Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Happy Halloween 2022! It’s time for the next fan spotlight. Let’s hear it for Mario Ramirez!

For Mario, it was after seeing 311 live for the first time that he became an instant fan. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but I felt like the music went through me. The day after the show I went to the music store and bought all the 311 CDs they had.”

For show count, Mario has seen them 111 times. His first show was just after graduating high school, during the summer of 1995 at Hospitality Point in San Diego. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it was possibly an MTV Rock the Vote show.”

As for picking a favorite show or event, Mario said he really doesn’t have an answer because he has so many great memories over the years from all of them. ” I’ve gotten to this amount of shows because that is how much I love what these five dudes do to me musically. I’ve seen multiple 311 Days which are epic! If I had to single out two particular events, it would be the 2019 cruise, because two months before I boarded the ship I found out the mass on back of my head was not cancerous.  The other event would be the October 2021 Red Rocks show because it was not only a bucket list venue for me, but three weeks prior I successfully had the tumor removed from the back of my head. I decided to go to that show on my own for myself.”

One of Mario’s favorite songs is “Cali Soca.” “The reason why I’m choosing this particular song is because as 311 fans we all know that Nick and SA can sing and rap their asses off. This song does not include lyric it is just an instrumental. It is beautiful music to me. It is just the five of them making music. Whenever I play music, I tend to play this song first because it’s just a beautiful calypso summer song to me. I finally got to see this song performed live on night two at 311 Day 2022. That put the icing on the cake.”

As for a favorite lyric from 311, Mario said this line really strikes a chord with him: “I’d say you hung the moon if they asked me.” Mario then stated, “That’s just some smooth shit right there!”

Mario was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up in a very loving home with parents and sister. Being from San Diego, he is a huge Padres fan. “From the words of Eek-A-Mouse, “I love my city because it’s very pretty.” I say that because it is a privilege to live in Paradise. My trade is in the construction industry. I am fortunate that my career allows me to fund this 311 thing that I can’t get enough of.”

Fun fact about Mario is that he grew up surfing. Something that makes him unique? Mario said he’s a muse! “I make shit happen for myself and for others. I’m snazztastic! In all seriousness, I’m a halfway decent golfer.” Guilty pleasure for him is professional wrestling. “I grew up watching it with my dad, he was kind enough to order all wresting pay-per-views and took me to many shows. As I got older, I gave it up. The summer before my tumor surgery professional wresting came back into my left with a vengeance and I fucking love it!”

When not jamming the tunes of 311, one of the other artists that Mario really digs is Ozomatli. “One of the highlights of the 2019 cruise was seeing Ozomatli perform on the deck. I also like Little Stranger, reggae music in general, jazz, standards such as Frank Sinatra, and The Pharcyde.”

Mario would like to send this simple and wonderful message to the guys in 311: “Thank you for giving me beautiful music since 1995.”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:

“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

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Many thanks to Mario for sharing your story with us all! As per the usual, I can’t go a week without thanking all the awesome people who read this little project. I wish you all an amazing week and a very spooky Halloween!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means we get to learn the story of another awesome fan. Let’s meet Rachel Milstein Varney!

High school is when Rachel became a fan of 311, in 1997, when she heard “Come Original” on the radio. “I was drawn to the uplifting beats and the positivity in their lyrics, and drawn especially to the hot lead singer! ;)”

Show count is unknown for Rachel, as she never really kept track. She dis say it’s quite a few. First show for her was Edgefest on June 29, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As for favorite show or event she’s been to, she said it’s a tie between the second cruise beach show, Pow Wow, and the last Red Rocks show.

While picking a favorite song is difficult, Rachel said that right now it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “It is such a beautiful display of remembrance and always gets me choked up when I see it live. ‘Freak out’ is my other favorite, played live, it’s such a display of high energy.”

Some of Rachel’s favorite lyrics include: “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may, all I can do, all I can say. Gotta move to trust my instincts, and surrender and let my song sing itself,” “I believe in your purpose baby, coming up to the surface,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where Rachel was born& raised, and she is still residing there. Growing up it was just she and her mother, so she had a lot of time to herself while her mom worked. “I remember using her tape deck to record songs from the radio. I would call in to request the song and wait with my fingers on the play/record button to record to my cassette. 🙂 (the original download, I guess)”

Rachel’s mom took her to her first concert when she was 8 years old, and it was Randy Travis, who her mom loved. “I fell in love with the concert scene! As soon as I was old enough to choose my own music, I started purchasing albums from 311, STP, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc. As soon as she let me, I went to my first show. It was Edgefest, with 311/Gravity Kills/Incubus, Smashmouth, Limp Biskit and many more! I had the best time and knew festivals were going to be “my thing”!”

In 2002, Rachel was working for a parking garage, so she ended up listening to the radio all day long. “With that comes many many opportunities to win all the things! I got sooooo good at winning, the promotions manager and I were on a first name basis. She’d even call me if I hadn’t won tickets to a show and offer me the meet and greet options with a pair of tickets! I won tickets to every show I could and even had to start using my friend’s names when I won in order to follow the station’s rules. One time, my sister in law jokingly asked me to win her some tickets. (in this case it was actually to a 311 show, so it’s an even cooler story here!!!!) We turned on the radio while hanging out and I got the cue to call about 20 minutes in. I got through as caller 10 or 3 or 5 or whatever it was that day, and was told I had won!!!!! When I told the DJ what had transpired, they almost didn’t let me win, but instead had me hand the phone to my sister in law so she could claim the prize! LOL The next week, the day of the show, she got the call that she had won a meet and greet with 311!!!!! Of course being a fan, she asked me to go… but my boss wouldn’t let me leave early so I had to miss it!!! She told the guys about the whole thing when she met them, and they made a point to autograph a paper especially for me with a couple of personal messages!”

For the 6 years that Rachel worked for that parking garage, she won a ton of tickets, which meant she really didn’t pay for a lot of shows during that time. Then she started adulting, working for a District Attorney’s office, and she didn’t have the radio time she had before. “I also realized that festivals and concerts aren’t cheap! Thankfully we had a 2 income household that supported my concert habit and I realized quickly how important it is to always have concert/travel savings! These days I own my own business as a Canna-yoga instructor. I educate people in cannabis, yoga and mindfulness modalities helping to instill a sense of wellness, wholeness and to help create a connection with their innate ability to heal from within. www.leafandlotus.org”

In 2011 Rachel and her boyfriend went to the Pow Wow Festival, and that’s how she turned him into a fan as well. “He was so blown away to be in an alcohol infused space, and to not see one fight! The only incident we witnessed the entire weekend was a chick shoving her man down the road as she yelled at him…. that was it! He quickly recognized how amazing the band is and the unity they evoke through their vibe and tribe! Since then, he and I have been traveling to see 311, catching them any opportunity we can. On the riverside in Jamaica during the 2015 311 cruise, after 17 years together, he finally proposed to me and this 2023 cruise will be our 5th time cruising with the band!”

A fact that many don’t know about Rachel is that she gets a ton of anxiety in social situations. “Most of the time I power through and appear to be a social butterfly!” Something that gives her a unique element is that she’s a really great teacher and guide, in Cannabis and Yoga. “I can help others find their perfect cannabis pairings to achieve their desired results and have been told many times I am an amazing yoga instructor.” As for guilty pleasure, Rachel said that it’s definitely traveling. “As often and as far as possible for as long as possible.”

For other musicians, Rachel can often be found listening to a wide array of artists, including Nirvana, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Gravity Kills, Tool, Samuel J, Satsang, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Hirie, Aer, Tropidelic & Ballyhoo. The last four bands she mentioned she found through 311ing.

For her message to 311, Rachel would like to say these words: ““Please don’t break up! Be the example of how we can be unified with others even when our views, ideologies and /or moral values do not line up. Be the example of how it takes all types to work together to transmute negativity, to educate and inform and how to love and accept each other, despite our differences.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Hey You! Life’s Not a Race! I’ve Got a Good Feeling that your Purpose isn’t Plain. We’ve come Light Years to Tune In, Reconsider Everything and Seal the Deal. Stay Strong All Along, Wake Your Mind Up and Thank Your Lucky Stars for the opportunities we’ve been given in this life! Mad respect to all the 311-est excitables in this community! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!”

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Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her 311 story! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each week as well. Sending you all light & love, hope you have an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation! It’s time to meet the next fan spotlight. Let’s read the story of Ed Blake!

It was thanks to MTV that Ed found 311. Then he used to buy new CD’s on Tuesdays when they were released.  “I got the Blue album and loved it. I like all kinds of music and they incorporated a variety of styles. My buddies had Grassroots and Music too so it worked out. I may or may not have gotten some burned copies. Allegedly.”

For show count, Ed believes he is somewhere in the 50’s. He doesn’t really keep count, he just tries to have fun and enjoy the experience. First show for him was September 28, 1995. “My friend and I showed up and were the first ones in the parking lot. While we were hanging out before anyone else was there, we allegedly saw Nick get into a white Nissan, Acura, or Mitsubishi sports car right next to us with a lady friend. They left soon after we realized it was him. No Doubt opened for 311 and I remember Gwen Stefani came out after their set. She was super cool and chatting with everyone before 311 came on. Besides that, the show was pretty awesome. They definitely brought the energy.”

Picking a favorite live show for Ed was extremely tough. “Maybe the last Red Rocks show?? We were in the 5th row on the same level as the stage, eye level with the band.  Or maybe Austin in 2015? My wife Amanda, dog, and I took a trip to see 311 and SA got super star stuck when he met our dog, George Costanza. He even asked for a photo 😉 The cruise shows are really awesome too. There is definitely electricity in the air.  But usually the last show I’ve been to is pretty high up on the list as well.”

For songs that Ed loves, he said there are a few including “Homebrew,” “Don’t Stay Home,” and “Sweet.” As for favorite lyrics, he chose these: “If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing.”

Ed moved from the east coast when he was just in the first grade to Wichita, Kansas. “I went to college and then got married to my intellectually and visually stimulating wife Amanda, 18 years ago, after vetting her for 5 years. We moved to the DFW area,  finished school, and have been here ever since. For my career, I am a category manager who handles supply chain from start to finish (production , buying, shipping, etc.). Basically, I make sure product is on the shelf for the largest convenience chain in North America, who coincidentally, also has Eleven in their name. ;)”

Fun fact about Ed is that he loves yard work! Something else about him is that he bartended for 12 years and was a competitive bartender. “I did competitions for speed, accuracy, and flair bartending. I excelled in this and it was my passion for quite some time and helped pay off college. I have a pretty decent collection of trophies from it too. I could juggle four bottles and do some pretty cool tricks. I still love it and still find myself doing tricks with different objects around the house.” As for guilty pleasure, Ed says he loves late night ice cream eating.

Other bands that Ed can be found listening to, well theres a lot. “Too many to list… OutKast, Khruangbin, Beastie Boys, Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, DMB, Pantera, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Dire Straits, The Beach Boys, Tool, Snoop, Biggie, Pac, System of a Down, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Geto Boys, NWA, Metallica, The Clash, Post Malone, Grateful Dead, some country music, and Selena to name a few. 🤣 Some music I don’t like is the newer rap that is not good. You know the kind I’m talking about.”

To 311, Ed said he has this run-on sentence for them: “You are definitely one of the best live bands I have ever seen thanks for bringing me so many positive memories and making some of my all time favorite music.”

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

“If you are of the shorter stature and I am standing in front of you at a show just let me know and you can get in front of me. I let Brandon Scott do it all the time because he is very petite. ;)”

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Many thanks to Ed for being a part of the fan spotlight! Always, many many thanks to the readers each week. Now go have an amazing week. Sending you all lots of positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt