Monthly Archives: June 2023

311 Fan Spotlights, Tales from a 311 addict

311 Fan spotlight #396 – 6/26/23 – Jason “Jake” Jacobs!

Hello again my friends out there in Excitable nation! It’s that time again – it’s the 311 Fan Spotlight! This week we meet Jason “Jake” Jacobs!

Jason found out about 311 because he saw the Music CD on his drummers night stand. He instantly thought, what is this? For show count, he believes he is around 50. First show for him was in Atlanta at a festival in 1993.

As for favorite show or event that he attended, it was definitely 311 Day 2008. Chad gave him and his 6 friends all access passes. “Free Everything! LOL.”

As for his favorite song, Jason chose “Visit” from the Music album. As for favorite lyrics, he chose “Do what thought wilt should be the whole of the law.” ” Pnut wrote it in my lyric book right before he held my hair while I puked outside their tour bus! Lol .”

Youngstown, Ohio, is where Jason grew up. He then moved to Orlando and while he was attending 311 shows he got very lucky and met Chad early on. “I bought him a bag of weed and that sparked a friendship that still is solid. Fortunately I have not had to pay for any show since! I actually was also the DJ at his wedding in 2016. Funny story, I got too drunk with his relatives, and after the wedding I fell down the mountain that he lived at in Fillmore California. I got whiplash and they did not find me for about an hour and a half.”

Fun fact about Jason – he plays Simon LeBon in a Duran Duran tribute band called Rio. He is also a Karaoke host and is the host of a show called “Do You Hear What I Hear?” “It’s in preproduction right now, but it highlights crazy, delusional, karaoke people and I interview them and find out their story.”

As for guilty pleasure – I’ll let Jason tell you in his own words: “I’m a Superman, so my guilty pleasure is fucking ice cream, salt and straw to be exact! That place rules.”

Other artists that Jason is into include Rage Against the Machine, Nothing But Thieves, MISSIO, Muse, and The Neighborhood.

As for his message to 311, his words go out to Chad: “I’d often think I can’t believe that we’re still friends after all these years. I’ll believe because I brought you guys a bag of weed at the Sapphire supper club in Orlando! It was 1994 and my band Shock Lizard was supposed to open for them, but they were running late so we got bumped. I still gave them the weed!”

To all the other 311 fans – Jason’s message is this:

“I’ll see you in my one piece bathing suit on the motherfucking Boat!”

Thank you Jason for sharing your story with everyone! And of course, many thanks to all the readers. You all rock and I hope everyone has the best week they can. Sending out love & light.

Much Love – The Runt

Uncategorized

311 Fan Spotlight #395 – 6/19/23 – Scott Baumgarte!

Welcome again friends to another edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Let’s get this party started – it’s time to meet Scott Baumgarte!

How Scott discovered the band is by going to see another band that was opening for them and he stuck around to see 311. “A band like no other. Funky, punky,a little rappy and a little thrash mixed all in one with a good vibe.  What really drew me to 311 is the Instagram they brought meaning the crowd that showed up.  Super friendly and always willing to pick you up in the pit or be a shoulder to lean on while you put your heal back into your shoe. Hah.”

For show count, Scott believes he’s at 40 with being on the most recent cruise. His very first show was in Portland, Oregon, which was his home state. “The venue was McMenamins  the crystal ballroom with the suspension floor.  It was amazing!”

As for favorite show or event, Scott said this years cruise was probably his best experience, just because it was a day event. “2023 cruise 7 was my first cruise.  It was life changing for me in all on that high.” He lives close to Red Rocks but has yet to go, and he has yet to experience a 311 Day even though he is also close to that. “It’s all about what I can afford and keep a smile on my wife’s face.” Second favorite show for him was the New Year’s Eve show at the Marquee Theater, with the balloons dropping at midnight.

The song that holds a special place in Scott’s heart is “Purpose.” For lyrics, he loves the line, “69 Lincoln, suicide doors” and also pretty much the whole song of “Hydroponic.”

As mentioned before, Scott was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended high school in Vancouver, Washington. Now he has been in Arizona since 2010. While he can’t attend every 311 show he would like to, he was psyched to have gotten on the cruise this year. “When I got into the boat I didn’t know what really to expect.  I was wife and kid free for a week time to let loose.  I feel like I stand out because I am a shiny ray of sunlight and very inviting to anyone to chat with.  I met so many people took so many pictures.  The overwhelming feeling of love I got almost immediately from everyone was electric. To be honest that is an understatement.  I felt I connected with every person I encountered and it was so neat.  I just wanted to spread a good vibe and send everyone home with a scottie KARATE sticker.  It was my mission!”

Scott has a special talent – he can blow spit bubbles. “Don’t ask me how but I can make them and blow them right off my tongue.  Others can do it but not many.” Something that people may not know about his is that he’s been a professional body piercer since 1995, and also even though he goes by Scottie Karate, he does not actually know Karate. Now for guilty pleasure, he said his it to be free. “Feel good in your own skin. I also love to dress up in any fashion.”

For other bands that Scottie can be found listening to, he said at this moment they include Katastro, Pepper, Dirty Heads, Bumpin Uglies, Bikini Trill, J Boog, Jelly Roll, and Mr. Bungle. One of his other all time favorite bands though is Nine Inch Nails. “Always a winner.”

Scott would like to say these words to every member of 311: “Thank you all so much for so many tours, albums and commitment from all of you.  For you to keep this band together for all these years.  Look what you have accomplished.  My hat is off to you 5. Even if you don’t put any more music out you have surpassed what any other fan would expect or want.  You have lifted me up when I needed it, you hand helped me when I was really down and even when I’m in top of the world you guys still blow my mind.”

Now here is Scottie Karate’s message to all the other 311 fans out in the universe:

“Scottie KARATE will be bringing the vibe in 2025 OTMFB.”

Thank you so much Scott for sharing your excellent story with us all! Much gratitude to all the readers today and every time I put one of these out into the world. Have the best week you can and keep spreading the good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

311 Fan Spotlights, Tales from a 311 addict

311 Fan Spotlight #394 – 6/12/23 – Toban Crosby!

Well hello again my friends in Excitable nation! Here we are with the next edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet Toban Crosby!

Toban was in the 6th grade in the 90’s when he first discovered 311, thanks to his friend Chad Denton. He loved the beat and the bass. “SA rapping and just their rock – they covered all the spectrums.”

First show for Toban was in Burlington, Vermont, at the Memorial Auditorium in October 2001. Since then, he believes he’s seen them about a total of 30 times, although he really doesn’t keep track.

As for favorite show, he said while nothing really beats the first time, he gave any one of 311’s performances at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in New Hampshire as a close second. “They just sound so good at that venue, and the energy is unreal.” He also mentioned that seeing them on the cruise at sea is also amazing.

Favorite song, Toban said he couldn’t pick just one. “Grassroots and the blue album have so many good songs.” Favorite lyric he chose this: “Think of all the good times, instead of wish we could times. So much better that way.”

Toban grew up in Rutland, Vermont, and playing hockey was an enormous part of his life. He still loves going to games and wouldn’t mind lacing up some skates! He also loves to play golf now and enjoys going to the beautiful courses where he lives. “I lived in Vermont pretty much my entire life until moving to Florida with my girlfriend – now my wife – in 2017. We briefly moved to Seattle for 9 months in 2018, and we now reside back in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. We love it here. I work at a restaurant on a marina and I love that I get to meet new people every day. It also allows me to meet a lot of celebrities! Through my work I’ve been fortunate enough to meet my childhood idols Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky among several other old timer hockey players as well as Bill Belichick, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan and pretty much every professional golfer that lives in Jupiter – Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley, Rickey Fowler, Brooks Koepka, & Dustin Johnson.”

Toban and Angela have two dogs who are like their kids – Penny and Winston. “We enjoy taking them to the beach when we get a chance and to parks or open fields to run and play. We still try to get back to New England to see family and for the epic Hampton Beach and Portland shows as often as we can!”

Unique attribute for Toban is that he can remember names and faces of everyone he meets. “I have a great photographic memory. It’s always come in handy with meeting new people in general and making friends with the regulars at my job!” Guilty pleasure for him? “Ben & Jerry’s 😛 …I have also been known to watch those cheesy real estate shows or Grey’s Anatomy with my wife from time to time.”

When not jamming out to 311, Toban listens to the sounds of The Beastie Boys, Def Tones, Dirty Heads, Rebelution, and Ballyhoo! “I also like some classic rock sometimes like the band Boston, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson… I’ve got a wide variety.”

To 311, Toban would like to say these words: “You guys have been my favorite band since 6th grade; I never thought I would have a favorite band and I am so grateful for the journey I’ve been on with you through the years – thank you.”

Now here is his message to all the other awesome fans out there:

“Stay positive & Love Your Life – see ya, bye!”

Thank you Toban for being a part of the fan spotlight! Of course, my sincere thanks to the readers each time, as always. Hope you all have an amazing week my friends!

Much Love – The Runt