Welcome my friends in 311 nation! It’s time we meet a new fan spotlight! Let’s get to the story of Justin Gunn!

Right out of high school in the early 2000’s is when Justin discovered 311. “I graduated 2001 was a late bloomer to everything in life my parents were pretty sheltering so when I graduated I kinda went a little wild for a while and fell into a group that listened too 311 I absolutely fell in love with the positive messages and the sound from them.”

As for show count, Justin said he really never kept track of it. He does know that any time 311 comes to New England, he is usually there. He’s also been at the last two 311 Day events and on cruise 7. “I believe my first show was in Burlington VT in 2001.”

As for a favorite show or event, Justin said that by far it was the cruise. “What an amazing experience. Before that it was it was 2017 in Hampton beach. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and saw miT walking down the back stairs and he was so cool and talked to me for a bit and took a selfy with me and my buddy.”

There are a few favorite songs for Justin, because each album came out in a different part of his life. However, the one that really means the most to him is “Dodging Raindrops.” “The meaning really hits home for me I love being in my comfort zone and staying home or places I’m comfortable in. In the past 5 years I have really started to travel and do more outside of my comfort zone and I am truly glad I have.”

Some of Justin’s favorite lyrics include: “I know the storm is only mental,” “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present,” and “You’ve got to trust your instincts, and let go of regret.”

Justin was born in 1982 in Casper, Wyoming. He moved to New Hampshire when he was 7. “My dad was from Reading, MA, and my grandparents had a cabin on Newfound Lake. My dad always loved that area so we moved to Bristol, NH, and I have been there since.” His parents are about to hit 50 years married and he has a younger brother. Both Justin and his brother are adopted, from different families.

Justin was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age and dispersion. Being a kid in the 90’s he was on a variety of different medications. “In school I was kinda one of those guys that never fit into 1 click but I was know l known by everyone I was in sports, theater, music lots of extra curriculum stuff after school. Graduated 2001 in the middle of my class. After school I started getting exposed to the real world I was very sheltered in my child years. Fast forward to 2007 I kinda don’t like 2001-2007 years. One of my friends was looking for roommates and I knew this girl Ashley from work but didn’t really know her but her and myself moved into a mutual friends house and at a party we threw one night we hooked up and we have been married for 17 years now with 2 beautiful children 2 girls Koral, 15, and Willow, 10.”

Justin has worked for Walmart for 20 years, working his way up the ranks to salary management. “I ended up stepping down from that position 4 years ago. I currently live in the house behind where I grew up, my kids go to the same school I went to and have some of the same teachers I did. It’s one of those really cool things in my opinion that doesn’t happen very often. 3 years ago I opened my own corn hole league and ran that for 2.5 years until it got too toxic for me. Currently my obsessions are cooking and grilling, my family and golf, we also love going to our cabin during the summer that’s our happy place. About 4 months ago I was in a pretty dark place for a long time so I finally to a leap and got put on anti depressants and started therapy today, I feel like my old happy fun self again.”

Interesting fact about Justin is that he can make balloon animals! He also really loves to cook, as mentioned above. “I have always had a passion for it and I have multiple friends abs family all the time telling me I should open some sort of food business.” Guilty pleasure for him, he really loves to watch T.V. series.

Justin has always been really drawn to music, liking pretty much most genres except country. He loves 90’s stuff, especially Blink-182. Other artists he loves include Little Stranger, Dirty Heads, Ballyhoo!, and Tropidelic. “I also love island music.”

To 311, Justin would like to say: “Thanks for the great music but what I am truly thankful for is the family they have created with their music. I have so many friends that I would not have and these aren’t just like Facebook friends these are Tru friends that live all over the world. And I am very appreciative of that.”

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

“I would like to say to all the Excitables is if your struggling with mental health reach out to a friend a family member a Healthcare professional anything. I know its scary and out of your comfort zone but you need to take care of your self and you will be happier if you take that first step trust me from personal experience. Like we always say love your life.”

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Thank you Justin for sharing your story! As always, so much gratitude to all the readers each post as well. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome again my Excitable friends to another edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Let’s meet Daphne Lewis Stewart!

It was around the time that the Blue album came out that Daphne first heard 311 being played on the radio. “I immediately bought the album from BMG Music Service (who remembers that LOL) and became hooked. The heavy guitars drew me and the lyrics kept me coming back for more.”

While Daphne has been a fan since the early 90’s, she wasn’t able to see 311 live until 2007 in West Palm Beach, Florida. “I expected a typical concert where the band only plays their newer songs. I was already a HUGE fan but when they played Gap, which I was dying to hear live, I was blown away. I knew I was an Excitable for life!” Show count for her is somewhere in the 50’s which includes five 311 Day events, two cruises and Pow Wow.

While it’s hard to pick a favorite of those shows, Daphne said 311 Day 2014 probably takes it. “It was my first 311 day and my first event with other Excitables. I had been going to shows for years – even went to Pow Wow – but somehow I never connected with the community. I stayed in a house with about 20 other Excitables and met my best friend Kala Parisi! I still get chills listening to Use of Time with the Unity Orchestra. I can remember how I felt as the strings swelled all around me – such euphoria!”

The song “I’ll Be Here Awhile” has been a very important song in Daphne’s life. “It brought me through many years when I was not where I wanted to be. I held onto that song, thinking that this is only for awhile, not forever – it gave me hope for the future. Then when they closed 311 Day 2020 with an acoustic version, it took on a whole new meaning. As the pandemic started in America and the future was unknown, I was comforted that my favorite band – and my Excitable family – would be with me and help pull me through the uncertainty.”

So for a favorite lyric, Daphne said she almost didn’t want to say it for fear of making people have to pee, so obviously it comes from “Amber:” ““Don’t give up your independence, Unless it feels so right, Nothing good comes easily, Sometimes you’ve got to fight.” “I’ve always been taught to be independent and persistent so that really resonates with me. I also love the poetry of “when I look at you it’s like praying with my eyes.”

Daphne was born in Baltimore but raised in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She moved to Gainesville and then Jacksonville, North Carolina, before moving back to Port St. Lucie. She still lives there with her 3-year-old American bulldog, Lucky. “I’d like to live in other places but for now I want to be close to my family.” For work, Daphne is a finance coordinator for Habitat for Humanity. “I love it! I love working for non-profits because even on your worst day at work, you know that you’re helping somebody.”

When Daphne was young she started acting at a local theater. She even got her associates degree in theater performance! “I had plans to be an actress. But then I met my now ex-husband, and starting a family with him was more important than chasing my acting dream. So I switched my major to business, but I kept performing in local shows. I haven’t been in a play in a long time but I still regularly sing. I even took belly dancing lessons for a while, that was so much fun!”

Fun fact about Daphne is that she has a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a non-profit emphasis. “Also, I attended 4 different colleges for my undergrad (which is in Business Administration). This is because I was married in my early 20’s and my now ex-husband was in the Marine Corps.”

As mentioned above, Daphne still loves to sing and she also plays keyboard in the praise band at her church. “I’ve rocked the stage in a 311 tribute band called Excitables: 311 Tribute. I was also in a virtual 311 tribute band called Soul Craft Generators. I made it into the I’ll Be Here Awhile fan video!” Guilty pleasure for Daphne is the T.V. show Love After Lockup. She also recently has become addicted to the game Royal Match.

When not cranking the tunes of 311, Daphne enjoys a variety of genres. “Some of my favorites are Tropidelic, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Thundercat, Wookiefoot, Nonpoint, Thousand Foot Crutch, and I’m newly into jam bands, especially Phish.”

To 311, Daphne sends this message: “Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life. There is always a 311 lyric that exemplifies how I’m feeling. And over the last 10 years being in the 311 community, I have found some of the most amazing people, including my other bestie Jamie Shelley. My life is so much fuller because of the connections I have made thru the love of this band.”

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

“I’m so glad I have found my people. Be kind to one another and stay weird!”

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Many thanks to Daphne for sharing her story with us all! As always, my eternal gratitude to everyone who reads these. I wish you all a wonderful week full of happiness and positive vibes!

Much Love – The Runt