Hello again my friends out there in the Excitable universe! Shall we get to the latest fan spotlight? Let’s meet Barbi Baca!
Barbi became a fan of 311 in 1995, when she was just 16 years old. “I went to see The Phunk Junkeez and they were playing with 311. I was blown away. I was a crazy teenager and I loved getting in the pit those days. In the 90’s 311 had the most fun pits!”
Show count for Barbi is sitting at around 80. “I have lost count. My first show was that show with the Phunk Junkeez in Phoenix, Arizona at a venue called The Party Gardens. It was outside. That venue is long gone, and very missed.”
Favorite show for Barbi was the show in Athens, Georgia, at the Georgia Theater. “I was in Atlanta working, (this was 2018 I think?), and my husband I drove down to Athens to the small theater they were playing at. It was GA and we were packed in like sausages. The vibe was amazing, everyone jumping and singing. The town reminded me of Tempe, Arizona in the 90’s. A music town. It was a blast.”
Barbi became a mom at the age of 19. She sang the song “8:16AM” to her son as she rocked him to sleep for years. So naturally, that song is very dear to her. “I have some of the lyrics tattooed on my arm.”
As for lyrics she loves, she chose words from “Freak Out.””If you don’t have someone to do it with, it’s not worth doing. To all my friends, it’s not the end, the Earth has not swallowed me yet.” This part of the song was she and her husbands music as they were introduced at their sons wedding.
Flagstaff, Arizona, is where Barbi was born, because there was no hospital in Sedona. “My dad has lived in Sedona his entire life and my grandpa owned the first gas station in Sedona.. I went back and forth from the valley (Phoenix) to Sedona my whole life.”
Barbi and her husband own a production company that provide sound, lighting, and decor for events. “My husband is a freelance sound engineer. I tag along a lot and have gotten to sit side stage at many amazing concerts, and festivals. I toured with an expo for 8 years which allowed me to work with a lot of B level celebrities. Some nice, and some not so nice. My husband and I have been married for 25 years, probably cause he has been on the road most of the time, so we are always just meeting again lol. I have a 27 year old son who also has a 311 tattoo and has been to more 311 shows than the average fan.”
Fun fact about Barbi, she loves punk shows….like a lot. For other music she is into, she loves Sevendust. “I always see Filter when they are in town, Richard Patrick is so nice. I love The Dirty Heads, and will always request Medusa.”
Something that makes Barbi unique, she doesn’t have stage fright. “I have a strange ability to interview people on stage. I am more concerned about making the interviewee feel comfortable that I don’t worry about myself. I have an odd talent of making people feel at ease, even if I don’t feel at ease. I only know this part because people have told me I exude an image of calmness in the most stressful situations. Thanks ADHD!
Guilty pleasure for Barbi? She loves the “Jersey Shore.”I feel like I grew up watching them and lived vicariously through them! I still watch the new series as they mature and raise their families. I had the unique experience to interview Lauren (Mikes wife) on stage at an event, and she was so nice.”
As for what Barbi would say to 311, she’s been luck enough to meet them over the years. “I met Nick at a dispensary in Hollywood a few years back and told him all about all my 311 tattoos. He was so gracious to listen to me babble on and on. Best day ever!!I have met all the guys at a meet and greet, but I could say over and over “Thank you for being the sound track of my life. There would be a hole in my heart without 311 there.”
Now here is her message to all the other fans out there:
“I hope you always carry the messages of 311 with you through every stage of your life.”
What an excellent message to close this post with! Thank you Barbi for being a part of this. As always, thank you to all the supporters & readers each week. Sending you all light and love as you navigate this week.
Much Love – The Runt