confidence.”

Jimmy attended college at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, then he had a daughter at the young age of 21. He then graduated and had 2 more children with his wife Dawn, and they’ve been together for 20 years now. “We have lived in Central Florida now for 7 years, and I am a sales manager for a fitness equipment manufacturer.  Our oldest daughter has a child, I’ve been a grandfather since March 11th 2020, yep…. a 311 Granddaughter!!!!”

Interesting fact about Jimmy is that he can flex and/or shift something in his inner ear! “I really don’t even know what part it is that I’m moving.  The same function that most need to hold their nose for and blow out? (I  think) I can do it without anyone knowing I’m doing it. This is especially helpful on airplanes, which I am on often!”

Something that makes Jimmy unique is his “big” laugh, which he says is utterly ridiculous. “It’s super loud, like a major Cackle. If something gets me good I’ll laugh about it for days, replaying it in my head.  I try to laugh as much as possible, I think it keeps us young!”

Guilty pleasure for Jimmy is the music of Ke$ha! Other than 311 and Ke$ha, other music he can be found jamming out to include Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, Pennywise, Passion Pit, Everclear, Lupe Fiasco, Bad Religion, Postal Service, Ween, Atmosphere, and lots of 90’s hip hop like Tribe, De La Soul, Wu-Tang, Fugees, and Busta.

To 311, Jimmy would like to say: “Thank you for a partial lifetime of joy.  There really is not much better in life than that one simple feeling.”

Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“This is going to be a little trite but, I love that a lot of us are very much alike in many ways.  I have made some of my best friends through the journey of following this band. If you are passing through the Tampa Bay area hit me up, we have a good fam down here!”

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Thank you to Jimmy Clausen for sharing his story! As always, much gratitude to all the readers each week. Have an amazing day, week, month, year! Sending good vibes to you all.

Much Love – The Runt