Welcome again my Excitable friends to the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! This week let’s meet the lovely Ammi Tucker!

Ammi said she will always remember the first day that she heard the sweet sounds of 311. “I was 12 and in 7th grade, still making it through the first few months after losing my mom in a car accident, and trying to find a new normal but struggling with lots of emotions. I came home after school one afternoon and popped on TRL for noise when Down came on. I stopped everything that I was doing and just watched. I’d never heard anything like that, and it immediately called to me. Just everything about it, the music, the aggression balanced with the singing, the beat and hooks. I knew I had to get their album and I went to Sam Goody as soon as I could and got it. I was hooked. Then I immediately went backwards and bought Music, Grassroots, and every bootleg (Teenie Weenie, Omaha Sessions, etc) or anything else I could find lol.”

Show count for Ammi is at 18 (she said it’s partly due to her location and not having access to as many shows). She met her husband David when she was 16 and only 2 shows in, so they’ve gotten to experience most of the shows together. “I’ve lived my whole life in northeast Arkansas, so we were frequent Memphis showgoers. Then, we had a big gap where we were busy raising kids and working all the time like young families do. Now, we’ve gotten to a better place and have started making road trips / mini vacations out of 311 concerts.”

First show for Ammi was September 9, 1997, when they played with Goldfinger at the Mud Island Amphitheater in Memphis. “I was 13 and had been listening for about a year at that time and the show was captivating for me. Being a teenager living in a very small town, it was so awesome to see other Excitables coming together to enjoy their music. Definitely happy it opened my eyes that the world was a lot bigger than my little bubble.”

As for favorite show or event, Ammi said for a long time it was a small venue tour show that she caught in 1999. “I snagged a spot on the rail at the New Daisy Theater in Memphis (where the Fan Party was in 311 day ‘06), Omaha Stylee opener, the whole show was insane.” Another great show she attended was the Chicago album shows in 2022. “Though Transistor was the tour of my first show, the energy at the Transistor night in Chicago was unforgettable. First time seeing Omaha Stylee as a closer, and it’s now my favorite way to end the show!”

However her most favorite show was her first 311 Day in 2006. “Despite only being 8 hours away, I’d never considered traveling to NOLA for the event, just thought it was something out of my reach (and budget, we were still newlyweds). Tragically, August of ‘05 was Hurricane Katrina, and once the immediate shock and emergency management subsided, it became apparent that 311 Day would have to cancel or move. Then, the stars aligned and they moved it to MEMPHIS. At that time, that was the only city I could see them in, and it was like Christmas. I called into a radio station and begged on air for tickets and won lol. So also, at that time, the 311BB was still alive and thriving, and I was somewhat active there, making signature banners and such for fellow BBers. As you all probably remember, P-Nut’s mom Joan was a mod and frequented the board as well. Well, I decided to shoot my shot and made this giant PDF of area points of interest and stuff, welcoming them to the area and offering to help in any way. I emailed it off to management and everyone’s email I could find, and about choked when I got an email back. VERY long story short, I ended up picking a crew up at the airport, helping get them around Memphis, meeting the band for the first time, and getting a peek at rehearsal. It was the absolute coolest day of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.”

There are several songs that have a special place in Ammi’s heart. “Eons when facing delayed grief over my mother’s passing, and Don’t Worry when going through a cancer scare (thankfully was all clear). Don’t Dwell got in heavy rotation when choosing to let go of past pain and move forward with life. BUT the one that always has hung through it all is Jupiter. It’s such a simple song, but just a good reminder that regardless of the curveballs that come your way, always try to look on the bright side.”

One of Ammi’s favorite lyrics is “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world.” She also loves this line from Don’t Tread On Me: “In the shadow of those looming battleships, I love our canoe.” “To me, it always made (and still makes) me think of my husband and how no matter what happens around us, we’re in it together.”

Northeast Arkansas is where Ammi has lived all her life and she started going to concerts in Memphis with her aunts when she was very young. “I think my first was Motley Crue and Whitesnake when I was 3 years old lol.” She has a background in marketing and communications, and now works at a local community college that she loves and feels very passionate about their mission. “I’ve always tried to be a positive force wherever I am, and through faith and music have rebounded from some pretty hard knocks. Thankful for all the trials, as it made me appreciate everything in life so much more.”

As Ammi mentioned, she met her husband David when she was just 16 years old. They’ve been together ever since then. “He was my version of a high school sweetheart, and though we’ve each changed tremendously since then, we’ve continued to grow together and still enjoy each other’s company. Now we’ve got a houseful of boys, two teenagers and 1st grade twins, and are loving life :)”

Another fun fact is that they are a house of band kids! “David and I both received the John Phillip Sousa awards our senior years, and we’ve got two boys in the band now. We’re very active with the band boosters at our school and help raise money however we can to support the music program. I’m passionate about the interdisciplinary impact and value of music education, and do whatever I can to help spread the word and enable more students to pursue performance and learning.”

Guilty pleasure for Ammi she said is The Sims. ” I’m an OG player that took a long break of about 10 years but recently got back into it, and I’ve been obsessed with the new building options. I’m also really into genetic genealogy and exploring family trees and stuff.”

When not listening to 311, Ammi said her playlist is a jumbled collection of artists and genres and what she is listening to really depends on her mood, activity, or the weather. “Spotify cannot keep up with recommendations for me lol. In one area, I’ve got Sublime, Everclear, Weezer, Cake, No Doubt, Bush, The Strokes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, and lots of stuff that was on heavy rotation in the mid-late 90’s and 2000’s. Then in another corner, you’ll find George Clinton & P Funk, Booker T & The MG’s, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding, Tower of Power, etc. Then you’ll find bands I’ve learned about through 311, like Goldfinger, Little Stranger, Jungle Fire, Los Stellarians, The Urge, Tropidelic, Ballyhoo, Bumpin Uglies, etc. Dig around some more and you’ll find grandson, Daft Punk, Fastball, Limp Bizkit, The Cure, Living Colour, Weird Al, KISS, and a whole menagerie of random artists. I’m a walking jukebox lol.”

For a message to 311, Ammi has these words: “Thank you guys for staying real and genuine even with your successes. You’ve all been so nice and humble every time I’ve met you, and it’s refreshing that you are all so down to earth and kind. Even at your shows, it’s evident that you’re all grateful and appreciative of those there. Also, it’s been fun “growing up” with y’all and seeing you all with families and stuff now that we’re parents, too.”

Now here is her message to all the other fans out there:

“Fellow 311 fans are some of my favorite people. Some I met decades ago, others only recently, but I love the kinship and vibe that you all bring. Thank you for showing a young girl from a little Arkansas town that she had her place with some awesome people outside the bubble. Keep staying positive!”

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Thank you so much Ammi for sharing your story with us all! Also a huge thank you to all the readers & supporters of this little blog each week. It truly brings me joy to share your stories. Hope you all have the best week possible!

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello again Excitable nation! A new week is upon us and that means time for a new 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s meet Alicia Sastamoine-Rackley!

It was the age of 16 when Alicia was celebrating her birthday with some friends, and her bestie put on “Fuck the Bullshit.” “I instantly was drawn to the energy of the song. As a teenager, I was living with my functioning alcoholic mother. I was severely depressed. I was also deep in the closet. I had zero relationship with my father (still don’t). This music was really a good way to get that anger out but also focus on the good around me. They truly saved my life listening to their music.”

Show count for Alicia is at 70. She’s been to one 311 Day (2022). Her first show was in March of 2000 in Portland, Maine, at the State Theatre. They played with Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. “Absolutely love seeing them play at that venue.”

It was too difficult to pick just one favorite show. Alicia said part of why she loves to see them live is she always ends up with a good story to share afterwards. “I have gotten a flat tire (in a different state) and had to drive home with a donut. I have been kicked out of a venue and had to repurchase a ticket to go back in. Simply for holding a beer for someone! I have been center, front row and fainted when Nick took his shirt off (psssstttt I’m gay). Ive met them just walking around town before a show! There is just always good stories involved when you see a 311 show!”

Song that means the most to Alicia is “Beautiful Disaster” because it hits home for her on a personal level. “The lyrics say it all.” She also really loves “Inside Our Home” because seeing it played live really connects with her. “They played this at 311 Day in 2022. Everything was just starting to lift and slowly return back to normal. When this song came home it was very subliminal. Everyone in that venue was moving, smiling, and cherishing the fact that we were there… finally enjoying live music. It just felt very comforting. I will never forget that moment. I straight up cried.”

As for a favorite lyric, Alicia chose words from “Born to Live:” Everything I need is right in front of me, I wanna bridge the gap & feel the unity. Yeah, everything I need is in the air I breathe. You get back what you give, and I was born to live, born to live.”

A small town in Maine is where Alicia grew up. At the age of 15 she moved in with her older brother. Once she graduated high school she went off to college. It was during this time that her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and she passed away just 6 months later. “I was pregnant 2 years later. And came out when my son was 2 ( I was 25). I got married at 30 & started a business. I turn 40 next year! As you can tell, my life was chaotic but I wouldn’t be who I am without any of that chaos. And I am forever grateful I came out of the chaos with a positive mindset. I love uplifting people around me. I love complimenting strangers. I love to give back when I can.”

Fun fact about Alicia, she is a burlesque dancer! “I lean more towards loving modern burlesque. It really is so out of my comfort zone but I find it incredibly therapeutic. My stage name is Anna Stay-sha.” She is also really great at photography and was a successful wedding photographer. “I was featured on the Today Show and Business Insider! And even won some pretty prestigious awards. So incredibly grateful for everything.”

Guilty pleasure for Alicia? It’s Phil Collins. “He is the man!” When not listening to Phil Collins or 311, she loves bands like Rage Against the Machine, Tool, State Radio, RHCP, Limp Bizkit, Beastie Boys, Sick of Sarah, Madonna, New Polics, Prodigy, Salt N Pepe, Weezer, Fugees, No Doubt, and Nirvana. “I could go on and on and on and on. Music is therapy to me.”

If allowed to say one thing to 311, Alicia would like to send this message: “Fuck the Naysayers and THANK YOU for being the weird, funky, positive, eclectic guys you are!”

Now here are her words to all her fellow 311 fans:

“Let’s keep spreading the positivity and living your most authentic life. Remember, fuck the naysayers! Thank you for being YOU!”

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Huge thank you to Alicia for sharing your story with us all! Of course, always grateful for the readers and supporters each edition of this little blog. Hope you all have an amazing week my friends!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello my friends in 311 nation! Hope you all have been well and are ready for the next fan spotlight. This week, let’s meet Adam Strachan!

For Adam, his 311 journey started with the song “Down” but it was really the song “Jack O’Lanterns Weather” that really hooked him. “It was 95, we go for the hive! The entire Blue album was such a cornucopia of styles, meshed together with catchy lyrics, that captured a wide variety of emotions. Since then, I’ve always been DOWN.”

In summer of 1996, Adam was working at Darien Lake theme park. He hasn’t been to many live shows at that young age, but when he saw 311 was going to be playing, he knew he had to be there. “Of course, they rocked my face off and afterwards I wouldn’t miss a show when they came within 100 miles of Buffalo. To this point I’ve been to 50+ shows, including 311 day twice, and 4 cruises.”

As for favorite show or event, the Soundsystem cruise is the one that he holds near and dear to his heart. “It was a Friday afternoon at precisely 3:11pm. The boat was docked at Ocho Rios. My wife and I exchanged vows in the Jamaican Jungle on one of the excursions. Fellow Excitibles witnessed our ceremony and we all celebrated afterwards to the band playing the “Sound System,” album in its entirety. Ironically they played “Friday Afternoon” and I still get goosebumps when I hear the lyrics, “going to our secret spot and no one else knows how to get there.”

As for favorite song, Adam said that their songs are fluid with his life and he finds that his “favorite bounces around like Excitables at shows.” If he had to choose just one that embodies his relationship with their music, he would pick “Inner Light Spectrum.” “When the kind consciousness, yes, comes unto you, you will know, and it won’t stop.”

Adam has always lived in the Western New York/Buffalo area. “I was raised in the sticks, on top of a hill, and we heated our home with a firewood stove. Every summer my father would task me with splitting blocks of wood, then stack wood in the early autumn. It would be no surprise that after high school I made it a point to get out of my parents house, and so I went to work.”

Adam tried many career paths and settled into working as a construction foreman for a Union glazing company. “Which means I work with glass, heights, and heavy lifting. I’m a Dad to 2 amazing children. My oldest, the boy, has now been to 3 shows with us and can pick out Nicks voice on any obscure track I play for him.”

Adam also plays music in a couple of bands local to Buffalo. “I playa da bass in, Idiots of Idealism, a grunge act that just released its first EP this year, “Stranded in Tomorrow,” streaming on all platforms. In the other band, Bighorn Sheep, I play guitar and drums. Bighorn Sheep has a 5 song EP that’s been out since 2018. It’s mostly a hobby, but we play out when we can and have even hosted our very own 3 day music festival outside the city of Buffalo.”

The local 311 family in the Buffalo area is a pretty big group and they make it a point to gather regularly. “Shout out to the WNY Excitible Crew, 😘 . 311 fans are some of my favorite people to be around. Them and Buffalo Bills fans, my mother sentenced me to life with this team. I have bled the red, white, and blue, since 88’. You will always now how to find me at a 311 show if you yell out a, “Hey Ey Ey Ey” 😉 It’s a Bills Mafia thing ha ha ha!”

Many people don’t know that Adam is a black belt martial artist. “Trained in American Kenpo Karate International (A.K.K.I.). It’s a ballistic fighting style focused on striking and self defense. I tested for my Black Belt in front of Grand Master Paul Mills in Las Vegas, NV. It was an absolute honor to meet one of Ed Parker’s (The father of American Kenpo), star pupils.”

Adam says something unique about him is that he’s a dreamer. “I always imagine grandiose scenarios with very little caution to the direction of the wind. Perhaps it isn’t a strength, but I have learned in life, that even the most trivial talents can lead to success.” He’s also been told he is a great writer. “I’ve even ghost written a story for a friend that he wasn’t too keen on writing. I don’t practice much anymore, but someday I hope to write my own book.”

When not listening to 311, there are a variety of musicians that Adam can be found tuning into. “I’m a sucker for a good lyricist. Anything that Maynard James Keenan has been a part of is in my catalog. I love Bumping Uglies (both the band and the action). 😈 My punk rock roots stem from Bad Religion, Zebrahead, and Sublime. All the 90’s grunge; Nirvana, NIN, Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Helmet, etc… The metal; Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Type O Negative, Megadeth, Korn. I could go on and on. I LOVE MUSIC and rarely am uninterested in absorbing a new album that someone suggests.”

As for words Adam would like to say to 311, he’s said it to them before and he will say it again: “Thank you for all the years of wonderful music and taking us on these incredible adventures. I am truly grateful for every moment.”

Now here is Adams message to all the other fans out there:

“To my fellow Excitibles: Keep shining like the star that you are! Half the reason I’ve continued to see 311 is because of the community. You all raise the vibration. To those I’ve touched, know that I have love for you. To those I have not, “if I ever didn’t thank you, then just let me do it now!”

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Thank you so much Adam for sharing your story with all of us! As always. my eternal gratitude to all the readers each week. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello again my friends in 311 nation! It’s that time of the week where we meet the next fan spotlight. This week we get to learn the story of Mike Walls!

Around 1994 is when some kids, who were a couple of years old than Mike, were playing the Blue album on a boombox at camp. “I stopped dead in my tracks as I was walking by, I had to know who it was. I had never heard anything like them before and I was instantly a fan. Being a musician myself since the age of 9, the thing that has always grabbed about their sound is their ability to blend so many different types of musical styles together in such a seamless way.”

Exact number of shows Mike has attended is hazy, but he believes he is around 37-38. First show for him was in 1997 at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre in Long Island, New York. As for favorite show, he chose the Halloween show in 2017 at the Paramount in Huntington, New York. “As the Halloween shows usually are, that night was magic for many reasons. They played so much stuff off of Transistor, it was amazing. On top of that, SA’s costume that night would eventually inspire his character in the 311 comic books, so that was a cool addition to the whole experience.”

There are a few songs that really resonate with Mike, but he said the one that really hit him was “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “That song has seen me through some tough times, and now that I’m past all that it fills me with a sense of gratitude for being able to push through and keep going every time I hear it.”

As for lyrics, Mike said there are way too many for him to list. “I’m in the cover band ‘Brodels – a 311 Tribute’ (shout out to my fellow Brodels – Jacob Ruhmann, Mike Vicious, zach McConnell, and Michael A Vidal). I do Nicks parts in the band so there’s A LOT of lyrics in the mental library, makes picking tough. But, one of their more recent lines that I’ve really liked ever since I heard it the first time is from Rolling Through off Voyager. “You always know that you gotta grow, so, honestly it’s best that you know, who you are as you go rolling through” Life can make it easy to lose sight of what’s important, it’s important to remember what you stand for when things get tough and those lines speaks to that.”

Long Island, New York, is where Mike was born and raised. He lived upstate for a few years and also in Connecticut for bit. He’s been an auto technician for about 10 years at a GMC dealer. “Do you have any idea how may oil changes I had to do to pay for the cruise? It was A LOT haha. Before that I was a home theater installer for almost 10 years.”

Mike was in the 4th grade when he started singing and playing guitar. Then he picked up being a DJ in college, so music has always been a pretty big part of his life. “In fact, pretty much all of my activities since my 20’s have centered around music in some way. It’s an integral part of me. No matter whether it’s in a club or on a stage I love putting smiles on faces with music. Besides that I’m just a fun loving goofy dude that likes going to shows with my friends. If you see me out, say hi! I have a big heart that I tend to wear it on my sleeve a lot. I’ll move mountains for the people I care about. I’m trying to be the best version of myself that I can be and working on living a happy life. All we can do right? SPALYL to all the excitables out there.”

Fun fact about Mike is that he won a poetry contest when he was in high school. Something that makes him unique is that he can do some really good impressions. “My Stewie Griffin and Kermit the frog are spot on.” Guilty pleasure for him is the movie “My Cousin Vinny.” “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, if I happen across it on TV, best believe I’m dropping e everything and sitting down. My mom and I have been watching it together since I was a kid.”

As for other bands that Mike can be found listening to, he said this list is pretty long. “My music taste varies a lot. Besides guitar and singing I’ve also been a DJ for over 20 years, so I’m into a lot of different electronic stuff too. Lately I’ve been jamming Surfer Girl, Little Stranger, The Elovators, Enter Shikari, Twenty one pilots, Sleep Token, Jinjer, and then all of the DJ stuff from Europe.”

Words that Mike would like to say to 311 are these: “Thank you for being who you are and doing what you do. You have given all of us unforgettable experiences and life long friends and idk what my life would look like without this band.”

Now here are Mike’s words to all his fellow 311 fans out there:

“We don’t get much time in this life, try not to let negativity take up too much of it. its a waste of energy. With the time you have, hug the ones you love, do the things that make you happy, and go see some live music because it’ll prob make you happy lol.”

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Thank you Mike for sharing your story with us all! My eternal gratitude, as always, to the readers of this little blog. May your week be filled with good vibes my friends. Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome again readers & friends of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Here we have edition #407. Let’s meet Ben Witsen!

Fall of 1999 is when Ben’s 311 fandom started. His older cousin Ryan introduced him to MTV and was getting him in to popular bands of the time like Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Korn, etc. “I want to say it was October as I believe it was about a month shy of my 10th birthday that I came home to watch TRL as I did after school every day, and I watched the debut for the Come Original video. I was absolutely blown away. Nothing my cousin or anyone else had showed me had the mix of sounds and the energy that I caught from hearing it. Not long after I heard the Soundsystem album and thought how cool they were. Then, as kids do, I got distracted and basically only knew them casually for the next several years.”

Flash forward to summer of 2007 and Ben saw that Matisyahu was performing that night and he asked one of his closest friends, Johnny Blaze, to go to the show on about 2 hours notice. “311 is the headline act, I tell him, pretty much as an afterthought. We go to the show and had our lives changed from that day forth. From that day on I dove head first into the music and never looked back.”

For show count, Ben checked through the tour lists and he counted 64, with some of the dates being a bit hazy. First show was in Philly in 2007, which is the one mentioned previously. “My homie Jonny and I actually got backstage at our first show because we got friendly with some Matisyahu fans who had already gone backstage a few nights previously! After our little meet and greet we went back out and watched 311 take the stage and proceed to change our lives forever.”

Picking a favorite show or event is tough for Ben. There are some up in the top level like when he did a 7 show run in about two and a half weeks last Fall. ” I drove solo to and from my current home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to Pittsburgh, Atlantic City, New Haven, Burlington, and New York. The Music and Grassroots album shows in New York and the hijinks associated with them were just tremendous.” However Ben chose the 2017 cruise to Cozumel as his top event. “The three sets were terrific as always (ALL BANGERS NO MASH!), but what makes it the most special was the immersion I had into the 311 community. After a decade of hitting shows in the Philly regional area, it was my first major event after having to bail last minute on previous cruises or 311 Days and the like. My mainest man JP Chilicki, whom has been featured here before, got me into his cabin and started introducing me to people. I have always been a very outgoing and social person, but I had never really felt like I fully belonged or felt accepted until that cruise. The love, the positivity, the joy, the laughs, all rooted in the band that we all love so much. It was just magical. While in Cozumel the homies and I rented this little mopeds and zipped up the coast with the water on one side and dense jungle on the other and it was just fucking surreal. I was in a picturesque place with an incredible group of people and would later be seeing 311 on a fucking boat. Like, what could be better?”

Favorite song, if Ben narrowed it down to one, would be “Paradise.” “Following that amazing day I had in Cozumel we got Paradise during the 311 show that night and it really just hit me. Like, this *IS* Paradise to me! A handful of years later at 311 Day 2022 I was wearing my Paradise 311 Eagles jersey (GOOOOOO BIRDS) and I heard that opening chord it and looked at my friends and tossed them my bag and shot forward. The big homie Steve Plump from San Diego hoisted me onto his shoulder and spun me around and P-Nut caught it and gave me a nod and smile and I just lost it. I was full on bawling and it felt so good! The tears are welling up as I type this reflecting on that moment, and just how fucking happy I was.”

For lyrics, Ben has two that really resonate with him. The first one is, “Embedded in our souls, it breathes out of this band.” ” I think this single line from Omaha Stylee sums up all of it for me. This band is the embodiment of the love, the positivity, and the unity that we all share.” the second one he chose is, “I got a clique but it’s more like a family.” “For real! The people I’ve met and grown to know in this community truly are like family to me. We’ve shared ups, downs, and in-betweens. I have people in my life now that I will have forever, and that I would do anything for. There’s a reason this band of ragtags and misfits is called the Familia.”

Ben was born and raised in Philadelphia and bounced around the surrounding area. It 2016, he moved to Rehoboth Beach and has been there ever since. “I’m currently a bartender at a higher end mom-and-pop owned restaurant that largely caters to our locals and other service industry workers, so they’re mostly to thank for my 311 travel habits. I’m also an exceptional poker player and that has gone a long ways into aiding my 311 addiction as well. I’ve had a few occasions where a session has paid for a 311 Day trip or cruise in full. Some of the more degen people in my family taught me how to play different variations of poker games when I was five and I’ve made sure to put it to good use.”

For something unique about Ben, he said he has a strange phobia that involves a certain red condiment. “I’d rather eat cyanide than the stuff most people put on their hamburgers and hot dogs!” Fun fact about him is that he might be the most knowledgable person on Earth when it comes to Harry Potter trivia. “It may be nerdy and silly, but I know the books inside and out, cover to cover. I’m more than down for a challenge if anyone reading thinks they can hang!”

Guilty pleasure for Ben is that he is a HUGE fan of “The Challenge” on MTV. “The recent seasons have kinda sucked, but I go on Paramount+ and watch old seasons religiously. I can’t get enough of CT, Wes, Kenny, Tina, Coral, and the gang.”

As for other bands aside from 311 that Ben can be found listening to, he’s a huge Deadhead because of his parents. “My parents met on a Grateful Dead tour and I was brought to my first show at just a few months old, so I guess it kinda explains how I became who I did! My mom took me to a dozen or so shows from infancy until Jerry died, and when I was a teenager I picked the ball up and ran with it. I’m also a huge Warren Zevon fan and have his portrait tattooed on my leg.” Other than that, he said you are missing out if you aren’t listening to Little Stranger. “I’ve been friends with John Shields since middle school (gimme my Troy bootleg DVD back dawg!), and to see he and Kevin having worked their asses off to the point they are right now is just incredible. It makes me so happy when my friends succeed, and they were the talk of the boat this past cruise! Let’s fucking go boys!!!”

To 311, Ben has this message: “Thank you, for everything.”

And now here are his words to the other 311 fans out there:

“Thank you all for being you. The bonds I’ve built in this community mean more to me than I could ever put into words. I’ve celebrated life, mourned death, and built everlasting friendships with the best people I could ever ask to have around me. I love you all. Stay positive and love your lives!”

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Thank you Ben for sharing your 311 story with us! As always, a big shout out to all the readers each week. Sending you all many good vibes. Enjoy your week!

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello there Excitable friends! It’s about time for the next 311 fan spotlight. This edition we meet Courtney White!

It was during middle school when a friend of hers started listening to 311 that she first heard their magical sounds. “I got two 311 CDs for my birthday, Live & Soundsystem (new album release) and I was hooked!”

As for show count, Courtney believes she is somewhere in the triple digits but she lost count a long time ago. “I remember one summer I went to 5 311 shows in a span of like a week and half.” First show for her was in Kansas City at the Uptown Theatre in 2000. “We hung out behind the building afterwards and got to meet Nick, Tim and SA.”

Favorite show for Courtney, there are a few. She said the secret show at The Hive in Omaha was pretty bad ass. Other than that she said it’s pretty much a tie between the first cruise and the third. ” The sail away show on Cruise 1 had this amazing feeling I’d never experienced before and #3 I had met SO many new and wonderful friends. I am a 7timer!”

There are a few songs that mean the world to Courtney and they are “Eons,” “Use of Time,” and “Large in the Margin.” “Maybe it’s because they are part of my original favorites but I get emotional every time I hear them – especially live.” For favorite lyrics, she loves the ending of Offbeat Bare Ass: “The war on drugs may be well intended but it falls fucking flat when you stop to mention the overcrowded prisons where a rapist gets paroled to make room for a dude who has sold a pound of weed to me that’s a crime – here’s to all good people doin time ya’ll.” She also loves “Every time I turn the volume down, all I hear is the deafening sound of your hearts pound” and “You’re all up in my mix like fucking Betty Crocker.”

Courtney was born, raised, and still resides in Kansas City. She grew up on the Kansas side and now lives on the Missouri side. “GO CHIEFS!!” For work, she has been selling cars for the last 14 years and she says it certainly pays for all her 311 adventures. “It’s a job that I really love.”

Courtney has two 311 tattoos that she says people either comment on because they know the band…or they ask her what 311 means! Fun fact about her is that she had a very Midwest experience – she’s been in a tornado. “Ironically, coming home from 311 day in Memphis, we had to pull over on the highway and get under a bridge to be protected from it.  Wasn’t a big one luckily but it was an experience!”

While Courtney claims she doesn’t have any special talents, she did say that she’s really good and successful at her job. “I am the product specialist car salesperson.” Guilty pleasure for her is watching reality TV shows like Are you the One?, The Challenge, Too Hot to Handle, and Below Deck. She also loves cooking competition shows.

When not listening to 311, Courtney loves the sounds of Zebrahead, Stick Figure, the Movement, and Rebelution. She also loves some old school bands like Tool, Korn, and Less Than Jake.

When asked what message she would like to send to 311, Courtney had these words: “This question always gets me bc I’m not creative in any sense and anytime I ever see one of them in person, I freeze up and never know what to say.  I was in Omaha at a hotel and some of the guys were staying there too – this was after the secret show at the Hive – and SA and I were in the elevator together and I was stunned.  He’s asked if I had fun and I simply said “I had a blast!  Did you guys have fun?”  facepalm.  But I guess I’d keep it simple – Thank you and I fucking love you guys.”

As for what she would say to her fellow 311 fans, that was easy:

“311 fans are so awesome, we really are a special group – keep livin’ & rockin’ Excitable Ones!”

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Thank you to Courtney for sharing her story! And of course my endless gratitude to all the readers each spotlight. Hope you are all well and surrounded by love & good fortune. Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Another fan spotlight has arrived to you. This week let’s meet Julie Stone!

As a kid in the 90’s, Julie remembers seeing the cover of the Blue album and also the weird looking alien guys on the back, and she said the image was burned into her head. “My sister would listen to it, and I loved how different it was than anything I’ve ever heard. Fast forward to when I grew up, I was going through a really hard time in life and I was reintroduced to 311 through a friend, and I was hooked as soon as I realized how hot Nick Hexum is! The fact that the music felt so good, reminded me of a simpler time, and the lyrics saved my life is a plus!”

The last time Julie counted how many shows she’s attended, she was over 35 but thinks it may be closer to 40 now. Her very first show was 311 Day 2008 in New Orleans. “And that was the start of the magical adventures that followed!” Favorite event for her was the first cruise, hands down. ” That was such a life-changing experience. Taking a leap of faith to get on a ship full of strangers and hope for a good time was something I still can’t believe that I was brave enough to do. Now I refuse to skip a cruise. It was the absolute best time of my life and I’ve connected with so many wonderful people that I plan to remain friends with forever!”

Picking a favorite song is hard for Julie, like it is for many fans. She feels that “Don’t Tread On Me” is her theme song, even if it isn’t a fan favorite. “Before I rediscovered 311, I felt as though I let a lot of people walk all over me. Now when I feel it happening, I hear the song in my head, and it empowers me to stand up for myself and take shit from no one!” And while there are many lyrics that she loves, these are the top three that she tries to live by: “I always say what I feel and that is a promise, nothing in life is above being honest,” “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world,” and “Do what you feel, the more absurd the better.”

Julie grew up and still currently resides in South Louisiana. She has had many jobs that help fund her 311 habit, including waiting tables, administrative jobs at hospitals, and now she is a Peer Support Specialist in a mental health crisis center. She is on her way to becoming a Licensed Counselor. “I take a lot of what I’ve learned through 311 and life to help support my clients. I am a single mother to one beautiful boy, that has slowed down my traveling for 311, but he is finally getting to the age where I feel as though he would enjoy coming on 311 adventures with me, and I can’t wait. I want him to experience the magic that I’ve felt thanks to 311 and you all. After seeing so many shows, it really has become almost more of a priority to see my friends who I only see at 311 events, the show is an added benefit.”

Interesting fact about Julie is that aside from the people she met the day before getting on the first 311 cruise, the only other person on the entire ship that she had met was Nick Hexum. Something unique about her is that she is pretty good at feeling peoples vibes and connecting with them. ” I adapt well and can usually get on a person’s level. I also feel like I can connect with animals in a similar way, I may not be the animal whisperer, but I think that they can feel my good intentions.” Guilty pleasure comes in the form of playing Fortnite. “I started playing to bond with my son, but now I just want to zone out and play. It’s really my number one guilty pleasure right now. Those little kids are ruthless though!”

When not jamming out to 311, some of Julie’s other favorite artists include Incubus, Sublime, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Dirty Heads, RDGLDGRN, Halsey, Eminem, and Rihanna. “These are just the main ones; I like a wide variety of music.”

Julie’s message to the members of 311 is this: “Thank y’all so much for making music that saved me and helps me to constantly enforce positivity in my day to day life, especially when I feel like giving up. Oh and never stop coming to New Orleans!!!”

And now here are her words to her fellow Excitables out there:

“I don’t even really like people, but I fucking LOVE you people!!! Really though, probably without even realizing it, y’all have been such an amazing support system through the struggles in my life and I feel so fortunate to be able to call so many of you my friends. I hope to see some of you soon!!! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!!!”

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So many thanks to Julie for sharing her story with us all! As well as a huge shout out to all the readers and supporters of this blog each post. I hope you all have the best week you possibly can. Sending you all the warmth and light that you need.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in Excitable nation! Shall we kick off a new week with another 311 fan spotlight? I think so. Let’s meet Christina Abatie!

Back in the day Christina was listening to anything and everything. She found she loved almost all music, everything from Pantera to Depeche Mode. “I’m a 1996 High School graduate and 311 was in their prime as far as radio play with ‘Down’ and ‘All Mixed Up’ pretty much playing on a loop. It would have been impossible to NOT fall in love with their music and inevitably who they are as a band.”

Being a super positive person herself, Christina said it was easy to be drawn to 311. “I am engrained to make light of everything and can’t help myself but to make jokes at unusual and inappropriate times to try and keep good vibes flowing anywhere and everywhere I go. 311’s message was/is so uplifting that it had a gravitational pull to my spirit. I felt that they had that same attitude toward life and their interactions with people. All people.”

Show count is unknown for Christina because she said she is far too ADHD to even begin to try and figure out the number. She believes it’s at least 30 and that doesn’t include six of the cruises she and her hubby went on. “I saw my first show (that I can recall vividly) in August, 2002 at the Madison Theater in Peoria, Illinois. It was a GLORIOUS venue that gave everyone an intimate experience. Nick Hexum even did a ‘stage dive’ from one of the balconies. He flew! I sent him a couple pictures of it on Twitter a few years ago and he replied that he hadn’t seen the pics before, so it was pretty cool to reminisce about the show that sealed the deal for me as a lifelong fan! I’ll attach the pics to this email for you. Fun fact: My husband was also at that show, before I even knew he existed and would become my husband 10 years later. His love for 311 was/is parallel to mine and it was meant to be.”

Favorite event for Christina, well she narrowed it down to a specific moment from the second cruise during the beach show. “DURING Rub a Dub. Close your eyes and picture this with me for a moment. You’re in one of the most beautiful places you can imagine, in warm salty water, sun beating down, a nice breeze, surrounded by some of the most amazing people you will EVER meet, jumping and splashing, sipping on a whisky bladder that we found randomly floating by on a wave, while 311 is rocking ‘Rub a Dub’ on the beach… are you kidding?!!!! Core memory.”

While there are many songs that mean a lot to Christina, the first one that really came to mind is “Jupiter.” “It just goes along with my whole outlook on life. It can always be worse. And sometimes the things you aren’t given are the things that save you or propel you to the things that are meant for you. I recently had to close down my restaurant. It was my baby and when it closed I couldn’t see what my life would be like without it. But now, a few months later, I see all the things I was missing. I’m LIVING life again, not just existing in it. I’m not working myself to death and away from my family around the clock. I can confidently walk forward with positivity. The 311 Cruise back in March was the springboard to what my life without my business can be again. Music has been my therapy.” So naturally her favorite lyric comes from the song as well, “Stay positive and love your life.”

Christina is a midwestern girl, born and raised in the heart of Illinois. She was raised to always stay true to herself and to be creative, as well as to always do what she loved. “I was an athlete and artist in high school and beyond. So it was interesting trying to figure out where I fit in. I ran track and played soccer, but ultimately, the artistic side won.” Currently she lives in Pekin with her husband and their four children. “Yes, Illinois is full of cornfields and flatlands and people passing through may call it boring, but my family has fun everywhere we go. Literally. Doing the most random things. For example, we just went to the zoo with my 9 and 6 year olds and then spent the afternoon walking around a cemetery looking for old tombstones, taking pictures, and trying to imagine what the people who were buried there were like. I’m not kidding, we had a blast. I’ve lived here my whole life and love the small town community feel, and it’s nice, because we are only a couple hours away from Chicago and St Louis, so when 311 rolls through, we go to both of those shows each year.”

Christina and her husband have taken their boys to a couple of 311 shows and they became instant fans. They are lucky and the band is playing about 10 minutes away from them in September. “The boys are 19 and 16 and from a previous marriage, then my husband and I married in 2012 and had two girls, ages 9 and 6, so we have quite the span of ages and variety of drama’s over here. We love spending time with family. Big on family time. My sister, her husband, and their 2 daughters relocated from New York City, in the heart of Times’ Square, to right next door. We literally share a driveway. What are the odds that could ever happen?! Their daughters are the same age as our girls, so the “cousin crew” adventure around the neighborhood like free range chickens and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Watching them explore and grow is so reminiscent of my childhood that it gives me all the feels! We love to go thrift store shopping, which is a good way to help save money for all the things 311, plus we find the coolest stuff. We also love hoping in the car and going to random towns with no plan. Again, we make anything and everything fun. It’s how I was raised. No plans, just go! I am so thankful I was raised that way. I am such a lover of people. Having our own family business was a great way for our family to serve our community. We formed very strong connections with our customers and they, like the 311 community, have become such an important part of our lives. Now that our business is closed, I am reigniting my passions. Not sure where my next paycheck will come from, but I’m on the hunt. I am also currently looking into starting a non-profit organization with another small business owner who also recently closed her business. We are on a mission to help people, help people. Encouraging people to help their friends and neighbors. We are one community and positivity is contagious. Even small gestures can go a long way.”

When asked what is something people may not know about her, Christina said she is a chronic over sharer so she isn’t sure there is anything! But she did mention that she’s had struggles with pregnancy and fertility. “When I say I’m blessed to have my four living children, I mean BLESSED. Before each of my pregnancies I suffered from one or more miscarriage, giving each of my living children the title of “rainbow babies”. We also had a stillborn son, Gabriel, before having our youngest daughter. I was actually pregnant with him during the 2015 311 Cruise and we used our photo op with the band to announce the pregnancy to our families. You know how sometimes people put a pic of their friends’ heads on a stick if they can’t attend an event, so it’s like they are there with them? We did that for our 3 kids with each of their heads on a stick and then had a blank one with a blue question mark on it, since he was a boy. They guys were all super excited for us and happy to be part of our special moment. Another reason they are so close to my heart. It was a big moment and a big memory for us. I started a blog after that big loss as a way to get all my thoughts and feelings out, rather than internalize them. It inadvertently became a community for others who had suffered the same types of loss and it was then that I discovered that I love to write. And helping others helps me, so it was the best therapy.”

Fun fact about Christina is that she is a graphic artist by trade but she absolutely loves flipping houses! “My mom and I used to flip houses before it became popular. I love the whole process of taking something that seems overwhelming or a lost cause and turning it into something beautiful. Always choose the ugly duckling. I can see the potential in anything. I can look at something (or someone) and see what it (they) can be, when sometimes others can’t. When we started our restaurant, it was a run down building on the Southside of town, in the middle of an industrial area. Nothing notable in that area. But I saw the potential and wanted to give people a reason to visit that part of town. We turned it into a gem. If you don’t water the grass everywhere, it doesn’t grow. I’m an advocate for “community” in all parts of town, even now that my restaurant has closed.”

Guilty pleasures? Christina has a few. “I’m a sucker for reality TV, because I don’t have to use my brain. I watch the Titanic EVERY time it’s on TV. My daughters and I love watching silly videos on TikTok and love being in videos, too. We catch silly moments on video all the time around here and some of our moments have gone viral on TikTok, so check it out @ThePizzaChick !”

Thanks to her teenage boys, Christina has been exposed to a ton of music and listens to many genres and artists aside from 311. “As a 45 year old woman, I get weird looks when I’m busted at a stoplight jamming out to ‘Juice Wrld’ (R.I.P.), but I don’t care. I’m also a Taylor Swift fan and not sorry about it. Have been for years. We saw her 2009 performance in Times’ Square before the VMA’s (and before the infamous Kanye moment) while visiting my sister in NYC. My husband was fangirling over it. and I’ll never forget that memory. I can’t call myself a Swiftie, because I’d have to google what that means, haha, but I love how she takes control of her life and lives unapologetically. She is a beautiful song-writer and amazing performer. My son sent me videos from the ERAS Tour where he had 5th row seats with his girlfriend, and I’ll never get over how insanely jealous that made my daughters and I.”

For her message to 311, Christina has these words: “Thank you for being a constant advocate for peace, love, unity, and respect. Forever excitable!”

Now here are her words to all the other Excitables out there:

“Some of our best friends are people we have met in this community and don’t live anywhere nearby. You can have the most beautiful friendships with people when you are bonded over the love of this band and their message. It translates through the energy and spirit of us all. I am so proud to be a lifelong fan and a part of the excitable crew. Keep being YOU!”

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A huge thank you to Christina for sharing her 311 story with us all! You know the next part, my eternal gratitude to all the readers each post. Happy September and hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt