Hello my friends out there in Excitable nation! Happy 311 Day Week! Let’s kick it off properly with the story of Laura Robinson!
It was due to Laura’s older brothers that she found the music of 311. She said they pretty much set the foundation for most of her musical interests. “To be truthful to our community, I must admit that I jumped on the ’95 Blue Album train. But when I love something, I love it all the way, so I dug through my brother’s CDs and found Music and Grassroots and made cassette tapes from them with my amazing 3 disc-changer stereo. Those mixed tapes of Music and Grassroots ended up being quite the soundtrack to my junior and senior years of high school. Ask any of my friends, and they’d tell you whether they learned to love (or hate) 311 due to my incessant playing of those tapes. From there I haven’t missed an album release, and likely memorized every song since. What drew me to them were the messages they delivered. I just never had lyrics and music feel like it was personalized to me before that, or that taught me something. Music before that was just humming along.”
Show count for Laura is at 41, which includes five 311 Day events. “I have yet to experience a cruise and having serious FOMO right now. My first show was at the Rosemont Horizon in 1997 on the Transistor tour. I can’t really tell you much about that show, except I learned that night I don’t really want to sit in seats along the side anymore. GA all the way!”
Laura said she’s not sure she can pick just one favorite show or event, so instead she listed some cool moments that have forever touched her as a fan. “When they played Champagne for the first time after 9/11/01 and released bubbles into the crowd, I cried. The gospel choir at 311 Day 2016 gave me chills. In 2000 or 2001, they played the Riv in Chicago, and I drove up from Bloomington, IL to see them with some college pals. After the show, my bestie and I climbed through a construction site behind the Riv because we saw Nick. He and SA had freshly showered before getting back on the bus or heading out for the night, and we met them for the first time. It was magical and I can still smell SA’s cologne. Going to see them in 2011 at the Northerly Island being 8 months pregnant and still smashing through GA to get a good view. Taking my daughter to her first show this fall in Iowa. Those were just a sprinkling of my fabulous 311 voyage.”
As for a favorite song, Laura said it changes as she grows. Her instinct told her to say either “Unity” or “Do You Right” since they are in her top tier of ones she loves. “In addition, “Don’t Dwell,” “Make it Rough,” and “Let the Cards Fall,” are all songs that I come back to for advice. I tend to look ahead at what’s coming in anticipation, sometimes to a detriment. Those 3 songs really bring in the reminders to not dwell on things, be present in the moment, and you’re not in control.”
Lyrics that resonate with Laura are as follows:
- If there’s a shadow in your life, then there’s sunshine.
- Take your frozen heartache, lay it in the island sun.
- Can’t nobody do it like 311.
- Violence is for those who can’t handle diction.
- Try not to think too far ahead, the pendulum swings soon enough.
- It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.
Dundee, Illinois is where Laura is from. It’s about 40 miles west of Chicago and she said she is pretty much a townie. “My brothers and I were the 5th generation to live in my parents’ house, and my parents are still there. I haven’t really lived far from FUNdee, minus college dorms and my student-teaching stint in Cave Springs, GA for 3 months. I love my hometown. I’m really pumped for my kids to go to my high school. I’m so cliche like that! Hahahaha! Someday I’ll venture to a more scenic and serene place. Dare I say bucolic??? But for now, I’m happy where I am.”
Laura said she is 43 and climbing, and married to her fantastic non-Excitable husband. They have an 11 year old daughter and 8 year old son. For her career, she teaches 8th grade ELA and just celebrated her 20th anniversary of teaching! “20 down, 15 to go (but who’s counting?). I love to read, ride my bike, hang out with friends and family, and plan events and vacations. I overdo everything, I don’t pack lightly, and you will never be thirsty or hungry at my house. I love the Cubs, am a not-talented golfer, and enjoy cooking/baking. My best friends from middle school and high school are still by my side! I have an amazing family- and I’m not just talking in my house. My parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws are all great people and we do a lot together. My 311 partner is my bestie Christy whom I’ve seen the majority of my shows with. We travel well together and have the best time laughing together. I have the cutest black lab pup named Reggie. Lastly, anyone who knows me knows that I love 311. It’s one of my most identifiable characteristics.”
Interesting fact about Laura is that she has odd food fears. “I am literally afraid to eat shrimp. I will not put an oyster in my mouth. Those shows with Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain make me ill. I will eat brussels sprouts, cottage cheese, beets and other things picky eaters won’t eat, but I have strong aversions to certain foods. I am completely aware of how childish it is, and I know I’m making my children terrible eaters in the process, but I will starve before I have to eat meatloaf.”
Something else Laura said that makes her stand out is that she is a 311 fan who doesn’t smoke weed. “It started by being a total prude and rule follower in my teens, to totally supporting others who enjoy it and just not liking it myself. It’s not for me. I don’t think if Nick himself put weed in my hands, that I’d partake. Guess that just leaves more for the rest of you.” Guilty pleasure for Laura? “Sometimes I don’t pick up my kids after school when I’m done and I just drive around listening to a book or album. If it’s nice out, I just drive with the windows down and take in the breeze. They’re safe at grandma’s. I get some me time = win-win! Also, I still love Grey’s Anatomy (I’m not a quitter) and I’m secretly in love with John B and JJ from Outerbanks.”
Other music that Laura can be found jamming out to include many that she found because of 311. “I love Incubus, Hoobastank, Tropidelic, Iration, etc. Being a Chicago girl (kinda), I love Alkaline Trio. I have always loved Sound Garden, Chris Cornell in general, and the Foo Fighters. I have a little country in me still, but I’m an old-school country fan: Garth, Travis, etc. A few other randoms I’m into are Pete Yorn, Jimmy Eat World, and Third Eye Blind, and I’m digging Little Stranger a lot too! Mainly, I’m a 90’s girl at heart.”
To 311, Laura would like to say these words: “Can we be friends? I just want to hang out with them and take in their essence. Back in the day, I’d say I want to make out with Nick, but my love for them is beyond that. I just want to go to family picnics and drink some beers in my backyard with them. I feel like we’d be good pals if they’d just give me a shot. :0)”
Now here is her message to her fellow 311 fans:
“Hey fellow Excitables! Thanks for reading the craziness that is my life and fanhood. I love that there are so many of you out there, who like me, love this band incessantly and obsessively! I hope to meet and make friends with many more of you over time. Even though I’m super jealous, I hope all of you cruisers have the best time! While you’re with the band, convince them to release ESTD3 already, and put out some new tunes for us! SP&LYL! 👌🤘”
Thank you Laura for sharing your 311 story! It was so great to learn all about you! Many thanks to the readers of this little blog. Now go have an amazing 311 Day week and see many of you OTMFB!
Much Love – The Runt