Welcome back my excitable friends! It’s that time, we get to learn the story of a new fan. Let’s get to know Brian Hollar!
The year was 1996 and it was when Brian heard “Down” and “All Mixed Up” that he discovered 311. Then when he met his wife who was super into them, he became an even bigger fan. She took him to his first show and he was hooked!
For show count he is somewhere in the 50 range. First show was 311 Day 2006 in Memphis. “That show was fucking epic.” Favorite event? The 2012 cruise. “That was our first cruise, first 311 cruise and that island show gahhhhhh!!!!”
Song that means the most to Brian is “Hive.” “I just love everything about that song.” For favorite lyric, he chose: “I’d like to stay here just like this, it’s just a momentary bliss.”
Roanoke, Virginia, is where Brian grew up until he was 16. Then he moved to Alabama, with some summers spent in Panama City Beach. At 19 he moved to South Carolina and then a year later headed to North Carolina. “Live in Charlotte still to this day.” He played football from pee wee to his junior year in high school as a running back. “Loved playing football and was very good and it consumed so much of my life but just got burned out from all the years.”
Brian also played soccer, basketball, golf, track, swim, and wresting during his school years. “Sports and the brotherhood that came with it was a very large part of my upbringing in life. Love any type of competitive sport and still a very competitive person to this day which drives me in many avenues. Sometimes I’m just competing with myself lol.” To fund his 311 addiction, he is in sales for a HVAC company. “Love to travel with my wife and be on the water as much as I can. Ohh and I love to party as well. I’ll drink your shot lol.”
Interesting fact about Brian – he has a peanut butter obsession! “Literally ordered a whole case on Amazon and it didn’t last long.” For talent, he said he’s really good at voice impressions. Guilty pleasure for him is on T.V. – he loves Jersey Shore and Grey’s Anatomy.
Other artists that Brian loves include Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Foo Fighters, Rdgldgrn, Incubus, Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Bassnectar, and Above & Beyond. “The list could go on very far. I’ll listen to Jazz, Motown you name it but nooooo country. I just can’t.”
His words to 311 are actually a question: “So 20 more years?”
To the other fans out there, his message is simple:
“FUCK COVID. I miss your faces.”
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Thank you Brian for sharing your story! As always a big hug of gratitude to all the readers each week. I know times are weird, but with strength and support for each other we will get through it!
Hey there my excitable friends! I hope you are all safe, well, and kicking off your July in a positive way. Shall we get to the latest fan spotlight? Let’s hear the story of Stacy Walker!
Stacy’s best friend is Kelli Stephens, who was the last fan spotlight, so we’ve already heard the story of how they found 311. They were in the living room and “Down” came on MTV and they were instantly in awe. “They became a huge part of our lives after that. The positivity, the beats, Nick <3 All of them. It just became a lifestyle.”
Show count Stacy stopped keeping track of after number 50 and that was a few years ago. Her very first show was in August 2006 in Indy at White River. “It was life changing! The tickets were a birthday present from Kelli!”
Choosing a favorite show proved difficult as Stacy loved them all for many different reasons. She wanted to choose the first cruise because well, it was the first. However, she was torn because the beach show on cruise number two was so incredible. Plus the cruise where the 5-timers got a special party and then there was Pow Wow. “I’ll just say all of them have been my favorite so far!”
For the song that means the most to Stacy, she chose “Do You Right.” “It’s always been my favorite, but I used to have this mixtape (yes, actually a cassette tape my friend made) that had do you right, then when you hit the flip button it would be Apache rose peacock from the Chili peppers… I spent an entire summer driving only listening to those two songs! (Until the cassette player ate it.)”
Lyrics that resonate with her, well she has them tattooed on her forearms and it’s from “Speakeasy.” “If there’s a shadow in your life then there’s sunshine,” and “Just rewind, it’s all in your mind.” Then there is the lyric “The Earth has not swallowed me yet” that also stays with her. “ Like, I still have time cause I’m not in the ground. Really all of them hold a special place in my heart at different times of my life.”
Stacy grew up in the township of Tonkel, Indiana until she was 7. “No, not a town, a cluster of farm houses and a church.” Then she moved to the “big city” (population 8000 or so) and stayed there until she was 20. “Surrounded by rebel flags, farmers and misfits (I was a misfit), then I got a job where I traveled the country which had me in a different city every week. I lived out of a suitcase, saw the ocean for the first time ever, expanded my horizons! It was AWESOME and eye opening!!!” After a few years of that she moved back home for some personal reasons and then she moved to Fort Wayne with Kelli. “I’ve been here ever since! Now I just work and go to school to get my Masters of Communications (After being a high school dropout) I teach public speaking as a GTA (Graduate teaching assistant, not stealing cars) and I fund most of my adventures with student loans. I’m gonna pay them for the rest of my life anyway, I may as well have some good memories and not just crying over monster energy drinks at 4 am fearing finals.”
If you’ve been on the cruises, you may have received a necklace from Stacy! “I make necklaces to pass out on the boat every year. The first five cruises I was really drunk so I probably didn’t introduce myself. So I’m that frizzy haired drunk girl that handed you a ball of hemp necklaces and then danced away.” She claims she has no talents (hello, she makes necklaces!), but she has been told that she’s really easy to talk to. “I think that’s really important for someone who needs someone to listen to them.”
While Stacy doesn’t feel guilty about anything that gives her pleasure, she said the one thing she gets ridicule from friends about is her love for teen drama shows. “Like One Tree Hill or The OC. I JUST LOVE THEM!!!!”
Other artists that Stacy can be found listening to include Prince, Dirty Heads, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Simon and Garfunkel, Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, Allen Stone, Lil’ Dickie, Childish Gambino, Sublime, Alabama Shakes, TOOL, NIN, Blind Melon, Lake street dive, and Al Green. She really just loves music and could go on for days. “So many bands that i met on the cruise for the first time, like RDGLDGRN, PROF, etc….. I could keep going forever. Pretty much anything that grabs my soul I’m down with.”
To the band, Stacy would like to send out these words: “Thank you for providing the soundtrack to this awesome life, and for providing places to go enjoy it!”
Her message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“Hey guys! What a year! I miss seeing all of you at shows, and hope we can dance together very soon! Hopefully on cruise 7! (Please let there be a cruise seven!!!!)”
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Thank you Stacy for sharing your story! Virtual hugs to all the readers out there. I miss seeing you all too and can’t wait until we can gather together again. Until next time, go be awesome and spread the good vibes!
Hey there excitable friends! I hope you are all staying safe and well. Shall we meet a new fan spotlight? Let’s read the story of Kelli Stephens!
Kelli was getting ready for school in the fall of 1996 with her best friend Stacy. They were watching MTV and the video for “Down” came on. “We all stopped what we were doing and were amazed at what we were hearing. At that point, I knew 311 was going to be a major part of our life for a long time. It was something about their style of music that drew me to them. I had never heard anything like that before. It was a mix of all my favorite genres in one!”
For show count, Kelli is at 73 which includes all 6 cruises, Pow Wow, and a couple of 311 Day events. First show was summer of 2006. “A group of us drove down to Indy and saw them at The Lawn at White River State Park. After seeing them live for the first time, I knew I wasn’t going to miss another summer tour, ever… That is until this year… ☹.”
Pinpointing one event that means the most was hard for Kelli because she said they are all so memorable. “With each show/experience has given me the opportunity to meet so many other excitables, which some have become very close, life-long friends. Buuuut, since I must pick one, I would have to say the sail-away show on the first cruise in 2011. I will say this is my all-time favorite moment because it was a brand-new experience for all of us, including 311. The hype at the show was a feeling I will never forget!”
There are several songs that mean a lot to Kelli. “My Stoney Baby” she said is her classic jam along with “Hydroponic.” The one song that really resonates through her soul is “Speak Easy.” “It takes me back to the “boat” (cruise, my happy place) every time I hear it. I get a bit emotional when that song comes on and it truly helps when I’m feeling a bit anxious.” One of her all time favorite lyrics is, “Musics what I need to keep my sanity.” “There are countless other quotes and lyrics that really speak to me and uplift my spirits every time I hear them. One other quote, that I try to live by is, “I’m not gonna waste life being hateful.” And the classic, “Stay positive and love your life” as hard as it is to stay positive all the time, I really try to make the best out of every situation.”
Born in Indianapolis, Kelli lived in Carmel and Arcadia, Indiana, for many years. Her mom then moved her and her two sisters up to Columbia City, Indiana, and that is where she graduated from high school. “Once I hit 18, I moved back to Indianapolis for a year or two, then found myself back in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have been back up in northern Indiana since 04’ and this is where I feel like home is.” Once settled, she found herself working for a doctors office full time. During this, she found out that 311 was going to be playing at the local concert venue. “I was so stoked they were going to be in my home town!!! During that show I knew I wanted to work there because I knew 311 would be back and thought I might get the chance to hang out and meet them. So, I took on a part-time job at Piere’s Entertainment Center and worked there for about ten years as a bartender. I found myself working 40 hours at the docs office and about 20-30 hours at Piere’s. It was time I chose one over the other. I decided I was going to enroll in college as a returning adult and bartend my way through school. Between cash tips, and school loans I was able to fund my 311 habits and I’m not ashamed to say it. Yeah, I’ll be paying on school loans the rest of my life, but every penny spent was worth it 100%. 311 did come back to Piere’s 7 years later in 2015, but I wasn’t able to meet them. However, my boss hooked me up with an amazing VIP area for all my fellow friends and 311 peeps with quite a few free bottles and a big “chicken dinner.” That was a night I will never forget. Now, I work for a reputable company in Fort Wayne and I have a Master’s in Business Administration. It only took me about 7 years to complete my degree, but I did it and I am proud to say I am a first-generation graduate. Hopefully, now I won’t have to take out “ student loans” to fund my 311 lifestyle anymore.”
Interesting fact about Kelli, some consider her to be psychic! “I have predicted weird events, I just have no clue how to channel it. For example, on cruise 5, we all decided to take a nap before 311’s show in the evening and of course a bit of day drinking had been going on. Everyone was up getting around and I just looked at everyone, still in a drunken sleep and said, “PNut’s dad says “Hi” guys” they all looked at me and started laughing.. I slightly remember saying it but then rolled over and snoozed for about 10 more minutes.. That night after the show we had made formal dinner reservations. Well I’m sure some of you remember the show was delayed in the middle of the set because of the weather. We ended up being super late for our reservations. Anyhow, they sat all four of us pretty quickly. As we sat there looking over the menu, guess who turned the corner??? P-Nut’s dad, and he said, “Hi guys!” We all looked at each with amusement and then right behind him was PNut!!! They sat right by our booth and were extremely nice. We had a wonderful conversation with Pnut and they even took a picture with us. And I somehow predicted this… lol. Anyway, this is a story my cabin-mates and I will never forget.”
Kelli is a total karaoke queen! She said her mother brought home a machine in the early 90’s, there were just cassette tapes with inserts that had the lyrics on them. “We would stay up four hours singing along to those cassette tapes. Then she upgraded and bought a system with 1000’s of songs. She ended up becoming a KJ on the side working every weekend at local bars. So, I would have to say I get it honestly from her. I love to do karaoke and once I get a couple of drinks in me, you better watch out because I (think) I rule that stage. Sometimes I act like it’s my show, and I’m not even that great, but once I get on stage with the mic in my hand, you better watch out!”
Guilty pleasure for Kelli is the band Shinedown. “I’ve seen them about 5 times in concert. However, 4 out of the 5 I didn’t pay for because they played at my old job Piere’s.” She is also a sucker for reality T.V. “I love it, I watch it, I follow the people. Jersey Shore is probably my favorite and I have been watching since it came out. Second on my list is Big Brother on CBS. I actually drove to Chicago for Big Brother auditions. Unfortunately, my nerves got the best of me, and the liquor did all the talking. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try again, I’ve always envisioned myself on some sort of reality show.”
Other artists that Kelli enjoys include Allen Stone, Amos Lee, Bad Rabbits, and that list goes on and on. I still listen to Bone Thugs, 2Pac, Biggie, Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Jewel, Natalie Cole, and Lisa Loeb. “I love oldies, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and I love love LOVE Broadway Musicals (Wicked is my fave!). I grew up with a dad who was a drummer and a mother who was a lead singer, so I’ve been around music my entire life. I can honestly say I will give any genre a chance as long as it is “music to my ears.”
To 311, Kelli would like to say: “I’ve put at least one of your children through college with the amount of money I’ve spent over the years. So, keep making great music and we’ll call it even.” (She’s being funny of course!)
Kelli’s words to all her fellow fans:
“With everything going on in this world, negative or not, I hope we can all stand together to create some sense of positivity among us. My best friend Stacy was once told, by a good friend of ours, you can always find an answer in a 311 song, you just have to listen. In the words of Nick Hexum, “Stay Positive and Love Your Life!” PLUR Ya’ll.”
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Thank you Kelli for sharing your story of your love for 311! Many thanks as always to the readers each week also! Be kind, be strong, stay safe. Until next time my friends!
Welcome one and all to the the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! As always, I hope you are staying healthy and well friends. Let’s get to it and read the story of Pat White!
The year was 1995 when Pat first heard of 311. He was sitting in a car with his sister at the age of 14. “She was the coolest person I knew to that point in my life. Used to take me and my friends skateboarding. Had a real solid relationship. ‘Don’t Stay Home’ came on in that car and she asked me, do you listen to 311?… that was the song that started it all. Got the blue album the next week.”
Pat has been to over 35 shows. First show for him was in 1996 at the new Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. “Snuck out and got in with my friends ticket. Was just gonna look for my sister. All the sudden intro to Omaha Stylee came on. Was supposed to go return the ticket. But I couldn’t leave. That was my first concert ever. My mother had just died..That show changed life absolutely.” His favorite event so far was this years 311 Day.
As far as favorite song, its “Use of Time,” but he said that “Golden Sunlight” has gotten him through many tough times. Favorite lyrics were harder to choose because there are so many great ones. Ones that stood out to him are as follows: “At the end of the day the relentless always win,” “This moment is a gift, it’s why it’s called the present.” Plus he said pretty much all of “Golden Sunlight.”
Pat was born in 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother passed in 1996 and he went on a downward spiral because of it. “Made the lessons of day to day life as a sober person mean that much more. Running from her death for 16 years almost took my life several times. But the recovery, the vigilance and steadfastness is what it takes to push forward. One day at a time. She taught me all that. And I had to trust God and instill it in myself in order to learn.”
Pat funds his 311 habit being a chef and kitchen manager at Roma Old Town wood fired pizzeria in Winchester, Virginia. He’s lived all over VA including Newport News, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. “My addiction took me many places but I found home and sobriety in Winchester. First place in my adult life I can actually call home.”
Finding something that most people don’t know is hard for Pat because he lives his life pretty much like an open book. Unique attribute for him is his work ethic and stamina. “I’m 38 years old and I can go harder than kids 20 years younger than me. On 4-5 hours of sleep lol. Running a kitchen even with a co kitchen manager is hard work. My passion and drive keep me alive and well.”
What really makes Pat tick is his daughter. “She makes my whole world. She is every dream I’ve ever had come true. She loves 311 and loves her Life. I had to save myself from myself. Couldn’t get sober for her but I have to include her all over this thing, she is My Story. She is my legacy. She is all my reasons.”
Some other artists that Pat loves include Sublime (which got him started on his reggae journey), Bob Marley, Stick Figure, Tool, Deftones, The Movement, Chris Cornell, System of a Down, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Iya Terra, and many more. Guilty pleasure? It’s John Mayer!
Pat’s words to the members of 311 are: “Thank you for always being there. With so much fakeness in the music biz, chaos In the world, they’ve always been an Uplifting constant. No matter what. Thank you for always staying true.”
To all the other 311 fans out there:
“This life is what we make of it. Hold yourself accountable and be there for your brothers and sisters. It’s more than blind positivity. Gratitude is an action word. We must live it everyday…love yourself and love your life and above all, To Thine Own self Be true.”
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Thank you Pat for sharing your story! Another great fan spotlight in the books. Muchas Gracias to all the readers each week as well. Go have an amazing week and please stay safe & well!
Welcome my friends in 311 nation! Hope everyone is staying healthy and well. Shall we start the week off properly with a new fan spotlight? I say yes! Let’s kick things into gear here, time to meet Tim Fisher!
Tim was working at a pizza shop where a coworker of his was really into 311 and got Tim listening to the band. He didn’t fully become a fan until years later when a friend convinced him to go see them live and that hooked him! “The energy in that first show really opened me up to wanting to listen to all of their albums, and I started to go see them whenever they were in town. The energy of the band mixed with the energy of the crowd, really reminded me of the Grateful Dead and their following (Which I had been a HUGE fan of for years) and it really got me to check out all of 311’s older albums and other recorded live shows.”
Show count for Tim is at 43, he and his wife just went through the show archive to calculate the number. They’ve been to 40 shows together and 3 apart. “I’ve been to four 311 days, and four cruises so far, and have traveled to multiple cities to see them play. My first show was at The Woodlands Pavilion, September 9, 2005. They played with Papa Roach and Unwritten Law and it was the show that really got my into the band. I had heard their music before, but the live show really made me get into them.”
To pick a favorite show or event is hard for most fans, so it was no different for Tim because a lot of the shows he’s attended have big significance to his life. “My favorite event overall are the cruises, as being on a large boat with so many excitables all there for the same reason is really hard to explain to other people without sounding like I’m in a cult, haha. I proposed to my girlfriend on the 2015 cruise trip, and we got married in New Orleans for 311 day 2016 which was an extra special trip for us. It was perfect getting to marry my beautiful wife, and then go see my favorite band 3 hours later with 15 of my friends/family from the wedding and all my 311 excitable friends. I CAN say my favorite set list so far has to be the first set on the 2019 Cruise. I lost my voice for 2 days after from screaming and jamming out that night.”
As for songs that Tim loves, his favorite jamming out song is “Homebrew.” “It always reminds me what it’s like to be young again. I sometimes get carried away rocking out to it that I forget I’m not 20 anymore but it’s just one of those songs you can’t help it.” Regarding song lyrics, Tim says there is one line in every song that is a favorite of his. The one he chose to share is this: “Shit like that now scares me, but I’d like to do it again.” “Now that I’m older that definitely resonates with me. I can’t party or rock out as hard as I used to no matter how much I would like to, but the memories are always a fun thing to think about.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Tim has always had a love for baseball and all things regarding the Chicago Cubs. Music was also a big influence in his life as his parents were passionate about their music. “You would wake up EVERY Saturday morning to some Janis on the stereo while my mom cleaned house. Whether you wanted to sleep in or not.” Tim learned to be a mechanic in high school and loves working on anything with an engine. “Chicago is infamous for its awful winters so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one day it took me 2 hours to dig a piece of equipment out of the snow, and I said screw It, i’m going somewhere warm. So I ended up transferring to Houston Texas which is where I live today.” He’s been in the Houston area for the last 16 years. “Really enjoying living farther out in the country where I can jam some tunes and not have to worry about the neighbors.”
Being really into sports since he was young, Tim has collected a lot of unique items from the teams he loves. “My favorite thing I have in my collection is a metal printing sheet from the Chicago Tribune that was used to print all the newspapers announcing the Cubs winning the world series in 2016.” We know he became a mechanic, but Tim has loved taking things apart and putting them back together since he was a child. “When I was 2 I got a hold of a screwdriver and took all the cabinet doors off the kitchen cabinets. I had taken everything apart so much, they had to hire someone to come and replace everything back to how it was. I love to build lego sets, especially the Star Wars themed ones, and tinkering around on all my garage toys. I have a 2011 z06 Corvette that is my baby, and I love to take her out on the weekends for a drive and take care of all the maintenance on it.”
When not listening to the tunes of 311, Tim can be found listening to The Grateful Dead as they were one of his favorite bands since he was younger. “I got to see them once before Jerry died, and have had the chance to see the Dead and Company a couple times over the years. I love to go to live music shows, and some of my other favorites are The Dirty Heads, Passafire, Chevelle, Guns n Roses, Motley Crue, and all the old 70’s and 80’s artists I can still get a chance to go see.” Guilty pleasure for Tim is Taylor Swift. “My wife has dragged me out to 3 Taylor Swift shows, and I surprisingly had a really good time. She puts on a really good show, and she’s very talented-not to mention nice to look at (it’s my eye candy vs my wife’s pleasure to yell at Nick to take his shirt off).”
Words Tim would like to say to 311: “Thank you for the awesome music for the last 30 years! Your music can always put me in a good mood, and I love the fan base y’all have created! It has brought me so many good friends, and memories over the years and I hope to have many more in the future!”
Words for all his fellow 311 fans:
“Right now with everything going on in the world, music and unity is what we really need to get through this. Like the band says “stay positive and love your life” is a phrase that can really help us when the world is looking so bleak. I look forward to the future shows where we can all rock out to our favorite tunes and have a great time together again.”
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Great story Tim! Thanks for sharing it with everyone. Lots of love going out to all the fans who read this each week. Tim is right, music and unity are what we need right now to get through these crazy times. Stay positive, love each other, and when we all gather together again it’s going to be one hell of a party! Keep smiling all!
Hello again everyone out there in the 311 fan universe! I hope this week finds you safe & healthy still. Take a moment to read the story of our latest fan spotlight, Jana Kossow!
In 1995, Jana moved back to Los Angeles, California, just before her 10th birthday. She heard the song “Down” and was instantly hooked. “The music was just something that hit me like no other band, my brothers had talked my dad into buying their CD for my birthday that year & from then on I waited for the next album to come out, I saved up my allowance just to buy the new CD’s.”
Show count for Jana is 6 and she said obviously she would have liked to have attended more shows at this point but she’s ok with her number. First show for her was in Irvine, California, on August 2, 2013 when G. Love and Cypress Hill opened for 311. Her favorite shows she has attended so far is her first show ever and then 311 Day 2018.
There are many songs that mean a lot to Jana such as “Today My Love,” “What Was I Thinking,” “Homebrew,” “Use of Time,” “Hydroponic,” “Sever,” “Jupiter,” and “Beyond the Gray Sky.”
Jana has a few lyrics that really connect with her and they are as follows:
“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute. I can’t slow down inside, I guess that’s why I live it!”
“Death I just say fuck you, the void unknown we’re thrown through, while lost in life’s psychedelic trip we take, there’s a more bizarre we have to make, world we have, nowhere beyond, take out the earth, the bass is gone, at life’s end we’ll feel the calm, how strange we should be here at all.”
“To all my friends, it’s not the end, the earth has not swallowed me yet.”
“My vibe is holy, my eyes closed, either I’m asleep or what I’m thinking is deep.”
Jana grew up a Navy brat with 2 older brothers. Before she was 5 years old she had already been to 26 different states. Then her parents divorced and she went with her father, having very few visits with her mom (although now there are best friends). The only states she truly remembers are Colorado because she had a lot of surgeries there, and then Minnesota, because her family is there. She now lives in L.A., but really misses Minnesota.
Jana said she was accident prone as a child and was in the hospital often. “Starting at the age of 3 that I can remember, from my face being mangled by a dog, to my appendix bursting on my 5th birthday, to my 1st motorcycle accident with my left foot (which needed skin grafts), to my skull shattering, to breaking ribs, to my heart stopping, to my last motorcycle accident which again my heart stopped, I lost my helmet before hitting my head on asphalt, I now suffer from severe nerve damage, bone issues, fibromyalgia & trigeminal neuralgia. I also currently get steroid injections in my spine as well as my hip every 6 months due to my motorcycle accident. Though with all the downfalls in my life I refuse to give up despite all the pain. I’m allergic to opiates so can’t take anything but medical marijuana (I work in the business as well).”
Jana has a daughter Molly, who’s birthday happens to be today, May 4th! “She’s my inspiration for everything.” Jana was in the acting business for a few years before her illnesses got worse, but you will see my face on T.V., movies, and commercials every once in a while. She is now in the cannabis industry and enjoys it since it’s not strenuous on her. Jana has a surgical steel plate in her head and is also allergic to the sun. Aside from this, as she mentioned, her heart has stopped two times and she’s been declared legally dead. “Technically I’m a zombie, lol.” She has a talent for handling pain. “When I was acting I definitely had to hide the pain.”
Interesting fact about Jana, she was supposed to get married on 311 Day 2018. “Peter Raspler sent me their camera crew to film it right before the show, until I was left at the altar, even after being left at the altar I went to the show & had an amazing time thanks to people in the familia who made sure I was okay. There’s nothing like having something that brings people together like 311 does. Since the age of 9, 311 has helped me cope with A LOT of things, their music has helped me through depression & suicide, among other things. Since the death of my father, they’ve helped with a lot of emotions. They’ve given me strength, just like my father has. I’ve come a long way & I’m still staying positive & (trying to) love my life.”
Other artists that Jana loves include Atmosphere, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins, Tupac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marilyn Manson, Rolling Stones and Journey. Guilty pleasure for her she said was that she loved acting but really wanted to direct. She also collects glass pieces such as bongs, pipes, rigs, pendants, and other 420 accessories.
To 311, Jana has these words: “I personally want to meet you all, but especially Pnut. He’s my idol, the way he plays bass is just so tranquil to me.”
To all the other fans, here is her message:
“I may not know a lot of the fans but everyone I have met through 311 I consider family, it’s all about unity & staying positive. Special shout outs to Adrian Lopez, Jessica & Sean Pursley, JR & Casey Barnett & Shannon Conley.”
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Thanks for sharing your story Jana and a very happy birthday to your daughter Molly! Much gratitude to all the readers as well. Stay safe, stay healthy, love your life my friends! Until next time.
Welcome my friends in 311 nation! I hope you are all staying healthy and safe during this crazy time. Are we ready for this weeks fan spotlight? Let me introduce you to the amazing drummer of Ballyhoo! – Donald Spangler!
Like many, Donald saw the video for “All Mixed Up” on MTV and that’s how he was introduced to 311. “Can you remember those days, videos on MTV. I remember liking the groove of it.”
Number of shows he’s attended eludes him because he’s been to A LOT of shows, not to mention played a lot with 311. “I think the first time I saw them was back in ’03. I had been listening to them for years and never saw them, I was super excited.”
Favorite event for Donald was the Pow Wow Festival. “That was the best time. It was probably one of the best sets I’ve seen by them, not to mention our set was pretty good too, haha! I’m just hoping they do something like that again.”
For song that means the most to him, Donald chose “I Told Myself.” “I was going through a self-inflicted misery at the time and that song really pulled me through.” One of his favorite lyrics comes from the song “From Chaos” – “Everyone tends to forget upon reentry, orbiting space quantum saints we’re the only.”
Donald was introduced to music at a very early age, he said probably around the age of 4. His father was really into the bands Ratt and Poison and took him and his brother Howi to their first concert. “I just remember thinking, that’s what I want to do. The whole spectacle of the thing, the lights, the loudness, it was entertaining to say the least. We used to “play band” instead of riding our bikes with the other kids or watching cartoons. I would use unsharpened pencils as drumsticks, they had to be unsharpened, haha. We also had some neighbors once that had a band. They would let me mess around on their drums, I was hooked.” Then when Howi entered high school they started their band Ballyhoo!. “From the basement to the stage, I can say music has defined my life. I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Donald played little league growing up and he was a pitcher. “I was pitching one game and ended up striking out 13 people in a row. That’s one of my Uncle Rico stories for ya.” Something unique about him? He brushes his teeth in the shower! “I know thats probably more gross to some people than unique, haha. It saves time and you can get that shit everywhere.”
Guilty pleasure for Donald? It’s the show Judge Judy! “I like watching some justice in action, she’s also super smart and fucks people up when they get out of line, haha.”
Some other artists that Donald loves include Lamb of God, Deftones, Slipknot, and All That Remains. “I like a lot of metal. I still listen to a lot of old stuff too. Nirvana, STP. I don’t mind putting on some classical music either.”
Donald has these words for 311: “Thank you for bringing a unique style to the forefront. Your music has helped me deal with some shit in my life and I can’t thank you enough. As a drummer I would say to Chad, it’s good to have someone to look up to and to force myself to get better everyday. Much appreciated.”
Now his words to all the other 311 (and Ballyhoo!) fans out there:
“To the fans of Ballyhoo!, the past 25 years in this band has been a wild ride and we wouldn’t be where we are without you! So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We’ll keep rockin if you keep listenin! More to come in 2020!”
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Thank you so much Donald for being a part of this! I’m sure everyone loved reading your story and are grateful to you for sharing it. To all the readers, keep being awesome!
Happy 4/20 my excitable friends! As always, I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Today we have a very special spotlight nominated specifically for this holiday, so let’s read the story of Antonio Roumeliotis!
It was back in high school that Antonio was introduced to 311 by his friend Mitch Lyons, “over lots and lots of blunts and hits from the bong.”
Show count for Antonio is at 74 and his first show was when 311 was touring with Snoop Dogg and he saw them in Illinois. “Have every single ticket stub saved and when I reach 100 I plan to have them framed in chronological order!”
As far as favorite event or show, Antonio said the second cruise wins hands down. “Nothing beats the splash pits at the island show. Bunch of grown ass adults splashing around like children. I’m getting chills just thinking about it!”
Song that means the most to Antonio is “Still Dreaming” and he said it’s his all time favorite song. Naturally, his favorite lyric comes from this song: “”No I’ll not renounce my views and do what others do. I’d rather drink the hemlock than be like you, to my soul untrue.” Antonio said that the Socratic reference speaks a lot to his Greek upbringing.
Chicago, Illinois, is where Antonio grew up and then in 2012 he moved to Denver, Colorado. He was raised in a traditional Greek family. “If you’ve seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, other than the windex, that is spot on how I grew up haha.” Antonio has a son, Aristotelis (Aristotle) who is one and a half years old and a daughter set to arrive in May. His non-Greek wife went to Greek school so she can help teach their kids to speak Greek.
Antonio speaks fluent Greek and guess what? His name isn’t Antonio. “I just have people call me that because it’s easier than explaining every time I meet someone that my name is Antonios. Pronounced Andonios. In Greek, if there is a T after an N it turns into a D sound. My family calls me Andoni for short.”
Guilty pleasure for Antonio is the show “Ancient Aliens.” “Don’t really believe many conspiracy theories, but love watching anything related.” Other artists that he loves include Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Beastie Boys, and Sublime.
To 311, Antonio has these words: “There aren’t words to Express the thanks I have for you and this community you have created!”
Now his message to all of the other fans out there:
“I started going to 311 shows because I loved their music, now it’s much more than that, I go just as much for the community. Seeing all the great friends I’ve met throughout the years. (Some even ended up as groomsmen at my wedding) Love you all, and I’ll see you at the next one! And p.s. Shawn Van Houten is a pussy!!!* Haha now 6 year running inside joke…”
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Thank you Antonios for being a part of the fan spotlight and sharing your story! As always a huge thank you to the readers each week. Please stay safe & healthy, support each other. We will get through this! And again, happy 4/20 to all that celebrate it!
Greetings & salutations my friends in 311 nation! Hoping you are all staying safe & healthy during these crazy times. Let’s take a positivity break and meet this weeks fan spotlight, Keith Bowman!
It was the video for “Down” that introduced Keith to the music of 311. “I just loved it and was not making much money and my friend bought the blue album on cassette from Tower Records.”
First show for Keith was in Sacramento on November 1, 1997. It was his 21st birthday present from his brother. “It was supposed to be a surprise but my younger brother ruined it.” For show count, he is somewhere between 20-30 and says all of his shows have been special. “Cruise #2 on the beach, 311 Day 2012, small venues in Sacramento, House of Blues in Las Vegas, UC Davis at freeborn hall .. all very memorable shows. Living on the west coast and in Sacramento makes the opportunities not often but very quaint.” Favorite shows were from the second cruise. “Front and center for all shows including the beach show!”
The song “It’s Getting Ok Now” mean a lot to Keith as he said the lyrics are pretty bold and SA is what really drew him to 311 with his lyrical rapping in the song “Down.” One of his favorite lyrics is one from SA – “We’re facing the sunset, but for a moment it looks like it’s rising and we are on the other side of things.”
Keith was born in Spokane, Washington. His mom and dad divorced when he was just 5 years old. “I was born in the 70’s, raised in the 80’s, so music was my freedom of entertainment, that or my BMX bike.” He was raised by his mom in Sacramento, California. They always rented and he was never able to have a dog like he always wanted. “I currently have 3 dogs and once had 2 Jack Russell Terriers and 1 Doberman.”
Fun fact about Keith that many don’t know is that he never really played any sports. Unique attribute for him is that he says he can make a pun out of pretty much anything! Guilty pleasure for him? “I am obsessed with everything to do with the Golden State Killer.”
Other musicians that Keith can be found listening to include Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Beastie Boys, and Soundgarden.
Keith’s words to 311 – “Thanks for staying together!”
To all the other 311 fans out there:
“Stay positive and love your life! It is great to have other excitables.”
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Thank you Keith Bowman for sharing your story! Love and gratitude to the supporters of this venture each week as well. Remember to stay strong, send out as much love as you can and we will all get through this together!
Hola excitable nation! Sending you lots of love & hope you are all staying healthy my friends. Let’s distract ourselves for a few by meeting a new 311 fan spotlight…here is the story of Angela Bowman!
It was thanks to Angela’s boyfriend (now husband) that she found the sounds of 311. He started playing the music for her and she fell in love. “We listened to it all the time. I just liked the positive vibe that their music has and it is great to rock out to in the car.”
Angela has no clue how many shows she’s attended, but she knows she started going to them back in 1997. Her first show was at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. “After that show, I was hooked!”
Favorite show for Angela was the beach show on the second cruise. “Hands down the best show. On an island all to ourselves, 311 playing so awesome rare songs and people listening in the ocean. That was the best show!!!”
For the song that means the most to Angela, she chose “Made in the Shade.” “It is a song about perseverance and having a positive outlook.” Naturally some of her favorite lyrics are from that very song:
“You gotta keep on climbing the hill
‘Cause if you think you’ll make it you will
Go swimming quick like a fish and every wish will be fulfilled
Strike up and start the parade
Cutting down the weeds keep slinging the blade
And when they fire that warning shot
You’ll have a spot made in the shade.”
Born and raised in Northern California, Angela is an only child, which she said if you know her it probably explains a lot. She played sports her entire childhood, from competition swimming to soccer. Angela decided to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and she never once looked at the fact that it wasn’t really a degree a woman would choose. “I was the only girl in all my engineering classes and that never bothered me. It made me want it that much more. Thanks to my husband I got into designing mechanical systems for hospitals and I did that for 15 years.” She has since changed careers and is now a Project Leader for a general contractor. Her main client is a large healthcare provider in Northern California. “I love the challenge of trying to navigate through a controlled chaotic environment. It keeps me on my toes and provides a new challenge every day.”
Fun fact about Angela – when she was in college she was on a competition hip hop dance team! “Our choreographer, Calvin Harris, was also one of Janet Jackson’s choreographers.” Something else you may not know about her, she is currently showing her Doberman in AKC dog shows to get his championship. “We are almost there!” Guilty pleasure for Angela is binge watching shows. She is currently watching “The West Wing.”
Other artists that Angela can be found listening to include Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Dirty Heads, Prince, Smashing Pumpkins, Los Stellarians, Nick Hexum Quartet, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.
Angela’s one sentence to say to 311: “Keep being you, don’t bend to the trends or fads.”
Here is her message to all the other fans out there:
“Make a difference no matter how large or small. Remember your legacy.”
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That was the story of Angela Bowman friends! Much gratitude to her for sharing and as always to all of your support each week. Stay safe…stay healthy…stay positive and love your life!
