Welcome again 311 nation! It’s time to get to the next fan spotlight. Let’s get the story from Bobby Jones!

Like many other fans, Bobby was first introduced to 311 thanks to MTV playing the video for “Down.” He was immediately drawn to it and played the song on repeat because he recorded it onto a cassette tape from the radio. “I was around 11-12 years old when it came out. I remember asking my mom to buy me the Blue album for Christmas that year and she wouldnt because it had a parental adviosry sticker on it. So I could only listen to their radio hits till I was old enough to get my hands on their albums on my own. The reggae-rap-rock vibe drew me to them. It was unlike anything I had heard before. I was instantly hooked on em when I first heard them. And, of course I had my hair dyed blonde like Nicks in highschool, Haha. It was the thing to do in the 90’s!”

Number of times Bobby has seen 311 live? He has no clue because he see’s so much live music every year (200+ shows a year). “I don’t keep count of any of the shows I go to. I don’t really feel like it’s that important.” First 311 show for him was around 2004-05 in Dallas, Texas. First 311 Day he attended was in 2006. He’s also been on all the cruises and will be on the one next year. “I’ve been to all the 311 days since 2012. Taking a guess, I’d say I’ve seen 50-75 times or more.”

As for favorite show, Bobby said the beach show on the second cruise takes top prize for him. “Hands down the best 311 set I’ve seen. That splash pit was wild and unforgettable! Then the Pow Wow Transistor set comes in 2nd, after that the Soundsytem Cruise set, and then 311 day 2018 are my favorites.”

Picking a song that means the most to him proves to be difficult for Bobby because there are so many that he loves. “Uncalm and Beyond the Gray Sky are pretty meaningful to me for different reasons. In college around 2002-2003, for my composition class, my professor told us to pick a song that is like poetry and analyze it, and present it to the class. I went through my catalog of music and chose Uncalm. Up to that point in my life I was a fan of the 311 hits, but never really dived into their music that deep. In the process of unraveling that song I went deeper into 311, and became closer to 311, and then started listening to all of their other songs. Uncalm opened up 311 for me past their radio hits. My brother Joey commited suicide 2010, and after that happened Beyond the Gray Sky became a very meaningful song in my life since it’s about suicide. 311 was his favorite band, and in his memory I got into 311 deeper and decided to pursue 311 more and go on the 1st cruise and start attending 311 days. If he didn’t kill himself I probably would have never gotten into 311 more than I already was prior to 2010.”

One lyric that resonates with Bobby is “Stay positive and love your life” which he has tattoeed on his left abdomen, around a “Beyond the Gray Sky” sunrise/sunset over the ocean. It’s a tribute to his brother. “So I try to stay true to those words.” A few others that he loves include: “Don’t give up the fight to stay alive and even if you have to find the reason of another’s pain if they lose you. If not for yourself then those around who care like I do. One day you’ll see the clear blue”
“Violence is for those who can’t handle diction”
“Do what you feel, the more absurd the better”
“The solar systems and atom in a larger molecule called a galaxy”
“Fourth of July with Lucy in sky. I remember pine trees and the coat of many colors. I was nineteen, I’d do anything. Shit like that now scares me, but I’d like to do it again. It was Independence day. I’ve seen the other side, and I say oh, I’ve been insane and I wont ever be the same”
“The roots that grow underground are as big as the tree that you see, if not it will fall down”
“Think of all the good times instead of “wish we could” times. So much better that way”
“It’s all right to feel good it’s all right for nothing to be wrong”

Fort Worth, Texas, is where Bobby was born and he had a fun, active childhood with his mom and little brother. “Spent my days as a kid playing soccer, riding my bike till the streetlights came on, playing video games, hangin with friends, being a punk, getting into trouble, taking roadtrips with my family to camp and explore caverns, skating, and in my teen years I started planning my escape from Texas.” In high school Bobby was friends with everyone and he said it continued into his adult life. “I have tolerance for others views and can be friends with anyone even if our political ideology differs. In this day and age, I notice many people canceling long time friends and family members over something as trivial as their political ideology, and disagree whole heartedly with that perspective. With that being said, I will always welcome someone back into my life who has canceled me. I’m just that type of guy.”

Bobby attended Texas Tech University where he obtained a degree in Anthropology and Biology. He originally wanted to become a forensic anthropologist. Then after he graduated he took year off from school and ended up never going back because he got an awesome job as a catastrophe insurance adjuster. “I travel the country working property insurance claims, inspecting homes for catastrophic storm damage caused by tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, and large hail storms. I see the worst of the worst in regards to storm damage all around the country. It can be stressful at times, but is very rewarding as I feel like I’m really helping people in their time of need.”

In 2010 Bobby moved to Oregon to pursue snowboarding as his main hobby. “I’m an avid snowboarder and love hitting everything on the mountain from the park, to the half pipe, to the backcountry, to the trees. I also love doing handstands all the time, and taking pics of myself doing them all over the world in different countries infront of cool sceneries.”

live music has allowed him to make many friends in numerous states across the country. “Social media has allowed me to stay in contact with all those friends on a regular basis. While on the road for work I am always hanging out with friends in different states, going to shows, and pursuing my other hobbies. I also enjoy yoga, rock climbing, white water rafting, traveling the world and exploring (been to over 15 countries), skydiving, hiking, camping, going to festivals, scuba diving, and generally being outside. I’m a pyschonaut and enjoy exploring the boundaries of my consciousness. I lived in Spain to study Spanish back in college, and though I don’t practice it much anymore, if you find me inebriated you’ll probable hear me pop off some Spanish phrases, and try to get others to speak Spanish with me! I love learning about space, consciousness, culture, music, geology, physics, history, and language amongst other things. I’m a science and cultural nerd. I am a huge fan of standup comedy and see it often. Bill Hicks is my favorite comedian. He dies in the early 90s, but most of his jokes and philosphies from the 80’s and 90’s still hold true today.”

When Bobby was a senior in high school, circa 2001, he joined the Navy. “I made a 98 on my ASVAB (the military entrance exam), and was told with that high of a score I could do anything in the Navy that I wanted. My plan was to goto the Naval Academy and become a physician. I graduated in June of 2002 and went to bootcamp that August after I turned 18 in July. When I got to bootcamp during the first few days I went through a more intense medical exam, and they found a hole in my left retina which I never knew I had. They never found this at MEPS which is the pre entrance physical exam you take to join the military. This hole in my retina was cause for the Navy to medically discharge me immediately. So I came home back to Texas just in time at the end of August to enroll in community college. Took my basics for a couple years, and then transferred to Texas Tech to complete my degree. This experience taught me early on in life that no matter what you might think you have planned in life that it can change in the blink of an eye. My life plan of having a Naval career had to be altered as soon as I got news that I was getting medically discharged. Despite that let down in my life plan, I worked hard through college and landed a great gig, and life has been awesome! I learned real quick early on in life to Always have a plan B, and C, and D.”

Guilty pleasure for Bobby? “I love the reality dating show “Fboy Island”! Haha. It’s hosted by a comedian Nikki Glaser which is why I started watching it. There is a guy on a couple of the seasons named Benedict that is also a standup comic, and I took some friends to go see him in Portland last month and got them hooked.”

What other artists does Bobby love, aside from 311? He’s got quite the list! It includes:

To 311, Bobby would like to say: “Your music has inspired many to live their best lives, get through the hardships of life, and continue to strive to be the best we can be to each other.”

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

“Pursue your dreams. Anything is possible with hardwork and sacrifice. Make friends with everyone, practice tolerance, and keep an open mind in life. If you want to do something, then Do It Today because tomorrow is not promised. Show those that you care about how much you love them with your words, and more importantly your actions. Stay true to yourself, and live an interesting active fun filled life. Live life for a good story. Live fast & take chances! Don’t compare yourself to others, as comparison is the thief of joy. Stay selflessly selfish in your pursuit of happiness. And finally, since I’m a shredder: Life is a snow capped mountain, have a blast shredding your line!”

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Thank you Bobby for sharing your story with all of us! And of course my eternal gratitude to all the readers out there. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again Excitable nation! Who wants to meet the next 311 fan spotlight? Let’s get the story from Lisa Rowe!

In the early 90’s Lisa had an alternative music friend who was a DJ. They would make her mixed tapes and on one of them was a 311 song. ” I honestly don’t remember what 311 song it was & to this day I cannot find the mixed tape! I do remember LOVING it. How it rocked, and made me feel.” Now flash forward a few years and Lisa was teaching when she saw some kids walking around with 311 shirts on, and she thought wow I know that band. She actually ended up taking one of them to see 311 and they became close, even through adulthood. Then a few more years later and at a new school, she had a bunch of students that were obsessed with 311. “I’ve always played music in my classroom, so this pretty much became the music of choice. And literally Music! These kids had/have no idea how their love of 311 changed the course of my life! Started going to shows, taking students to shows and myself become pretty obsessed.  But even in those early days I HAD NO IDEA what was in store for my 311 life !”

For show count, Lisa said she would have paid more attention in her early days had she known where this would take her in her life. She’s been to several hundred non-311 concerts, so remembering how many 311 shows proves tricky. “I’ve been to A LOT it has to be about 100 by now. Over the course of almost 30 years. I’ve seen them almost every year at least once and some years several times.  I think the most I’ve seen them is 6 times in a year? ”

First show Lisa believes was in Milwaukee at Shank Hall in 1995. “But I could be thinking of all the other times I saw them there! I know that sounds crazy that I can’t remember, but like I said at the time it was no big deal, I was JUST going to see another band I liked, and of course I had absolutely no idea at the time how this would change my life.  I can barely remember my own cell number these days.”

As for a favorite, Lisa said it’s impossible to pick one. So she tried to think of the one that she had the most feeling. So that would be 311 Day 2018, with her sister Jennifer. “Even though I was a long time fan, I was a teacher. I did not get paid time off, I actually petitioned ALL of my school districts to let me go to all the 311 days and the cruises, with NO pay, but was shot down everytime. So it was a long time waiting and it was highly emotional for me. Plus I was able to experience this 311 universe that I had no idea existed. Before that, I went to shows and pretty much paid attention only to what was going on around me.”

A song that means the most to Lisa she said has changed over time. It depends on where she is in her life. In the early years, she would have picked “Hydroponic.” “Brings back lots of images and feelings. LOVE the utter chaos of the song. It’s a mixture of  deep dark strong heavy and thenhappens to have a  happy little tune mixed in there. The lyrics”Jumpin’ out my skin.” The song “You Wouldn’t Believe” is what she calls her divorce song, because of the lyrics, “Wonder Woman got rid of wonder man that man’s not part of her wonder plan.” Then she has one she calls her song about life song. “Although I think this song is actually about our Journey while we’re living – not our Journey in the after. Tranquility “Don’t be afraid it’s all part of the plan for us.” These lyrics have helped me process many heartaches and trauma in my life! So many times I’ve run this song over and over in my head while trying to understand the absolute shit part of life. Just hold out, it will become known. It’s just waiting for the universe to reveal it reasons.”

Currently Lisa’s favorite song is “Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm.”That came out of nowhere! 311Day 2024 I decided to brush up not just on deep cuts, but on their more melodic songs. And wham out of the blue, JACKS hit me like a ton of bricks. The song is a musical and lyrical work of genius. How did I let this one slip by for all these years?” Finally she also loves “Golden Sunlight.” “I always picture this song as a song after I get through Tranquility. “Hand over hand, I crawl back to land.“

Lisa was born and raised in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin. She is a retired math teacher and has lived in Neenah for the last 26 years. She has two adult children. “My son Josh, married, 29, who I’ve taken to shows and is also a fan . My daughter Joey, 24, haven’t taken to any shows yet! My buddy Reznor the Boxer keeps me on my toes.” Lisa said her kids are super super into music, which she absolutely loves. As for money, she is on SSDI so she finds some side hustles to help with funding her 311 habits. “I’m not raising kids anymore, so that makes me an instant concert millionaire. But I do a lot of Ebay, Poshmark.  It’s become a fun hobby.”

Fun fact, Lisa is an avid crocheter and has made lots of 311 stuff. (She even made the sweater she has on in the photo above!) She also loves playing sodoku and attending about any concert she can get her hands on. “Just saw Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago in July. Just saw 311 at Rockfest in WI. Going with some of my concert fam to St. Augustine on 8/17.” A few other facts to know: She’s a huge sci-fi fan, she likes to read banned books, loves everything and anything about Star Wars and her favorite place in the universe is on a ski hill in the U.P.

Lisa said that the absolute best thing for her is her 311 concert family. “They have stepped into so many parts of my life when I just needed a little word from a slinkie I never met in California to sharing literal tears of happiness, pain, anger, love, hugs, music with my closest 311 fam.  We love each other so much we often visit each other in our home states, fly in to attend concerts together. I truly never feel alone in my life with these connections I’ve made. I have NEVER run across fans like this ever. It’s indescribable and unmatchable.”

Lisa also said she is basically a huge nerd. “Like I’ll think about time travel for hours and do math problems just for fun.” Something that makes her unique is she can drive stick. “3 on the tree baby! I’m pretty dang good in Sheapshead. Or any card game for that matter.” Guilty pleasure for her? “No brainer, TV shows. Bridgerton, Virgin River, Love is blind, Naked and afraid. Especially the XL versions!”

For other music Lisa listens to, she said she’s basically an old alternative chick from the 80’s. She likes Stone Temple Pilots, Coldplay, Stabbing Westward, and Neil Diamond. “I’m all over the place. ” She also loves Nine Inch Nails. They are her second favorite bans & she named her dog after Trent Reznor.

When asked what she would say to 311, Lisa said she would probably get stage fright and start crying. But she said she would like to send this message: “Your music and the culture you’ve built has changed the course of my life.”

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

“Listen to Tranquility as a guide stone for how to live your life NOW while you’re alive! It transforms the entire song. I find it so much more powerful that way. The Journey is your life!”

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Thank you Lisa for sharing your story with us all! And of course, thank you so much to all who read these each time. Now hope you all have an amazing week! Sending you all positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt