Welcome back my friends in 311 nation! It’s that time again, we have the newest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. So let’s not delay and meet the lovely Lydia Sleeper!

Lydia had heard 311 songs here and there, but it wasn’t until 2020 when she met a certain someone who would literally “rock” her world. “Alexis Fllow (featured just earlier this month) and his passion for 311’s message has made our relationship strong all along, so to speak. Our first date went longer than expected, as he played me at least 10 songs from various albums while we sat in his car. He emphasized listening to the lyrics, making sure that I was understanding the raps and choruses. 
Our 5th was multi-day as we celebrated our first 311 Day (2020) together in Vegas! Our experience was wild, as the pandemic was declared on the first day of the 3-day concert. It was a great way to meet the community of dedicated fans, especially in a time of such heightened emotion.”

The last show Lydia saw was her 10th overall, with 311 Day 2020 being her first. Then during 2021 she and Alexis followed them around to many shows on the west coast. “I just can’t get enough! Every time it’s a positivity-infused experience.” She currently has 3 top shows: “Highest / most rowdy energy: Phoenix Spring tour 2021- Most happy final song: 11/11/22 when they surprised the audience by finishing with Creatures rather than Down!! That was a major win… – Crowning 311 Moment: Berkeley 2021 end of Spring tour, when I received the all-powerful drumstick from SA! There was no doubt in my mind I was going home with a drumstick that night, and to everyones surprise but my own, reached up to catch it after the show! Suchhhh a great moment.”

While it’s hard to pick one favorite song, Lydia said if she was forced to choose she would pick “Creatures (For A While).” “Some might feel it’s overplayed, but the energy of that song live at the right moment can be so raw and infused with embodiment! I just love it.” While there are also many lyrics that she loves, one that comes to her mind currently is, “Everything I eat is from the Earth right? I am what I eat, straight up Earth, right?”

Los Angeles, California, is where Lydia grew up but she has been living in Northern California since she finished college, which was in San Jose. “Fllow and I are currently living in the East Bay Area, with plans to move to Topanga, CA later this year.” To help support her 311-driven lifestyle, Lydia works as a brand consultant and content creator. “I’ve worked with clients in Gourmet Food, app development, Eco-preservation, and more.”

Lydia is also a vocalist and loves creating alternative hip-hop with Fllow. “I love to sing and rap on our music, and am also the media director for our music project, which means I’m creating all the track art, music and lyric videos for us.” She is also on the way to creating her own original music! “Look out for music released under my artist name, Lummingbird, later this year. I have lots of goals this year! My coined genre is “uke-bass” … acoustic ukulele with a heavy sub.” Here is the link to her website: www.lummingbird.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Another fun fact about Lydia is that she is a great writer and poet. “I love to rhyme and harmonize the words that I use and am planning to put together a small book of my best writings later this year.” As for guilty pleasure, her current one is watching the live 24 hour Bald Eagle camera in Big Bear. “It’s a thrill of a live cam!”

Like Lydia has mentioned, she loves music so she has a variety of bands that she likes, aside from 311. They include Stick Figure, Anderson .Paak, Alex Serra and Little Stranger. “Some lesser-known artists I listen to include Korra Obidi, Khruangbin and Two Another.”

To 311, Lydia is sending this message: “You guys rock so hard. Thank you for endlessly inspiring and reminding so many people to do & be their best selves as much as possible! Music is timeless but your frequency transcends.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans in the universe:

“Keep on rocking and living your best life! After being immersed into this commUnity, I long for the energy of the Excitables at other concerts. Nothing compares to the way we love this life! Stay rockin’ y’all.”

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So much gratitude to Lydia for sharing her story with us all! Per the usual, a huge shout out of love to all the readers each week. I hope you all have some sunshine in your life this week, sending many positive vibes to you all.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again all you beautiful Excitable friends! Welcome to the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. Let’s meet Ryan Speer!

It was during junior high that Ryan first heard 311 and fell in love with the music. To quote Ryan, he said hearing 311 for the first time was like seeing boobs for the first time…you can’t explain why but you just knew it was the coolest shit ever. “We used to use ancient alien artifacts known as VHS and Cassette recorders to “tape” their music from radio or TV appearances to be able to watch/listen to over and over.  Timing was everything for me –  I needed something in my life to latch on to and this band became it.  At the time I was listening to Green Day, Silverchair, Offspring, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg & Warren G, Chili Peppers and more, but hearing 311 was the perfect blend of everything I loved.  Every member brings a unique sound from their instrument or vocal and it really helped define chemistry for me.  To this day, I maintain that perhaps they could still have energetic/nostalgic shows if one of the members were to leave, but on record, they would never be the same.  In summary, what I’m saying is… 311 is a great set of boobs!”

For amount of times Ryan has seen 311 live, his count is over 300. ” I have officially lost count since ticket stubs evolved to paper print-outs and digital over the years, but I can confirm I have seen them enough times to say at least 1 full year of my life has been at a 311 concert and I’m totally fuckin’ cool with that.  First time was at the State Theater (and it will ALWAYS be the State Theater to me) in Detroit, MI back in 96.”

When asked what his favorite show or event was, he said it’s like picking your favorite child. “Which would actually be easy for me, since I don’t have any children.  You’ll find throughout this reading that whenever I’m asked to pick a singular favorite of something, I will give you multiple answers.  You might say that I’ve got Five of Everything and you just need 1….(zing).” So Ryan narrowed it down to 5 shows:

“

Red Rocks – 4/19/19 – First time to this bucket list venue on the surface of Mars.

Cruise VI – First time OTMFB as the kids say, and this was just a non-stop party from start to finish. I was on Chad’s Family Feud team and made a joke that I got abducted by aliens, which I obviously didn’t, but the rest of the cruise people kept coming up to me and were like “Whoa man… What was it like up there?  Were the aliens cool?”  needless to say, I was convinced certain substances might have found there way to the middle of the ocean.

311 Day 2014 – Been to almost every 311 Day, but made a ton of new friends on this particular trip.  The puke-filled streets of the French Quarter have a strange charm that will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Halloween @ The Stanley 2021 – This was easily one of the best trips of my life.  We hit all 3 shows, but finally making it up to Estes Park, staying at the Stanley on Halloween, seeing the guys in a tiny venue and almost getting into a fist fight with a gang of Elk after my 8lb dog decided it was a good idea to talk shit to them capped off a perfect experience.  (No Elk were hurt in the making of this sentence)

Soundsystem Tour – 11/24/99 – I had already seen 311 several times prior to this, but this was the Fall small club tour for Soundsystem and they stopped at my favorite venue in my hometown of Detroit, St. Andrews Hall.  At this time, the band  was already at the amphitheater level, so to see a tiny room in the middle of the D just erupt, was something I’ll always remember.  I don’t think I’ve seen that much energy in any room since.”

For favorite song, Ryan said “Eons” is number 1, with “Let the Cards Fall” and “Random” as close runners up. “There is just this haunting vibe I get every time I hear the chorus of Eons kick in.  That vocal melody over the drawn out chord progression hits harder than my ex-girlfriend drinking a bottle of vodka and reading the comments on one of my facebook posts!  !  I would be curious to hear other fan’s feedback on any song, by any band, that has a similar structure to Eons.  Intro, verse, pre-chorus, verse, pre-chorus and then the only time you get a chorus is a double one at the end.  Each of those songs can take me back to a single moment from my youth, so they always stood out to me for that reason alone.”

As for favorite lyrics, some come from the song “Brodels.” “When SA said “When I feel into the sea. When the world came and kissed me, transformed my shit, told the shark I was a dolphin. Swam quick funny though Piranhas chilled and laughed at The way that I took off my polka dots, on top of that The whales know I’m quick”… that shit spoke to me.  Also, fuck those piranhas for chilling and laughing at the way SA took off his polka dots!  What kind of world do we live in where a man can’t take off his polka dots without piranhas chilling and laughing.  At least the whales understood that he was quick. ;)” Ryan also said other stand out ones are: “If there’s a shadow in your life then there’s sunshine,” “Savor the sun, when the clouds come, make animals,” “What if the truth is that there is no truth? The only thing I can prove is there is no proof,” and “Think of all the good times, instead of wish we could times. So much better that way.”

The suburbs of Detroit is where Ryan grew up, in a lower-middle class family. “Despite my family surviving in the “Murder Mitten” for many years, my dad lost his life to alcohol abuse back in 1995.  That brought me to a turning point of either using his death as a crutch for why I would always be miserable, or trying to turn it into a positive and have a successful life.  Thanks to great family support, I was able to get through the tragedy and immerse myself into music to fight off the pain.  I found 311 and became a daily caller of the OG 402 hotline where you could listen to updates and listen to/leave messages for other 311 fans.  From that platform, I met my first girlfriend in Michigan and one of my closest friends-to-date from Boston.  The relationship went south after many memorable 311 road trips in the mid-to-late 90’s, so I re-connected with my Boston friend who had moved to Arizona with his family.  They encouraged me to come out west and get away from the heartache that was circling in Michigan.  I came to AZ in 2001, left and came back 2 more times before settling here officially in 2003.  If it weren’t for 311 and that hotline, who knows how my life would’ve turned out, but in the grand scheme of things, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’ve seen the band in countless States/Countries over the years and have probably spent more money than most people would on their homes, families, etc… but this was the path for me.  In order to fun my 311 habit, I started an Only Fans where I dress like a giant carrot and sing country songs to empty bottles of mustard in a sandbox for 4 hours at a time.”

Interesting fact about Ryan is that he has what he calls a “giant-eared French vanilla death rabbit from outer space named Crumbs…which is his dog! His mom and friends say he is definitely the dogs father. “Crumbs is my best friend, that is a fact and I hope he can make his way to a 311 concert before it will be Too Late.”

Something that makes him unique is his loathing of Saran Wrap. “I hate Saran Wrap more than any human being in the history of all existence.  It is a complete bullshit product and anyone that says they’ve always used it without any problem is a liar.  At least 983 times in everyone’s lives, will they fight against Saran Wrap getting tangled up, stuck together and ultimately needing to be cut-off and re-pulled until serving its final purpose.  The creator of this is/was clearly an asshole and I hope all of their food went to waste over the history of their stupid life!!”

Guilty pleasure for Ryan? “MMMbop by Hanson is a fucking jam.  You can talk shit all you want or try to fight me, but you can never take away from the fact that this song is absolute, pure fuckin’ gold.  I also only play regular Nintendo or Super Nintendo to this day.  I’ve tried graduating to more advanced systems over time, but when you can’t up up, down down, left right, B A, select start that shit, there is no point in playing.”

When not listening to 311 (or MMMbop), Ryan can be found jamming out to bands like, “Highly Suspect, Deftones, Every Time I Die, Turnstile, The Glorious Sons, Betcha, Teenage Wrist, Awolnation and literally anything from our lord & savior, Maynard James Keenan, are at the top of my playlists.” Ryan also said he knows that most fans like that 311 tour with the Reggae inspired bands, but he’s always leaned more towards the heavy openers like Zebrahead, Incubus, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. Alien Ant Farm and Offspring.

If he could say one thing to a member of 311, he’d like to send this message to Tim: “Mahoney…. come on… just give me one of the PRS’s  Also, how does your neck still work after all years of rocking it like a damn see-saw? I can’t even sleep peacefully on a tempurpedic without needing a hospital bed most mornings.”

Now his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Look….  What a complete shit-show the last few years have been.  A global pandemic, social injustices, , economic challenges, 2 gigantic dipshits for Presidents, a country divided and suddenly, the one place we all used to look for some grounding and solace became a war-zone of it’s own.  It’s normal and appropriate that these things are more ingrained in our lives as we start to age out of the youth to the mid-life, but keep your minds open. Talk to one another and understand that it’s ok to think differently.  As diametrically opposed as views might be… keep the conversation going, but don’t tear each other apart.  Recall all the positives this band has brought to us for over 3 decades and keep that train running as long as we can.  I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in relationships in life, but this is the one constant that has always been there and I hope will always be there.  We’re never going to always get along, but if this is the one medium where we can escape the bullshit for a show or an album listening, then let’s leave that as it is.  I know that EVENTUALLY this band will inevitably go away, but until then, let’s help keep it intact instead of pulling it all apart.  Also…. LET’S RAGE ON THE MOTHER FUCKING BOAT!!!  DECK 8 PARTIES EVERY SINGLE NIGHT UNTIL THE TOUCANS OF BELIZE ARE SERVING US FROOT LOOPS TO TO KEEP US ALIVE!!!”

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Thank you Ryan for sharing your story! And of course, many thanks to the supporters and readers each time. I hope you all have an excellent week, sending you all the positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back friends and a happy 2023 to you all! New year…new fan spotlight! Let’s kick it off and meet Alexis Leiva!

It was 1996, when the Blue album was popping, that Alexis became a 311 fan. “I’ll never forget the day my friend Chris Fox briskly walked up to me in the hallway of my high school in between a class. Whatever it was that he had to share with me seemed like it was an emergency. He said “listen to this!“ He played me jack-o’-lanterns weather and it literally blew my mind. I didn’t understand what I was hearing. It was high energy it was positive and I’ve never heard anything quite like it before. I didn’t know if it was electronic music or real guitars or if it was from this world. This fresh and alive energy drew me in.”

That day changed Alexis life forever. He said it was that moment when he found his central passion and life purpose which was to be a musician. “I instantly wanted to understand and imitate this great, cutting edge music that could have this kind of mystical, positive effect on others. Their albums drew me in but when I experienced the unparalleled energy of their Live shows plus the kind, rowdy 311 commUnity, I was had.”

Show count for Alexis is at 30 plus shows. His first show was at The Warfield in San Francisco in 1997. “Absolutely uplifting and electrifying! I reach very high-octane, Unity-charged, mystical heights at every single show I’ve been to.” Favorite event he’s attended was 311 Day 2020 with his then partner Lydia Sleeper. “That SF->Las Vegas road trip we took to get there was our 5th date and it ended up lasting 3months because of quarantine. Pandemic was announced on 3/11. We thought shows would surely be cancelled because every other event in Vegas was. Not only was it not cancelled, but they played all 3 nights and Lydia became the Slinky Girl I always wanted to meet, love and rock with!”

Song that means the most to him is “Freeze Time.” It hits him on his deepest, root level of his identity. “The song chugs along so hard and clean. And the lyrics are mystical AF and rapturous, which is my jam. And the production on Soundsystem is, by far, my favorite sounding album of theirs.” As for lyric he loves, Alexis chose the obvious one, “Stay positive and love your life.” “You just can’t go wrong with that. It’s a solid battle-cry to live by.”

San Francisco, California, is where Alexis was born & raised. He lived there most of his life. He also spent a couple of years in France and a couple of years in Mexico and Peru. “I love the whole globe and want to explore more.” Alexis funds his love of 311 by being an English/Spanish translator. “My partner Lydia and I often go to shows and 311 days. We recently felt like, “Excitable Dead Heads” by following their tour on a road trip. We saw 5 back to back shows, starting at Red Rocks. Glorious. And it ended in Berkeley at the Greek Theater where Lydia received a drumstick and setlist from SA. She had declared that that would happen a week before. And she then “Womanifested” it. Amazing.”

Alexis has a goal he’d like to obtain and that’s to open for 311! He is a performing musician. “I started writing, rapping and singing upon first listen to Grassroots. Together with Lydia aka Lummingbird, we make uplifting hip hop. She has a beautiful voice. We create and perform together a lot in California and Mexico.” Guilty pleasure? “I Netflix hard!” When not listening to 311, Alexis loves music by Stick Figure, Beastie Boys, Little Stranger and lots of bass music.

To 311, Alexis would like to say to S.A.: “Can Lydia and I record vocals with you at Holy Grailien? We’ll bring the drumstick you gave her.”

Now here are his words to all the other fans out there:

“The whole phenomenon of the 311 nation fam-base is phenomenal. Earth feels so much more like home with all you Excitable‘s on it. You are all precious to Lydia and I. Let’s keep Livin’ and Rockin’, always stretching beyond the gray sky, staying positive and lovin’ our lives as best as we can.

Made this Appreciation video for band and fans! Footage from 311 Day 2022 👽

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Many thanks to Alexis for sharing his story! Of course, huge amounts of gratitude to all the readers each edition. Hope you all are having a good 2023 so far and sending out positive vibes to you all.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Another week is upon us and it’s time to meet another 311 fan. This week we have the story of Brian Bernard!

Brian and his wife were married right around the time that 311 was getting started. After they married they started a family right away, so much music in the 90’s slipped under his radar, including 311. “I did grow up playing a lot of music in bands and especially loved the late 80’s early 90’s sounds of RHCP / Faith No More / Beasties Boys etc. Around 2002 I started getting back to making music and made some recordings. I was playing them for a friend and he commented it sounded a lot like 311, and I actually had NO idea what he was talking about. I went out and bought From Chaos and was hooked. I have 4 great kids and they all enjoy the band and have been to shows either with us or by themselves.”

Show count for Brian is at 21. First show for him was in 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I took my son, who was and is still a huge fan.” As for favorite shows, he said the fall tour 2012 is it. “I took one of my boys who was in 8th grade at the time to the Fillmore in Charlotte and it was the night before Halloween. Setlist and the crowd was on fire. We spent a lot of time during and after the show talking about how blown away we were. Great night.”

There are many songs that mean a lot to Brian, but he narrowed it down to two, the first being “Wildfire.” “So many elements lyrically and musically that resonate with me. It’s a testament to the power of believing in yourself against all odds.” The other song is “It’s Alright.” “Life is so tempting to relive the past and dream of the future and never stop to bask in the moments. Plus Nutter throws down the funkiest bass riff which always makes me smile.”

As for lyrics that resonate with Brian, he quoted the following: “Nothing in life is above being honest,” “The river cuts its way through stone, not by sheer force but persistence,” and “Always an excuse if you need one.” The last one he’s used for years with his kids about breaking down resistance life sends your way.

Brian grew up in a country town called Seaford, Delaware. He said there wasn’t much to do there except play with cars, play sports, or play music. “My best friends and I formed a band in 3rd grade and played together for a lot of years through high school and beyond. Best of times to be alive. We moved to Philadelphia together to chase music dreams. We got so so close but that’s another story. I currently have lived in the Charlotte area since 2000.”

Cool story about Brian is that his brother-in-law played professional baseball for the Red Sox. “When his sister and I were first dating we went to a game, but had never met him before. In the 7th inning he hit a foul ball and I caught it. After the game we met and he asked if he could sign the ball. He did and wrote “Welcome to the family”. (We were married less than a year later) I still have the ball all these years later and we work together in the business that I own.”

Little thing that makes Brian unique is that he pretty much does everything right handed except throwing a ball, which he does as a lefty. “Sports were an absolute train wreck for me until one day my Dad said maybe I should try to throw with my other hand, lol.”

Guilty pleasure for Brian is anything with Drew Barrymore, he’s a sucker for her. He also loves the bass guitar and has been playing since he was 12. “I saved up mowing lawns and bought my first bass at a music store and it was missing 3 tuning legs and I had to tune it with pliers.”

Two of Brian’s other favorite bands, that he’s actually seen more than 311, are Dave Matthews Band and Umprey’s McGee. He also loves Revivalists, Marc Broussard, Kings X, Better than Ezra, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few. “And pretty much all 80’s early 90’s metal / glam / thrash.”

To 311, Brian would like to say: “Thank you for inspiring me musically and personally. Thank you to Nick and Aaron also for extending their musical reach to the fans and myself with personal interaction over the years via social media.”

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

“I love how passionate the fans are about everything the band does. In all the passion, remember though, they are just humans with feelings, emotions, families, flaws and life struggles. They put their pants on exactly like you, one leg at a time. The past few years have been a challenge for all, and the resilience of the band has shined through this season also.”

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Many thanks to Brian for sharing his story with us all! Of course, huge shout out of gratitude to all of the readers each week. Wishing you all a very, happy holiday season! See you in the New Year!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Hoping you are all well and ready to kick this week off with the new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Zach Fowler!

The year was 1995 and Zach was a kid when he found the music of 311, when the blue album dropped. “I was 9 or 10 at the time. This album, along with a handful of others, became one of the driving forces behind me buying my first guitar at age 11.”

For show count, Zach i around 7 or 8. First show for him was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 30th, 2002. They played with Jay-Z, N*E*R*D* and Hoobastank. As for favorite event he’s been to, he said hands down it’s 311 Day 2020. “Literally days before COVID shut everything down – Most amazing/right show plus incredible visuals & lighting. I walked away inspired from that weekend of shows.”

All time favorite song for Zach is “Jackolanterns Weather.” Lyrics that he loves are: “Singin’ an rhymin’s what I’m better for, When I describe I’m a scribe with a metaphor. I use a simile lightly ’cause that shit’s played, The common way most rhymes are made, ya know. I rock like this I flow like that, But all those comparisons are just that. Kickin’ different styles I’ll be right here, Today, tomorrow, next week and next year. I always say what I feel and that is a promise, Nothing in life is above being honest.”

Fort Mill, South Carolina, is where Zach was born and raised. It’s in the Charlotte, N.C. area. He is the singer/guitar player for the reggae/rock group called Sun-Dried Vibes. “I have an immense love for the scene and genre, so naturally I love being a part of the amazing 311 community.  I am married to my amazing wife Emily and we have two beautiful sons, Evan and Reid.”

Fun fact about Zach is that he has an accounting degree from the University of South Carolina and he loves math. He also loves to play disc golf. “SDV is sponsored by Innova Disc Golf and we play all the time, all over the country!” Guilty pleasure for Zach, well there are a few. ” Hall & Oates, a killer horn section in a band, Ice Cream (literally any kind) or Key Lime Pie!”

When not listening to 311, Zach is into a wide range of artists. They include The Dip, Gangstarr, Passafire, Led Zeppelin , Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anderson .Paak, Beastie Boys, The Police, Steely Dan, and Steel Pulse. “I could go on forever.” Also don’t forget to check out Zach’s band Sun-Dried Vibes!

To 311, Zach would like to say: “Thank you for the continued inspiration through your music and I hope we can have the honor of opening and touring with you all someday.”

Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Being positive is the only way to live. You reap what you sow and you get what you give. The Positive Vibe is the Reason I’m Alive.”

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Many thanks to Zach for sharing his story with all of us! Always, so much gratitude to the readers and supporters of this little blog. Have an amazing week…sending you all many positive vibes!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there 311 nation! Welcome back to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week let’s hear the story of Jamie Ann Rosalia!

Jamie remembers listening to 311 in the 90’s on the radio, but it wasn’t until 2012 when she reconnected with a friend…now her fiancé…that she experienced a live show or listened fully to their albums. “The one cool thing about that is I had such a large catalogue of music to immerse myself in and I still got to experience new albums being released with Stereolithic, Mosaic and Voyager.”

For show count, Jamie hasn’t kept track. She did try to count back and believes she might be around 35. First show for her was Jones Beach in 2012. As for favorite event, she chose 311 Day 2022, since this is when she got engaged to Kevin LaBella on stage at the Unity All-Stars show at the pre-party. “It meant the world that so many people I love were there to share that moment with us.”

Favorite songs for Jamie include “Prisoner,” “Champagne,” “Whiskey and Wine,” “Flowing,” and “Creatures (for a While).” One of her favorite lyrics is from “Too Late” – “The river cuts its way through stone, not through sheer force but persistence. At the end of the day the relentless always win.”

Jamie grew up in a small town called Harrison, New York, which is a suburb about 30 minutes north of New York City. She is a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. “We grew up in a three-family house and lived also with extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins.” Aside from Harrison, Jamie has also lived in New Haven, Connecticut, The Bronx, Jacksonville, Denver, and is now currently residing in Aurora, Colorado. “I’m a mechanical engineer by profession and I work as a consultant for commercial real estate investors. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to Yale University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.”

Something you may not know about Jamie is that her white hair is natural and it’s been that way since she was about 5 years old. She did dye it for a while but then stopped. “My white hair and light eyes come from a gene mutation called Waardenburg’s Syndrome. I have a lack of pigmentation in my eyes and hair. “

Fun fact about Jamie is that her first language was American Sign Language (ASL). “Both my parents are deaf. My siblings and I were born hearing.  My sister and I always got full control of the radio station every time we went anywhere as kids 🙂 We also were able to blast music very late into the night without a care in the world.”

Guilty pleasure for her is exercising and she really doesn’t feel guilty about it. ” I have been practicing yoga on and off since I was 18 and every now and then I have delusions of becoming a yoga teacher – maybe one day.”

When not listening to 311, she can be found cranking tunes from Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Passafire, Soja, Less than Jake, and Incubus.

To 311, Jamie has this message: “Thank you for your dedication, for the music and for bringing us all together!”

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Thank you for being such amazing and positive people to be around. The energy I feel during shows really is different than any other show I’ve ever been to.  I can’t think of a negative experience I’ve had interacting with any of the other fans of 311. Everyone has always been so accepting and inviting.”

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Many thanks to Jamie for sharing her story with us all! As always, so much gratitude to all those who read each week. I hope you all have an amazing week! Sending you all good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Happy Halloween 2022! It’s time for the next fan spotlight. Let’s hear it for Mario Ramirez!

For Mario, it was after seeing 311 live for the first time that he became an instant fan. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but I felt like the music went through me. The day after the show I went to the music store and bought all the 311 CDs they had.”

For show count, Mario has seen them 111 times. His first show was just after graduating high school, during the summer of 1995 at Hospitality Point in San Diego. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it was possibly an MTV Rock the Vote show.”

As for picking a favorite show or event, Mario said he really doesn’t have an answer because he has so many great memories over the years from all of them. ” I’ve gotten to this amount of shows because that is how much I love what these five dudes do to me musically. I’ve seen multiple 311 Days which are epic! If I had to single out two particular events, it would be the 2019 cruise, because two months before I boarded the ship I found out the mass on back of my head was not cancerous.  The other event would be the October 2021 Red Rocks show because it was not only a bucket list venue for me, but three weeks prior I successfully had the tumor removed from the back of my head. I decided to go to that show on my own for myself.”

One of Mario’s favorite songs is “Cali Soca.” “The reason why I’m choosing this particular song is because as 311 fans we all know that Nick and SA can sing and rap their asses off. This song does not include lyric it is just an instrumental. It is beautiful music to me. It is just the five of them making music. Whenever I play music, I tend to play this song first because it’s just a beautiful calypso summer song to me. I finally got to see this song performed live on night two at 311 Day 2022. That put the icing on the cake.”

As for a favorite lyric from 311, Mario said this line really strikes a chord with him: “I’d say you hung the moon if they asked me.” Mario then stated, “That’s just some smooth shit right there!”

Mario was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up in a very loving home with parents and sister. Being from San Diego, he is a huge Padres fan. “From the words of Eek-A-Mouse, “I love my city because it’s very pretty.” I say that because it is a privilege to live in Paradise. My trade is in the construction industry. I am fortunate that my career allows me to fund this 311 thing that I can’t get enough of.”

Fun fact about Mario is that he grew up surfing. Something that makes him unique? Mario said he’s a muse! “I make shit happen for myself and for others. I’m snazztastic! In all seriousness, I’m a halfway decent golfer.” Guilty pleasure for him is professional wrestling. “I grew up watching it with my dad, he was kind enough to order all wresting pay-per-views and took me to many shows. As I got older, I gave it up. The summer before my tumor surgery professional wresting came back into my left with a vengeance and I fucking love it!”

When not jamming the tunes of 311, one of the other artists that Mario really digs is Ozomatli. “One of the highlights of the 2019 cruise was seeing Ozomatli perform on the deck. I also like Little Stranger, reggae music in general, jazz, standards such as Frank Sinatra, and The Pharcyde.”

Mario would like to send this simple and wonderful message to the guys in 311: “Thank you for giving me beautiful music since 1995.”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:

“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

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Many thanks to Mario for sharing your story with us all! As per the usual, I can’t go a week without thanking all the awesome people who read this little project. I wish you all an amazing week and a very spooky Halloween!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means we get to learn the story of another awesome fan. Let’s meet Rachel Milstein Varney!

High school is when Rachel became a fan of 311, in 1997, when she heard “Come Original” on the radio. “I was drawn to the uplifting beats and the positivity in their lyrics, and drawn especially to the hot lead singer! ;)”

Show count is unknown for Rachel, as she never really kept track. She dis say it’s quite a few. First show for her was Edgefest on June 29, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As for favorite show or event she’s been to, she said it’s a tie between the second cruise beach show, Pow Wow, and the last Red Rocks show.

While picking a favorite song is difficult, Rachel said that right now it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “It is such a beautiful display of remembrance and always gets me choked up when I see it live. ‘Freak out’ is my other favorite, played live, it’s such a display of high energy.”

Some of Rachel’s favorite lyrics include: “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may, all I can do, all I can say. Gotta move to trust my instincts, and surrender and let my song sing itself,” “I believe in your purpose baby, coming up to the surface,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where Rachel was born& raised, and she is still residing there. Growing up it was just she and her mother, so she had a lot of time to herself while her mom worked. “I remember using her tape deck to record songs from the radio. I would call in to request the song and wait with my fingers on the play/record button to record to my cassette. 🙂 (the original download, I guess)”

Rachel’s mom took her to her first concert when she was 8 years old, and it was Randy Travis, who her mom loved. “I fell in love with the concert scene! As soon as I was old enough to choose my own music, I started purchasing albums from 311, STP, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc. As soon as she let me, I went to my first show. It was Edgefest, with 311/Gravity Kills/Incubus, Smashmouth, Limp Biskit and many more! I had the best time and knew festivals were going to be “my thing”!”

In 2002, Rachel was working for a parking garage, so she ended up listening to the radio all day long. “With that comes many many opportunities to win all the things! I got sooooo good at winning, the promotions manager and I were on a first name basis. She’d even call me if I hadn’t won tickets to a show and offer me the meet and greet options with a pair of tickets! I won tickets to every show I could and even had to start using my friend’s names when I won in order to follow the station’s rules. One time, my sister in law jokingly asked me to win her some tickets. (in this case it was actually to a 311 show, so it’s an even cooler story here!!!!) We turned on the radio while hanging out and I got the cue to call about 20 minutes in. I got through as caller 10 or 3 or 5 or whatever it was that day, and was told I had won!!!!! When I told the DJ what had transpired, they almost didn’t let me win, but instead had me hand the phone to my sister in law so she could claim the prize! LOL The next week, the day of the show, she got the call that she had won a meet and greet with 311!!!!! Of course being a fan, she asked me to go… but my boss wouldn’t let me leave early so I had to miss it!!! She told the guys about the whole thing when she met them, and they made a point to autograph a paper especially for me with a couple of personal messages!”

For the 6 years that Rachel worked for that parking garage, she won a ton of tickets, which meant she really didn’t pay for a lot of shows during that time. Then she started adulting, working for a District Attorney’s office, and she didn’t have the radio time she had before. “I also realized that festivals and concerts aren’t cheap! Thankfully we had a 2 income household that supported my concert habit and I realized quickly how important it is to always have concert/travel savings! These days I own my own business as a Canna-yoga instructor. I educate people in cannabis, yoga and mindfulness modalities helping to instill a sense of wellness, wholeness and to help create a connection with their innate ability to heal from within. www.leafandlotus.org”

In 2011 Rachel and her boyfriend went to the Pow Wow Festival, and that’s how she turned him into a fan as well. “He was so blown away to be in an alcohol infused space, and to not see one fight! The only incident we witnessed the entire weekend was a chick shoving her man down the road as she yelled at him…. that was it! He quickly recognized how amazing the band is and the unity they evoke through their vibe and tribe! Since then, he and I have been traveling to see 311, catching them any opportunity we can. On the riverside in Jamaica during the 2015 311 cruise, after 17 years together, he finally proposed to me and this 2023 cruise will be our 5th time cruising with the band!”

A fact that many don’t know about Rachel is that she gets a ton of anxiety in social situations. “Most of the time I power through and appear to be a social butterfly!” Something that gives her a unique element is that she’s a really great teacher and guide, in Cannabis and Yoga. “I can help others find their perfect cannabis pairings to achieve their desired results and have been told many times I am an amazing yoga instructor.” As for guilty pleasure, Rachel said that it’s definitely traveling. “As often and as far as possible for as long as possible.”

For other musicians, Rachel can often be found listening to a wide array of artists, including Nirvana, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Gravity Kills, Tool, Samuel J, Satsang, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Hirie, Aer, Tropidelic & Ballyhoo. The last four bands she mentioned she found through 311ing.

For her message to 311, Rachel would like to say these words: ““Please don’t break up! Be the example of how we can be unified with others even when our views, ideologies and /or moral values do not line up. Be the example of how it takes all types to work together to transmute negativity, to educate and inform and how to love and accept each other, despite our differences.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Hey You! Life’s Not a Race! I’ve Got a Good Feeling that your Purpose isn’t Plain. We’ve come Light Years to Tune In, Reconsider Everything and Seal the Deal. Stay Strong All Along, Wake Your Mind Up and Thank Your Lucky Stars for the opportunities we’ve been given in this life! Mad respect to all the 311-est excitables in this community! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!”

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Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her 311 story! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each week as well. Sending you all light & love, hope you have an amazing week.

Much Love – The Runt