Well hello there Excitable family! Welcome to another fan spotlight. This week, let’s meet Kali Purcell!
The age of 19 is when Kali became a fan of 311. She was introduced to the band through a friend of hers, and she still goes to shows with him. “We were sitting in his apartment with some friends and listening to music, playing video games and I heard Prisoner come on. Halfway through I said “ok who the hell is this band?!” After that it was all down hill from there.” She loves their music because it’s a mix of hard and easy listening. “I prefer the more easy listening but I don’t discriminate. The music speaks when I need to hear it the most regardless if I purposely pick a song or just to have it on shuffle.”
Shortly after hearing 311 for the first time, Kali was invited to her first 311 Day, 2004 in New Orleans. “Which was my first 311 day AND my first ever 311 show. I went with a group and let me tell you I have NEVER been ever to top that show and personally I don’t think I want to. It holds a special place in my heart for many reasons.” As for show count, Kali believes she is around 28-29 after this last 311 Day in Vegas.
Favorite song for her Kali said has to be “Eons.” “As someone who struggles on a daily basis with depression and just all around stress. Eons speaks to me the most. Eons talks about internal battles, compromise, and the frustrations when relationships and circumstances feel imbalanced. The lyrics to me explain the struggles of navigating through personal challenges and dealing with the people who make those difficulties larger than they need to be. I relate to this song a lot because I am a pretty crafty person so when I am in my craft room at first it feels like I have a heavily burdened, brain but as I create it becomes lighter. The chorus talks about the internal struggles that people face and how unaware of the challenges people battle. I often hide myself and motivations when I am struggling so I listen to Eon’s to remind me that it’s ok to be quiet when you’re struggling that’s what helps you get through it. Ok ok enough sadness.”
Kali was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but has lived in “Hotlanta” Georgia most of her life. She has two younger brothers, Brandon & Brian, and she’s turning 40 this year. “No I don’t care about turning 40…. It’s just a number and my 30’s were amazing!!! I am married to my best friend Danny. Sometimes I don’t know why he puts up with me but I adore him for doing so. We built a house in Rockmart Ga 3 years ago on 5 1/2 acres. Don’t worry… Rockmart is NW of Atlanta out in the boonies.”
Kali has two fur babies, Freckles and Toothless, and they are “foxie doxies.” She also has two amazing bonus daughters, Zoe and Alex, “Zoe is 24 and gave me a grand daughter last year her name is Ryder. Alex is 28 and she has a PHD in microbiology from UGA. They are both AMAZING women and I’ve enjoyed helping them grow. My husband flys for the airforce and works for Gatorade as his civilian job. He plans to retire from both jobs this year and it’s well deserved. I work for a bank on their mortgage side running an appraisal desk. My husband says I am a “groupie” because I haven’t been to so many shows…. And then I got picked for this so now I have “super groupie” status. I don’t think he knows what a groupie is honestly.”
Kali and her husband LOVE to travel! ” If it wasn’t for my husband I wouldn’t be sitting in France right now writing this. Unfortunately since my husband is in the military he hasn’t been to any shows but he does love to listen to 311 with me and hopefully next year he will come to a show. My brother Brian wellll let’s just say he has been to 3 but never made it inside, for various reasons.”
Fun fact about Kali, she is a country line dancer! “That’s actually how I met my husband. And no, it’s not square dancing for all of you who don’t know.” Something that makes her unique Kali said is that she just considers herself “ME.” “What you get is what you see. I don’t pretend to be someone I am not. I am a great listener and advice giver, which can tend to be a downfall sometimes because I take on a lot of my friends problems as my own and put mine on the back burner. I’m learning to make that more level. My friends and family are important to me and they help me be we’ll more ME! Ohhhh and I also make one heck of a cheesecake so I am hoping to open a little cheesecake business this year.”
Guilty pleasure for Kali is collecting plants. She has around 15 different plants and counting. When not listening to 311, she can be found listening to artists like Dirty Heads, Iration, Rebelution, Stick Figure, and Teddy Swims, just to name a few. “I am very open to music so I have a lot of different artists that I listen to.”
For her message to 311, Kali would like to say: “Thank you! Thank you for music to live by, to get through hard times, to share with other people. Thank you for being yourselves and bringing so many people together due to your music and the way of life.”
Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“NEVER EVER GIVE UP! Keep fighting. A bad day is just that…a bad day. Don’t unpack & live there. Everything happens for a reason, you may not know that reason but keep on keepin’ on. Lean on this community when you feel you have no one. You are truly never alone in this world.”
Many thanks to Kali for sharing her story with us! Also my eternal gratitude to the readers each time. May you all have an amazing week and sending positive vibes to everyone who needs them.
Much Love – The Runt
