Happy New Year my excitable friends! It’s 2025 and time to get to more 311 fan spotlights. Let’s meet Gabriela Lopez!
Gabriela’s love for 311 comes from her best friends/partner in crime Erin, who is an OG Excitable One. “I can’t thank her enough for the introduction. I still remember her showing me Enlarge to show detail in 7th grade and despite watching that VHS over and over I was still in my boyband era *sigh*. It wasn’t until summer 2000 when i borrowed her Soundsystem CD and boom I was hooked! I live and breathe that album it holds a special place in my heart and helped distract me from all the negativity that was happening in my household at the time. The grooves/lyrics/vibes was perfection. Who wouldn’t get down with 311.”
Exact number of shows Gabriela has attended she has lost count of, but she believes it’s over 200 including several 311 Day’s and this year will be her 5th cruise. First show for her was July 1, 2000, at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in Irvine, California. “The openers were Incubus and Kottonmouth Kings.”
For favorite show, there are a few that stand out to Gabriela. “The Halloween show at Universal Amphitheater 10/31/2001 with Alien Ant Farm dressed as Oompa Loompas as the opener, the Creatures for awhile video shoot in 2003. I was able to share that experience with my best friends from middle school. Which made that day even more special. Pow Wow in Florida. The Jamaica/Soundsystem Cruise was a highlight and an emotional one nonetheless. Seeing my favorite band 311 in Hawaii was an experience I will never forget and can cross Hawaii off my bucket list. How surreal.” For a song that means the most to her, Gabriela said that her all time go to’s are “Strong All Along” and “I’ll Be Here A While.”
Gabriela was born and raised in the small town of Azusa, California, where she said everyone knows everyone. She met her best friend/sister/311 ride or die in the 7th grade. “Because of her we’ve encountered and continue to make many memorable 311 memories. Every show is like experiencing 311 for the first time live. It’s always a good ol time, singing and dancing our young hearts away.”
Gabriela worked at In N’ Out Burger in her early years and now she is a care provider for the state. “I’ve always wanted to work with the elderly as I believe everyone deserves a companion until the very end. I’m a mom to a beautiful 14 year old daughter who everyone calls my mini and a cat mom to our Blue Russian Gilly.”
Fun fact about Gabriela is that she’s pretty good at word searches. “Always have ever since I was a little girl. I can look up multiple words at once and am quick too.” Guilty pleasure for her is rewatching the movies “Goodfellas” and “Casino” and she doesn’t get tired of it. “I also got into collecting Funkos and keeping them in their original packaging. So far I’ve got about 30. The most recent 3 I purchased were Tommy, Jimmy and Henry from Goodfellas.”
For other music that Gabriela is into, the list includes “Future Islands (I was very excited to know P-Nut was a fan too), Reggie and the Full Effect, New Found Glory, Jungle, The Altons, Thee Sacred Souls, Last Dinosaurs, Jackie Mendez, Passafire, The Strokes, Stick Figure, Rebelution, Iration, Los Yesterdays, Banda Machos, Eslabon Armado, Vicente Fernandez and of course old school lowrider oldies.”
To 311, Gabriela has this message: “Thank you for helping me through my teen years.”
Now her message to all her fellow 311 fans:
“Can’t wait to rock out with y’all at the next show!”
Big thank you to Gabriela for sharing her story with us all! And of course my gratitude to all those who read these posts each time. Hope you are all starting 2025 off right and sending so many positive vibes to you all!
Much Love, The Runt