Welcome again slinkies and brodels! It’s my favorite time of the week (and hopefully one of yours), time for our next fan spotlight. This week we read the story of Craig Schweitzer!
It’s 95 (and we go for the hive) is where our story begins for Craig. 311 was in heavy rotation on radio stations this year and Craig was fortunate enough to live in an area with one dedicated solely to alternative-rock music. This is where he first heard 311. “What really drew me to their music is the unique combination that really can’t be described. They incorporate so many genres and blur all lines. What has kept me is the positivity and genuine happiness and respect that they preach.”
Statistics on live shows for Craig stands at this: 29 shows, 38 sets, 138 unique songs, and 770 total songs live. “Yeah I know my stats, I’m a math nerd.” Of those shows, Pow Wow in 2011 had the biggest impact on him. “Pow Wow was so significantly higher than any other show by them or anyone else.”
There are many songs that strike a chord with Craig and it’s hard for him to choose one that stands out the most. “Although overplayed, ‘Down’ was the first song I ever heard so I’ll say that, but it isn’t my favorite song.” For his favorite lyrics, he’s got an inside joke with friends so he said they are, “Golden buttered jam, golden buttered jam for you slam!”
Chicago is where Craig was originally from but he was raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He now currently resides in Orlando. Work comes in the form of a Senior Analyst which he says he does solely so he can go to concerts. “Every vacation day I have taken in the last 5 years has been for a concert/festival trip. I have been to over 250 concerts and 25 festivals in the last 5 years. Suwannee (location of Pow Wow) is my favorite place in the world. I hated camping until I realized you could make it about music which sparked my love for it.”
Craig has a wide range of interest for music. Some of his favorites include SOJA, Pearl Jam, Tool, Primus, Josh Heinrichs, Nahko and Medicine for the People, and Passafire. He said there are many others, some no longer together. Music clearly has a major impact on Craig and he said he’s met 90% of his friends through music in one way or another. His guilty pleasure comes in musical form – the band Presidents of the United States. “Love them and just saw them live for the first time in New York in 2012.” Something you may not know about Craig, he has a 311 Familia tattoo on his back!
What Craig has to say to 311, he’s actually said to all of them already, but wants to say it one more time – “Bring back Pow Wow, please! It may not have been the money maker you wanted, but it revitalized lost fans.”
Now to all the other 311 fans in the world:
“Live with positivity and love in your life and it will overcome the negative. Be the person you want the world to be. And lastly, you’ll always have a family if you look for it.”
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Thanks for sharing your tale Craig! I hope everyone enjoyed reading it! Thank you to all of the fans for being the positive, amazing people you are. Until next time…keep up the unity and spread the love!
Much love – The Runt