Happy last week of 2016 my excitable friends! As we leave behind this year and look forward to our 2017 adventures, let’s stop to read the last fan spotlight of 2016. It’s time to meet Cory Gilbert!
Fifth grade is where the story begins. He and a couple of friends he hung out with would listen to 311 and they all loved the aliens. “We would buy the alien stickers from vending machines and cut alien workshop skate decks out of CCS and tape them to our name tags on our desks at school.”
Cory lost count of how many times he has seen 311 live but believes it is somewhere between 40-50. His first show was in the summer of 2003 and he’s been to every 311 Day since 2010, plus all the cruises. Favorite event so far was 311 Day 2012 since that is where he met his wife for the first time! As far as from a purely concert standpoint though, favorite show was the sail away show on the first cruise.
“Two Drops in the Ocean” is a song Cory and his wife danced to at their wedding, plus the words are engraved in his wedding band, so that song is near and dear to his heart. Other favorite songs are “Sweet” and “Jackolantern’s Weather.” Favorite lyrics, besides “Stay positive and love your life,” are “only thing that matters, if it’s funky to you.”
Salina, Kansas is where Cory grew up. “It’s a town of about 45000 people in the very middle of the state (which is the center of the country).” He started listening to 311 at an early age so it helped mold him into the person that he is today; one that genuinely cares for the people in his life. Through the years he’s played baseball and been generally athletic. Back to meeting his wife, he met her prior to 311 Day 2012 but didn’t meet her in person until the event. That very same year in August he packed up and moved to California to pursue a life with her. “We were married in Kona, HI on 11-3-14 and had a daughter, Lily on 1-19-16. I also just started my own garage door company.”
Fun fact about Cory, he’s had quite a few close encounters with the one and only P-Nut! “I interviewed him on the radio twice and have won two of the 311 cruise basketball tournaments.” Unique quality is that Cory is a jack of all trades. “I pick up new things quickly and excel at most things I put my mind to.”
Guilty pleasure comes in the form of the band The Weeknd. “I jam out his music haha.” Other bands Cory loves include Tool, System of a Down, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Incubus, Frank Sinatra, and a lot of classic rock.
Cory’s message to 311: “Thank you for shaping my spirit, bringing me to my wife, and rocking my eardrums.”
Now his message to all the other fans:
“Without us, 311 wouldn’t exist. The fans are one of the big things that make this band great. I’ve met so many wonderful souls on my 311 adventure and its amazing a band can do all that. Keep rocking and I’ll see you out there!”
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Now you know all about Cory Gilbert! Thanks Cory for being a part of this awesome fan community. You are all amazing beings! Happy New Year my friends…see you all in 2017!
Much love – The Runt