Hello again Excitable nation! Are we ready for the new edition of the 311 fan spotlight? Let’s learn the story of Kristen Misner!
In 7th grade a friend of Kristen’s brought over the Blue album. “I’m sure I had to have heard them before that, but my first memory was that day. He skipped right to #5 and Hive has been my favorite song since. It was also the first 311 song I heard live.”
For show count, Kristen has been to 142 total. This includes 28 different states, cruises, and Half Moon Cay. “7 cruises, 7 311 days, a couple of Halloween shows, Pow Wow. My first show was August 26, 1997 at Jones Beach Amphitheater. ”
As for favorites, there are a few that stand out for Kristen. “The first 3 cruises for the experience, 3/10/12 for the setlist, and Red Rocks shows, because it’s Red Rocks! If I had to pick one as the best, I’d say Red Rocks in 2010, because it was my first time at that venue and I also met my husband, Josh Callan, for the first time while waiting in line to get in.”
The song “Jupiter” is one that Kristen really loves for a specific reason. “In 2009 I had a seizure that caused me to crash my car. I found out I was born with a seizure disorder that just hadn’t presented itself until then. I felt like my life was turned upside down and was just a ticking time bomb for it to happen again. I basically listened to that song on repeat to get over the fear of living with it for the rest of my life.”
Some lyrics that really resonate with Kristen are as follows: “Do as you will, do as you wish, follow your bliss on every day. Never ask for an advantage, let the cards fall where they may,” “Run up the hill, do as you do, I’m gonna chill, you know you really oughta do the same,” “Changin all the time, we changin all the same, changin this life and this eternal frame. Warm in the sun refresh in the breeze, glow in the stars, blossom in the trees. Livin through life in infinite extent, spread undivided, operate unspent,” and “No high, no low, no great and no small, build and bound connect and equal all.”
Long Island, New York, is where Kristen has lived her entire life. “I love being right by the beach, a train ride from the city and I can be in the mountains within a couple of hours.” While she may not have lived anywhere else, she has traveled a lot. “I’m trying to make it to all 50 states (I’m at 42) and I’ve been to 20 countries so far.”
Craziest trip she has ever taken was making the trek to Los Angeles in 2012 to see Ghostwolf. “Because I flew across the country and back home in less than 24 hours. I basically got there in time for the show and flew out super early to get back to work in NY the next morning. I’ve also made some crazy driving trips, like from LI to Myrtle Beach and back in a weekend for Passafire & 311. It was like 15 hours driving each way, driving through the night on a Friday after work, slept on the lawn inside the venue between Passafire and 311’s sets and back home on Sunday. Or deciding to see 311 on our anniversary in Pittsburgh the day of the show, then driving back, past our house and out to the Hamptons to see Passafire the next day. I think we were in the car driving, for 2 days, longer than we were out of it.”
Kristen loves animals and if she could have one super power, she would want to be like Dr. Doolittle. “I haven’t eaten meat in 15 years. When I was in JrH/HS, we had a barn in our yard and had horses, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, cats, dogs, bunnies, lizards… I used to walk my goat on a leash and it was fun to see people get really confused and try and figure out what kind of dog she was. She’d also ride around in my Bronco with me. Now I just have 2 indoor cats, DD & Feeny, and a feral-ish outdoor baby, Pat.”
Interesting fact about Kristen – despite loving to go to concerts, she hates being in crowds of people. She also said she has a very odd sense of humor and she makes herself laugh…a lot! Guilty pleasure for her? “None that I’d consider guilty pleasures, if I like it, it’s just pleasure! If you mean my all time favorites, TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, movie is The Little Mermaid and hobbies are painting, photography and gardening. I start my garden from seed every year and squeeze a pretty wild variety of plants, both ornamental and edible, into our small suburban yard.”
For music, Kristen listens to a wide variety, depending on her mood. “I don’t really discriminate based on genre, with the exception of country music. I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock and 80’s pop. I’m pretty sure my aunt introduced me to The Beatles music while I was still inside my mom and my first concert I was in the 2nd row for Michael Jackson when I was 5. Then in my teens I also got into alternative rock/punk. The bands I’ve seen most live, after 311 are Phish (60+ times), Ballyhoo! And Passafire, both in the 50ish show range.”
To 311, Kristen would like to say: “Thanks for being the reason I found the love of my life and the best friends anyone could ask for.”
Now here is her shoutout to all the other fans out there:
“It’s “3-11, 3-3-11!” Not “threeee-eeee-leee-ven”. Oh and Ron… always remember, we can show up 10 minutes before they hit the stage and be right behind you. You know you love it. And finally, Josh. Thanks for finding me. End the quest, you’re beyond compare. I love you.”
Big thank you to Kristen for sharing your story with all of us! Of course, always a big thank you to the readers each post. Hope you all have a wonderful week. Sending you all good vibes.
Much Love – The Runt