Welcome back 311 nation! I hope you all had an excellent Thanksgiving (those who celebrate it). It’s time for the new fan spotlight – let’s meet Jacob Ruhmann!
311 found their way into Jacob’s world through the song “Beautiful Disaster.” When he heard it on the radio the first time he thought it was the coolest song. “Then at work one day in the kitchen, I heard my friend playing it on the radio. I told him I love that song and found it recently. He told me to go home and listen to the blue album. That changed my life. I had heard Down before but as soon as Random came on, as a drummer for 11 years, I was hooked. Then I get back to work and tell him how awesome that was and I had never heard anything like it, well then he tells me to go listen to Transistor. Keep in mind I’m only 22, so I had all of this music at my disposal. So after these albums I got to listen to all 12 at the time! But going from Blue to Transistor is what really sold it for me, Transistor still is my favorite album and my mind was blown. What really drew me to their music was the mix of different genres, it was something I had never heard before. And I was a fan of the Offspring at the time, so my first show was in 2018 seeing them play with The Offspring and seeing them live, as you all know is what really made me fall in love for life.”
As Jacob mentioned, he’s only 22 and has only been following 311 since 2019. So show count for him is sitting at 15. “I wish I could’ve seen more, but I’m grateful to have even seen them at all. My first show was in St. Louis in 2018, when the played with The Offspring.” As for favorite show or event, Jacob said it’s hard because there are many contenders. He said this years 311 Day, his first Red Rocks show (where he asked them to play ‘Get Down’ and they did), or seeing them a couple of days before his birthday with his twin brother and they met everyone except Chad. However he said his number one show has to be the recent Chicago albu shows. “The Urge is the band I’ve seen live the most after 311, being from St. Louis I go see them every year and love it, so having them open was amazing. And as I stated how I got into 311, blue album and especially Transistor really hold a special place in my heart, I never thought I’d be able to hear it front to back since I was 11 when the pow wow happened haha. And I went with just the greatest group of people, and I actually organized the post show party with some good friends also. We played at the same venue as 311 in the VIP room at the house of blues, and played right after 311 and are actually on the day’s schedule for the venue! It was my first time playing guitar in front of other people, and there was a line to get in and everything, it was just so cool. We were all total strangers and have never played together, and we rocked it for 2 and half hours of 311 covers. It even got promoted by 311 on their social media! So that whole weekend was just unbeatable.”
For songs that mean a lot to Jacob, he had to pick a couple. The first one is “Beautiful Disaster.” “Not only the first song I heard and fell in love with by them, but it was the first song I learned on guitar, and as hopefully most of you know Tim Mahoney is my hero and the reason I picked up a guitar, and I now know 100+ 311 songs on guitar, and it all started with Beautiful Disaster, my 311 journey and guitar journey.” Another song that means a lot to him is “Sever.” “As a young chap trying to figure out life, dating has been such a struggle and I find myself getting heartbroken time after time, and I always lean on Sever to make me feel better. Woah getting personal there haha, although it also helps that Sever is a ton of fun to play on guitar and drums.”
As for favorite lyrics, there are quite a few that strike a chord with Jacob. They include: “Just sever that leash and release, your freedom of speech, you just have to believe, your deed will be received, somehow somewhere, you won’t be repaid with a blank stare, let me know if you dare,” “Not an even field, to be on, feels like standing still, for eons and eons,” “If you don’t have, someone to, do it with it’s not worth doing. To all my friends, it’s not the end, the earth has not swallowed me yet,”
“This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present,” “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world,” and “Sometimes the only thing that saves you, think of bad things luck never gave you, and although your true love has just left you, well at least your mother kept you.”
Jacob grew up in St. Louis and has 4 siblings, including a twin. He went to college just south of his hometown and graduated this year. Then he moved to Kansas City, which is still where he currently resides. “I’ve been working in restaurants, primarily front of house for 6 years now, and been bartending since I turned 21. Honestly for part time work getting me through school, it was really good money, and that’s how I was able to afford all my 311 trips, it’s slowed down now a little, and I’m still looking for a career job, but serving and bartending is still great money, my rent is just way more being in a city compared to a college town so I haven’t had as many trips. What fuels me though is my passion for playing music. I’ve been playing drums since I was 11 and picked up guitar during quarantine times and have really really put my all into it, it’s my favorite thing to do and pretty much how I exclusively spend my free time.”
Interesting fact about Jacob is that he has a fraternal twin brother, which he thinks is pretty cool. He’s also been playing drums for 11 years. “It doesn’t show since I don’t play as much as I used to, but I’ll never lose that, just might not be as good as I was. People are always super interested when they find out how young I am too, I think I am definitely the youngest super fan, and that’s awesome to me. Also I have 2 311 tattoos, and love them.”
As for something that makes him unique, Jacob said his musicianship is it because music has been such a huge part of his life as long as he can remember. “
I was raised on it. And I’ve been playing an instrument since I was little too. It’s how I spend all my free time, and there’s just so much more to learn and it really excites me. I think another great quality I have is how much of a people person/extrovert I am. I’ve pretty much been conditioned to it, since I’ve been serving tables for 6 years, but I just can never get enough of meeting interesting people and getting to know them. I see all walks of life when I’m working and I really love it. Hopefully those who have met me can agree, as I always try and put good out into the world and be a listening ear for people. The attention I’ve gotten in the 311 community has seriously changed my life in the best way possible and have made me a better person. I’ve met so many incredible loving people, who approach me as “the guitar guy” for all the 311 covers I put out on Facebook, or after running the event in Chicago, and just being the young super fan, I always have people coming up to me at shows and saying hi and it’s just been such a blessing making all these connections and making great friends, so thank you everyone.”
Guilty pleasure for Jacob is singing in the car. “Even though I can’t sing well at all, and even if people are in the car I just can’t help myself haha. This might be due to my age but I also tend to eat out way too much and sleep in way too much. And you know, now that I think of it, a band I would consider being a guilty pleasure who I follow is Styx. I grew up on classic rock and they’re one of those bands who tour all the time and I just always go see and always have a great time, but their fanbase isn’t really who I want to represent haha. I also got to meet Todd Sucherman, their drummer, at a drum expo, and his style of playing is super cool, so that’s always worth seeing.”
While Jacob said he’s really guilty of pretty much only really listening to 311. “Most of my time listening to music is while I’m playing guitar or in the car, and both of which are usually on 311, my friends and family give me trouble for it but I still just never get sick of it.” With that being said, there are other bands he likes including 311, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Urge, Goldfinger, Turnstile, blink 182, Collective Soul, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Primus, Rush, Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Sublime.
For message to the band or a specific member, Jacob would like to send out these words to Tim since he’s his hero: “Tim, you’re the reason I picked up a guitar. Your blend of styles into your own unique way of playing is truly special, and I look up to you not just as a guitar player, but as a great person to be around with such a warm and welcoming presence.”
Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:
“I just have one thing to say, thank you thank you thank you. To my close 311 friends, you all know who you are. You guys truly mean the world to me and I am forever thankful for our experiences we’ve shared, and for the ones we will share in the future, it isn’t over yet. You guys are some of the nicest people I know and I know you are always there for me, and it truly means the world, I don’t know what I’d do without you. To the rest of the 311 excitable crew all over the world, I want to say thank you for giving me, some lost 22 year old, a place to call home. Even though most of you are old enough to be my parents, no offense haha, you all have been so welcoming and I am seriously so grateful, nothing makes me feel as good as 311 shows, meeting new people, people recognizing me and saying hi. You guys have dug me out of some dark places and I can’t thank you enough. And of course thank you for your support for my guitar endeavors, I never thought I’d get recognized this much, but you all are the reason I keep playing everyday, in hopes that I can play for you live some time, I gotta be prepared haha. This isn’t the end everybody, until next time, looking forward to seeing you all again. In the meantime, keep doing what you do best, stay positive, love your life. Put nothing but good out into the world. It goes on and on.
Shoutout to Zach, Aymee, Ricky, Brian, Tracey, Courtney, Vanessa, Frankie, Chris, DW, Mike, Justin, Heather, Kyle, Tyler, Tim, Brian, Taylor, Tisha, Mike, Jeff, Tember, Adrian, Ben, Sara, Todd, Daniel, Brian, Dakota, Steve, Jared, Brian, Bruce, Breigh, Chris, Kevin, Anita, Patrick, Ryan, and I’m sure I missed plenty more.”
Thank you so much Jacob for sharing your tale with everyone! Of course, a huge THANK YOU to all the readers and supporters each week. Have the most amazing week my friends. Keep spreading the love & positivity.
Much Love – The Runt
