Good day to all of you out there 311 nation! We are back with the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. So let’s meet spotlight #297 – Dave Kerkvliet!
In the year 1995, Dave was finishing up college and was the drummer in a rock band called Sugarat. It was a friend of his that introduced him to 311 by playing songs from the Music and Grassroots albums. “I instantly thought it was the coolest stuff I had heard and I was hooked! 311 became an influence of our music. Chad Sexton became the biggest influence on my drumming and is to this day my personal favorite drummer. We performed the local Minneapolis circuit performing at clubs like The Uptown, Fine Line, First Avenue, Ground Zero, etc. Then we started to expand into the Midwest and MCA records discovered us. They were interested in a deal but unfortunately our band broke up and I was left to start over. (Most bands don’t make it very long. 30 years of 311 with original members blows my mind because of this!) What drew me to their music was how rhythmically tight the band was with catchy grooves, a variety of styles, and heavy guitar with clean melodic and harmonic vocals.”
Show count for Dave is 10. “ I was hoping to add four more this summer but Covid struck.” The first show he attended was with his wife April during the 2010 Unity Tour. “The show was in St. Paul with The Offspring. I’ve been a longtime 311 fan but I’m a late bloomer as far as attending shows and connecting with other fans. I hadn’t experienced the community they have built until 311 Day 2016. It is truly something special! In more recent years I have crossed paths with other 311 fans, along with 311 themselves, to connect, share stories, and thank them for all of their great music. I continue to bring other friends to 311 shows so they can experience the fun. A 311 cruise is on my bucket list for sure.”
Favorite event for Dave was 311 Day 2020. “What an awesome experience! To celebrate the 30 year milestone with the band and fans was extremely special. It’s even more special due to all the changes in the world related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was my brother’s first 311 Day and we had an amazing “Bro-cation”!” Dave also said one of his other favorite moments was when he had the opportunity to moderate a Q&A session during the 2019 fall tour in Minneapolis with some of his music students, his brother, Tim, Nick, and Chad. “The Q&A session earned national attention in The American School Band Directors Association newsletter, Minnesota Educator magazine, NEA Today magazine and In Tune magazine.”
Song that means the most to Dave currently is “I’ll Be Here Awhile.” “The acoustic closer at the end of 311 day 2020 was a fantastic experience. I also was included in the recent fan video of this song playing mallet percussion and drum set, which is quite an honor. It seems to be an appropriate song for the current times.” Some lyrics that he loves include: “The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream,” “You’ve got to trust your instinct, and let go of regret, you’ve got to bet on yourself now star, cause that’s your best bet,” and “Stay positive and love your life.” “The 311 messages of positivity helps me through the difficult times and situations.”
Dave began his life in South Carolina and then moved to his parents hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, when he was 3 years old. He has a younger sister and brother, who is also a 311 fan. He started playing drums in the 3rd grade and still plays. Dave earned his bachelors degree in music education at Augsburg College and is in his 25th year of teaching and directing at Sebeka Public School. “ I direct Senior High Concert Band, Junior High Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Marching Band, Winter Drumline, 6th Grade Band, and 5th Grade (beginning) Band. We’ve grown into a well respected program with over 20 years of “Superior Ratings” and 230 students in the program. The Sebeka bands have performed for local politicians, as well as, former Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk, former Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher, and Senator Amy Klobuchar. In 2004 I was awarded the “Crystal Apple” teaching award from KSAX news. Other important accomplishments of the Sebeka Band program include performances with the University of Minnesota Marching Band at Band Day, at the Target Center for the NBA Timberwolves basketball team, at Walt Disney World in Florida, at Valleyfair theme park, and at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the Minnesota School Board convention. In February of 2004 I traveled to Singapore as an invited guest Band Clinician for the Gen Eng Seng, and Anglican High School bands. In 2012 I was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) at the National Convention held in Asheville, North Carolina, and in 2013 earned “Distinguished Action Research Award” from Southwest Minnesota State University for my work with integrating technology into the Sebeka Band program which helped me earn my Master’s degree. In 2018, I traveled to France, Switzerland and Germany. While in those countries I was able to connect with educators and share experiences. In 2020 I was awarded “Educator of Excellence” from Sourcewell and earned my Specialist in Educational Leadership degree from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.”
Dave met his lovely wife April and his stepson Sterling in 1999. “They enjoy 311 as well. When Sterling was younger we really enjoyed being his biggest sports fans watching him play basketball, baseball, and run cross country and track. Sterling is an electrical line-worker who travels throughout the country. April is a nurse and likes to go kayaking. We have been truly blessed to have enjoyed many travels and live in a proud small town community. I am so lucky to have such a great family!”
Interesting fact about Dave, he was fortunate to be able to record in Prince’s Paisley Park studio! Something unique about him, he just recently learned how to play “Happy Birthday” on the accordion. Guilty pleasure for him is that he is really into outdoor sports, especially fishing.
Dave likes a wide variety of music genres. Lately he’s been getting back into listening to Rush. “For jazz I’ve been listening to some Buddy Rich and Louis Armstrong, Mozart’s Requiem and Niccolo Paganini’s 24 Caprices for classical, Jay-Z, Dirty Heads, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Dream Theater, Led Zeppelin, Korn, Pantera, Foo Fighters, Beyonce, Metallica, No Doubt, Johnny Cash, Motley Crue, some John Philip Sousa marches, and the list goes on.”
Dave’s words to 311 are as follows: “Thank you 311, 311 crew, and 311 management for creating and sharing your music over the past 30 years and appreciating your fans as much as we appreciate you!”
Dave’s words to all his fellow fans:
“I am honored to connect with the 311 community to celebrate 311’s music and 30th anniversary. It is so great to see people from all different places and backgrounds unite because of 311’s music. The world needs our positive vibes more than ever!”
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Thanks Dave for sharing your story! As always, thank you to all of the readers as well! I hope you are all safe, healthy, and staying positive. We need the positive vibes to continue now more than ever!
Much Love – The Runt