Hey there, all people out in 311 nation! Another week is upon us which means it’s time for the new edition of the fan spotlight. So let’s read all about Kristy Weick!
During the 90’s Kristy listened to a lot of radio, and that’s where she first heard 311 songs like, “Down,” “Don’t Stay Home,” and “All Mixed Up.” She didn’t have cable at the time but a friend did, so when she was there and they were watching MTV, she finally saw the video for “Down.” “I was absolutely taken with Nick – his shocking blonde hair and his singing – and so the song hit hard right then! I don’t care how ridiculous that sounds, it’s 100% the truth!” She then ran out and bought the blue album and obsessed over learning all of the lyrics – even SA’s parts! “I was already hooked on the unique sound and combination of musical styles and rapping/singing, so I bought Music and Grassroots at the same time some point not long after that (at good old Circuit City!), and ever since, Grassroots has been my favorite 311 album.”
For Kristy her show count is somewhere in the 50’s and she just added one more yesterday! Her first show was back on August 19, 1997 at Darien Lake, near Buffalo, New York. “The setlist is nowhere to be found, so if anyone can find it, please let me know!” Favorite event for her was the very first 311 cruise. “It really gave me a true sense of the 311 community, and the excited anticipation of not knowing exactly what would happen on such a special vacation, then it turning out to be truly magical, really solidified how important and impactful being a 311 fan was to me.”
Some songs that Kristy says really connect with her soul are “Weightless,” “Tranquility,” “Seems Uncertain,” “Golden Sunlight,” plus “And a Ways to Go.” Some of her all time favorite songs are “Homebrew,” “8:16AM,” “1,2,3,” and “Do You Right.” One of her favorite lines from a song is, “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity.”
Rochester, New York, is where Kristy grew up. She lived in New York City for a few months during college but then moved back upstate to save up enough money to move to Orlando, Florida. She was in Florida from 2004 to 2007 and then she moved to Los Angeles for a job opportunity for two years. “I learned so many valuable life lessons living in LA, and that is also when I started taking live photos for 311. What an adventure that has been, and I am so thankful that this is an occasional special thing that I can do to support the band that I love and share the photos with other fans. I have been shooting bands in general since 2004, and even though I haven’t shot for a publication in years, I still get to shoot a live show a few times a year, and can say that I have taken live photos of nearly all of my favorite bands. My favorite moment shooting 311 was at Red Rocks in 2013 – so surreal!” Here is the link to Kristy’s photography: http://www.facebook.com/kapturecreative
While in L.A., Kristy figured out what she wanted to do with her life so she moved back to Orlando, bought a house, and went back to school to get her master’s degree because it was required to have in her chosen career of being a mental health counselor. “Being a person who has been active in the LGBTQ+ community of Orlando before and during the Pulse tragedy in June 2016 has solidified how much I love this city and the people in it. We support each other, we have amazing people living here and contributing to the community in so many ways, and even some pretty awesome politicians, believe it or not! #OrlandoUnited #LoveWins”
Some other musicians that Kristy loves include The Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Fear Factory, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Ghost, Twenty One Pilots, BT, Armin van Buuren / Gaia, Ferry Corsten, a ton of other trance music DJs/producers, Stabbing Westward, Alex Vargas, Carpark North, Radiohead, The Verve Pipe / Brian Vander Ark, The Civil Wars, Genesis / Phil Collins, Imogen Heap, Jimmy Eat World, Kenna, Missio, Soul Coughing / Mike Doughty, Lo Moon, Muse, Mutemath, Nero, Our Lady Peace, Tool / A Perfect Circle /Puscifer, Robert DeLong, Royksopp, Say Anything, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Underworld, Walk Off the Earth, The Cure, 2 Skinnee Js, The Urge, and The Dirty Heads. “311and all of my other favorite bands/musicians get me through SO MUCH, I don’t know what I would do without music. I am so thankful to my mother who instilled in my brother and me how important it is to enjoy life, especially through music. She made countless multi-hour drives to make sure we enjoyed special concert moments when I was in high school, teaching us the value that living life to the fullest is what life is all about.”
While Kristy became a mental health counselor, her Bachelor of Arts is actually in Music Industry. “I was so inspired by my favorite bands during the 90s that I wanted to support them in any way I could, and to discover and promote new bands who blew my mind and I thought the world should hear, too. Many life changes later, I am now a mental health counselor – life’s a journey!”
Kristy loves belly dancing and Arabic music but she hasn’t done it in a few years. “I always practiced at home or in a small class, but never performed in public until the first 311 Caribbean Cruise during the talent show. It was a bucket list item of mine to perform a dance in public at least once, and I am so thankful I was able to make it happen, as challenging as it was with the boat rocking in the waves!” Guilty pleasure for Kristy come in the form of the game Candy Crush Soda Saga.
To 311, Kristy would like to say, “Thank you for being you and sharing part of your lives with us!”
To all the other 311 fans, here is her message to you:
“I want all LGBTQ+ 311 fans to know that I am here for you – please reach out if you ever need a friend! <3 I also want to thank everyone who has supported me as a photographer over the years – it means so much to me to be able to do this for you and the band.”
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Thank you Kristy for sharing your story with everyone! Everyone check out her photos when you have a second for some lovely shots of our favorite band. Much gratitude to all of you who read the spotlight each week and support your fellow excitables. Have a fantastic week!
Much Love – The Runt