Welcome back my friends out there in the 311 universe! Hope you are all ready for the next fan spotlight. This week, let’s get the scoop from Katrina Bentley!

The year was 1996, and Katrina was growing up in Bellevue, Nebraska. Her older brother is the one that introduced her to 311. “They were becoming popular after their blue album and many of my friends were listening.  When MTV actually played videos..haha.  Down and All Mixed Up over and over. The sound was unlike anything I had ever heard and I was hooked immediately.”

Show count for Katrina is in the 20’s somewhere, and this includes two 311 Day events, 4th of July in Vegas, and two cruises. First show for her was December 10th, 1997, in Lincoln, Nebraska. “Sugar Ray and Incubus opened. That was a great night!” As for a favorite, she said that while the cruises are amazing, this first show still stands out as her most vivid memory. 311 Day 2020 was also a top one for her. “As chaos was unfolding all around us, those few days in Vegas and the music made time stand still.”

Song that means the most to Katrina? She said the whole “Music” album really connects with her. She also loves “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “The message I get from this song is so powerful.”

Favorite lyrics, that’s a little harder to narrow down because there are so many that Katrina connects with. Some of them include: “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity,”  “I go a yard and a mile, to make you smile,” and “People never see the whole trip of life, Grab knowledge, man, and all you do is syph”.  “I believe that is how it goes.  Either way, I always sing this out loud when I hear the song–in my car or live…it is special to me.”

As mentioned, Katrina grew up in Bellevue, Nebraska, and then after high school she moved to Omaha and went to the University of Nebraska for a few years. “I then moved to Idaho to continue my college education and have been in the Pacific Northwest ever since.  I have lived in Idaho and Washington and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.  I am a healthcare worker and although I love my job, I would say I work to allow the privilege to see 311 locally and afar.”

A lot of Katrina’s friends know this, but for those meeting her for the first time, she is full of trivia information – specifically for music and movies. She also has a recurring, irrational fear of being the last one. “Not sure of what.” Another one of her fears is that she’s afraid of the dark. “Silly really, but it’s true.” Guilty pleasure, she said isn’t really so guilty. “I find comfort in binge watching movies or TV series I have already seen.”

For other music that Katrina is into, she really loves rock music and on of her top faves is Alice in Chains. “Jerry Cantrell solo music too.  311 has introduced me to bands like Ballyhoo; Iya Terra; and The Movement.  I love all 3!”

To 311, Katrina would like to say these words: “Thank you!  For the music and the positive message they spread.  My life has been forever enriched due to their creativity.  No matter what is going on in my life, I can listen to 311 and be calm and happy.  That is so powerful and emotional.  And to think I share this with so many fans, that is truly amazing.”

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

“Well of course, Stay Positive and Love Your Life!  And thank you for your kindness at shows–I feel loved and included in a room full of strangers.  But, we are not strangers, we are family.”

---

Many thanks to Katrina for sharing her story! And of course, my undying gratitude to all who read each post. I wish you all the best week and keep on spreading the good karma!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my Excitable friends! It’s time for the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight! Let’s meet Courtney Guck!

It was shortly after the album “Grassroots” was released that Courtney found 311. A good friend of his played the song “Homebrew” for him in September of 1994 and he’s been hooked ever since. “I remember being intrigued by how divergent the sound was from the Alternative/Grunge scene. After introduction to Grassroots, I hunted down Music and the rest is history.”

As for show count and first show, Courtney said his response to this question usually gets some funny reactions. “My first 311 show was Halloween at the Stanley Hotel in 2021. My sister still lives in Northern Colorado and our attendance at the show was completely by chance. Amy and I wanted to visit my sister and I love Estes Park. I saw 311 was playing at the Stanley and thought, “that would be fun, I haven’t listened to 311 in years” so we purchased resale tickets and went. My wife, Amy, was very green to 311 at that point and after the show, Nick and P-Nut walked out of the venue and past us. I thanked them for a great show and Amy turns to me and says, “that was the drummer, right?”. I loved the early albums but by the time we got to Don’t Tread on Me in 311’s discography, my preference in music had gotten heavier (see Alexisonfire) and I was craving more of the older sound from Music, so I explored other genres of music for a number years. In my 20’s I was focused on trying to make it as a professional road cyclist, then came grad school, then came adulting – concert attendance during that time in my life wasn’t on my radar.  At this moment, I’m sitting in a hotel editing this edition of Runt Rant one final time and then heading over to the venue. This will be (I believe) my 42^nd show since the Halloween show in Estes. In 2024 I attended 16 shows and it’s my goal to beat that by at least one for 2025.”

As for a favorite, Courtney said each event is unique and he has great memories from them all. However he did say his two most favorite are Estes Park and Warsaw, Poland. “Hearing “Six” in Estes Park will always be right at the top of my list. The Warsaw, Poland show was at a small club called “Proxima”. The club’s manager shared with me that they sold 150-ish tickets, so it was a very small and intimate show.”

While there isn’t just one song that means the most to him, Courtney said he definitely has a list of favorites. “Let’s see if some of my favorites are some of your favorites: Do You Right, Existential Hero, Lucky, Borders, Count Me In, Six, Tribute, Weightless, Let the Cards Fall. That is, by no means, a comprehensive list but those are a few that come to mind.”

For a lyric that resonates with him, Courtney said it’s the line “Like a drive through Estes Park” from the song “Six.” “Having lived in close proximity to Estes for so many years and spending a considerable amount of time up there riding, the lyric and that town hold a lot of meaning for me.”

Courtney has been fortunate to have had some really cool experiences that have allowed him to travel and see many different places. “I lived in central Minnesota until 1994, at which point my family uprooted and moved to Fort Collins, CO. After a 21-year stint in Fort Collins and surrounding areas, I found myself back in central Minnesota where I grew up. My youth was characterized by a strong desire to be an elite athlete, first as a national level junior cross-country skier and later as an elite road cyclist. I’ve been an educator now for 14 years and spent the first five years of my teaching career at Colorado State University teaching undergraduate German courses in the Dept. of Foreign Languages and teaching undergrad and graduate level courses to students studying to be educators in the School of Education.  Since moving back to Minnesota, I’ve dived into business ownership in addition to my time in K-12 education and generally enjoy spreading myself just thin enough that I don’t quite have time to take care of everything I need to do.”

Fun fact about Courtney, is that while he wears many hats, one of them is being a farmer. “I live on a farm with my 20 Scottish Highland cattle, tractors, farm machinery and I can build a barbed wire and electric fence better than your grandpa.”

Jumping off the last question, Courtney said that something that makes him unique is the fact that he wears many hats on any given day. “In addition to having a small farming operation, my wife Amy and I own a bar/restaurant in Central MN. We owned two until last December, at which point we sold one. Amy and I are also in the beginning phases of establishing a small food company that will feature some very well-known food products in our area. I do these other things on top of being a full-time educator and admin’ing the 311 Nation page, which can be a part-time job on its own some days.”

For a guilty pleasure, Courtney said there are a few. “Sunday morning coffee with a few Hershey’s Kisses and CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley. Showing up to 311 shows early and hanging out for the day with everyone. Sometimes I run into the band, most times I get to see or hang out with driver Steve and Cruise, Anthony, have a quick chat with Dolin.”

For other artists Courtney can be found listening to, the list includes
Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Fiona Apple, Iration, and Koe Wetzel. “
“The oldest albums from Fall Out Boy and the entire discography from Panic! At the Disco (except for Pretty. Odd. – sorry, but that was a horrible album) are guilty pleasures of mine.”

As for what Courtney would ask the band, he has this question: “Specifically, what type of smoked fish are we talking about?”

Now here are his words to his fellow 311 fans:

“Thank you all for being like a family. Some of you I speak with considerably more than I do my own family. I love 311’s music and the guys are all very nice but what makes 311 so special for me is the community. I have met and continue to meet so many incredible people. You all make my life more vibrant and exciting, and I appreciate you all for that! Thanks to everyone who shows love to the 311 Nation Facebook group. That project has been a labor of love and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. If you see me at a show, please come and say hi!”

---

Thank you Courtney for sharing your story with everyone! As always, my gratitude to all who read these each time. Hope you are all well and that you have an amazing week!

Much Love, The Runt

Hello again my Excitable friends! Welcome to the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight. This week, let’s meet Jesse Teel!

Jesse was drawn to music at an early age, so he has a wide spectrum of musical tastes. “I had influences from family with various genres from my father, who enjoyed Motown oldies, classical, and country, to my mom, who was a hippy at heart showing me music from the 60’s and 70’s, as well as country (since we lived on a ranch growing up), and my half sister playing the hits of the 80’s, but I really came into my own musically during the grunge era of the 90’s. I was always looking for new music outlets and I came across the cassette tape of 311’s Music album. I’m not sure if it was the rebel in me, but the famous album cover got my attention. I remember listening to Music and it not sounding like anything else I had heard before. I may not have really known it at the time, but I was hooked. At the time, I wasn’t aware of any other albums that had been released, but with the release of the Blue album in 1995, I was fortunate enough to discover Grassroots, since this was really the time that 311 really blew up. The differences from album to album, while keeping their signature sound I feel is what truly drew me to the band, and it stuck all the way until present day.”

For how many shows Jesse has seen, he’s lost count over the years. He see’s multiple tour shows each year, has done all of the 4th of July shows in Vegas, attended four 311 Day’s and just recently went on this last cruise, which was his first. “I know it has been well over 50 shows and counting with multiple shows purchased for this upcoming tour. My first show was in Irvine, California at what was the Verizon Amphitheatre, which is no longer standing. But I remember it so distinctly because they did an encore that I have never seen them do since. It was a huge mashup of some of their greatest hits that transitioned from one to another to yet another. I left that show in complete and total awe and couldn’t wait to see them again.”

There have been many events that have special memories for Jesse, but he absolutely loved this last cruise. “What an amazing experience it was and something I will never forget for as long as I live.”

There’s also an unofficial 311 event that means the world to him. Here’s his story. “In April of 2024, I submitted a video to a casting call to be part of a music video for 311 and I received a call back inviting me to join the music video shoot in Los Angeles, California. We were not given many details, but we were given an address and a time to arrive. Not knowing what I was going into, I followed the instructions and made my way to the address given. Upon arrival I knew the building looked rather familiar with security at the entrance. Before I knew it, I was in a holding room with about 20 other 311 fans. At the time, we figured we were being used for a performance scene of some sort and figured the band wasn’t there for this part of the shoot. As we waited, the director of the video shoot, Brian Bowen Smith, entered our holding room and began explaining the concept of the video and what he was asking of us. At this point, Brian turned to me and said, “I am going to need you to play the role of a body guard. Actually, let me go and get who you will be working with so you guys get to know each other a little bit.” He quickly left the room and moments later came back with the one and only Pnut. We were introduced to one another, and I could hardly speak. This is my first time meeting anyone from the band and it was absolutely sureel. After a short time together Pnut left the room, but it wasn’t long after that the entire band entered the room and everyone just froze. We didn’t know what to do, or if we were able to approach them. Not wanting to miss this insane opportunity, I jumped out of my seat and walked to Nick to introduce myself. Others quickly followed suit and we were all just mingling with each other for quite some time. It was so casual and we got to see just how down to earth every single member of the band truly was. Since the first part of the video shoot was performance based, both Nick and miT had their guitars in hand. I approached miT and couldn’t help but notice he was holding his famous Blue PRS, so I mentioned that he busted out the OG Blue for this shoot, and how hard it is to find his signature PRS. He acknowledged that there aren’t too many out there, but it is a sweet guitar and his original love. As if this dream couldn’t get any better, it was about to. miT then turns to me and says, “do you want to give this one a try? You can play it and we can take some pictures with it, if you want to.” My jaw hit the ground. He handed over the guitar and I got to play my favorite guitarist’s guitar! I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I soaked in every single second. My dream had just come true, and the day was only beginning. We were then called into the performance room where we spent the entire day with the band in a very informal setting. I was even able to go into the green room with the entire band during the lunch break where I got to have a very personal conversation with Pnut himself for about 20 or 30 minutes. We then were called back to the performance room where it was time for my role to be performed. After the shoot wrapped, we were released and got to say our goodbyes to the band before they headed to the roof for a photo shoot. I was able to sneak up to the roof to catch a glimpse of the photo shoot trying to get any additional memories of this epic day that I could. A small group of us overheard that the final wrap would be at about 6:00 pm, so we went and grabbed a drink at a nearby restaurant then waited outside the video shoot building in hopes to get a few more photos with the guys. As the band exited the building, the group I was with headed straight for the group, but I noticed SA walking across the street on his own, so I approached him and explained one of the fans needs his signature for her tattoo. He said he would go to his van to drop some stuff off and then come back. After we got more photos with everyone else, we waited, and sure enough, SA held true to his word and came back. He signed Jaclyn’s arm and the rest of us got more photos. A moment of silence came upon all of us and then SA says, “do you guys want to go grab a drink? We don’t want to sit in traffic heading home.” I exclaimed, “Hell yea we want to get a drink!” So for the next three hours we all sat with SA Martinez as he told us the entire history of 311, and answered any and every question we had. This was another dream to come true for me, and it was all in the same day! A perfect ending to a perfect day. About a month later, the You’re Gonna Get It music video debuted and I made the opening scene! I can be seen throughout the video and I have forever been cemented into the history of my all time favorite band, 311. This is by far my most memorable and favorite experience I have had with this band.”

While like many fans Jesse said there are lots of songs that mean a great deal to him, he narrowed it down for this blog and chose “Simplify.” “The reason is because when times get really difficult, remembering that “this moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present,” helps me to know that it is important to live in the moment. Live in the here and now, because worrying about the future is only a fear of the unknown. The difficult times are like storms….they too shall pass, and life is a gift. When we go through difficult times, it is really easy to forget that what we are living is in fact a gift.” One of Jesse’s favorite lyrics comes from this song as well: “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Jesse has a few other favorite lyrics of 311’s. The first is “You’ve got to trust your instincts, and let go of regret. You’ve got to bet on yourself now star, cause that’s your best bet.” “This is so true on so many levels. Sometimes we are all that we’ve got. If we don’t trust and believe in ourselves, then who the hell will? If we don’t believe in ourselves, then we take away the reason for anyone else to believe in us. Betting on ourselves is the safest bet any of us can take, because we are the only ones who can control ourselves, and ultimately the outcome of our bet.” He also loves “Stay positive and love your life.” “This is the common mantra that so many of our community members live by and it was set forth by this beloved band. It is the constant that they have always portrayed through all these 35 plus years and it truly helps us in our own way. I feel one of the biggest misconceptions of “staying positive,” is that we have a tendency to live with our heads in the sand and not face our adversities. Staying positive doesn’t mean to pretend that everything is always good and upbeat. Staying positive, to me, actually means keeping our heads up while facing adversity and taking on life’s challenges head on and believing that it will all be okay. The positive nature will inevitably attract positive energy, and the same goes for the adverse. When we stay positive, it allows us to make it through anything, even when it feels like we won’t make it when we are in the thick of it. Once we make it through, we then have reason to love our lives.”

One last lyric, he loves “Get with your rhythm, get with your nature.” “You are unique and you possess a rhythm all of your own. When you find this rhythm, it enables you to be your true authentic self, and that is your nature. Embrace it. Love it. Be it. Live it.”

Jesse was born in Westlake, California, and lived in Thousand Oaks until the age of nine when he and his family moved to Acton. He lived there for the next 10 years, where he was able to experience ranch life in a small town. “Riding dirt bikes, driving tractors, riding horses, playing little league every year, and always having music as a huge part of my life. My life’s soundtrack has distinct memories attached to various artists and even specific songs that when heard take me back to a time and/or place of my upbringing. I excelled in sports through high school, and moved on to attend California State University of Northridge, where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing. After graduating college and receiving a number of corporate job offers, I elected to become business partners with my father, Patrick Teel, who started a swimming pool maintenance and construction company in 1975, and added a second corporation in the retail side of swimming pool products. After my father passed away from Cancer, I assumed the role of sole owner of the two corporations that I am currently running to this day. While owning and operating the two companies is challenging, it enables me to make a decent living and fund my 311 habit, as well as attend other concerts and sporting events.”

Jesse’s dad taught him to fish when he was a very young age. They would take an annual fishing trip to the High Sierras, going from lake to lake each day. ” It was one of our favorite events together and I still take that trip every year in memoriam of his life. It has never been quite the same since his passing, but it enables me to stay connected to him since losing him on January 1, 2022. I continue to work hard just as he taught me so that I am able to continue our tradition each and every year. He not only was an amazing father, but he was my business partner, mentor, best friend, and hero. I truly believe he is watching over me as my days here on earth continue. May he forever rest in peace.”

Jesse has a younger brother Preston, they are 14 years apart, and he means the world to him. “He moved with the rest of my family to Colorado Springs about a year and a half before our dad’s passing. We are very close and I introduced him to the music of 311 at a very young age and he too is a huge fan of the band. He has been with me to many shows, multiple 311 days, and he was on cruise 8 with me. 311 is a common bond that we share and even though we live in different states, the band has provided us with many opportunities for us to remain connected and close to one another. He too has a great passion for music and graduated from Icon Music Collective and is currently a producer of bass and dubstep music. He has an amazing heart on him and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Something that set’s Jesse apart from the masses is his passion for helping others. ” I have been through a lot of hardships in this life and I truly feel it was in preparation to help those in need. I feel that my experiences enable me to relate to so many other people and the hardships they encounter. My goal is always to try and help others navigate through their struggles faster than when I endured mine. Over the last 5-6 years I have heavily researched the human mind, cognitive thinking and functionality, the effects of trauma, and the process of healing, which has led me to become a life coach. My ultimate goal is to have a full time life and business coaching business to help others change their lives for the better. My job is not to create a blueprint for others to follow to navigate life, but to unveil each person’s individual ability and strength to develop their own plan. In 2020, I made a documentary using the footage I took at 311 Day in Las Vegas showcasing 311 and the fan community that utilizes the positivity and unity throughout to help get through each person’s day to day lives. Besides footage of the festivities, I interviewed fans throughout the entire weekend to show just how 311 and the positivity movement impacts each person and the power that staying positive and loving your life has to enable a person to be the best version of themselves. Helping others achieve this level of enlightenment is my ultimate dream.”

Interesting fact about Jesse, about a month after he turned 13 he had a freak accident. “That caused a tomato cage stake go through my left eye and puncture the back of my brain, leaving me paralyzed on the right side of my body, my eye being turned around 90 degrees, and bleeding of the brain. During my stay in the ICU, doctors could not explain how I avoided instant death, but with swelling of the brain and continual bleeding of the brain, there was a good chance I would not survive the coming days. If I somehow did survive, I was told I would never walk again, have permanent brain damage, be confined to a wheelchair, and would most likely lose my eye. I was told my life was forever changed. At the young age of 12, I felt I was too old to cry, but for some reason, I just didn’t believe the doctor’s diagnosis. My father encouraged me daily to try and sit up, which led to trying to stand, then take a step, then get to the doorway, then just a few steps down the hall. I couldn’t feel the right side of my body, but if I held onto my dad, and watched my feet on the floor, I would make my way down that hallway. When I made it back to the ICU and was able to open those double doors, the entire nursing staff just stopped with disbelief. It was at that time that I was given the name, The Miracle Child, and everyone in the hospital knew of me. My eye surgery was put off by a day, then two, then a week, and scheduled a month later at UCLA medical center. I never made it to that surgery appointment because my eye was starting to correct itself. Little by little, my eye started to turn out towards the center again. I had to wear a patch over my eye, but I did eye exercises everyday. Eventually I had vision, but I saw double of everything. Six months later I got really good at being able to line the double vision up for periods of time but would then have to put the patch back on due to fatigue. By month seven I threw away my patch and I had my vision back. I made a full recovery in a year’s time. I had full feeling and functionality of the right side of my body, I could not only walk, but I could run. You couldn’t even tell I ever had the accident. No surgeries were performed and I did my own physical therapy. I missed half a year of school, but I was able to keep up through home school and maintained mostly A’s and a couple B’s. I only missed one season of baseball and returned right where I left off.”

Jesse taught himself how to play guitar and he has been playing for about 30 years now. “It is certainly a love of mine, but what I feel makes me unique is my heart and my compassion for others. We live in a very cynical world, and I have been kicked while down many times, but I still believe in the good that is all around us. I believe we all have a purpose and mine is helping others in many different forms.” Guilty pleasure for him? “I sometimes go onto random video chat websites and play guitar for people.”

As for other musicians Jesse loves, the list is a long and diverse one. “I mostly taught myself to play the guitar from Dave Matthews’ music when I discovered his Live at Luther College album with Tim Reynolds, so Dave’s music will always hold a special place in my heart. The Dave Matthews Band is another group that I have seen well over 30 times live, and I highly recommend that show to all.  Some of my other favorite artists are as follows in no particular order: Incubus,Sublime, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Paul Simon, Prince, Linkin Park, Iration, The Black Crowes, Bob Marley, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Foo Fighters, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Nirvana, 2 Pac, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.”

While Jesse has been blessed with talking to 311 a bunch of times, he still would like to send this message to them: “Thank you. Thank you for everything you have given myself and so many others around the world for over 35+ years.”

Now here is his message to all of his fellow Excitables:

“Being part of this community means you possess something very special within you. It is not something that we can touch because it is within your soul, but we can see it in your personality and we feel it during our interactions with one another. Our beloved 311 has been a vessel for our unity. When we acknowledge each other as fellow fans, we instantly have a bond. We know we “get it.” Our desire to be loved is filled with every show, every gathering, and every interaction. Each of us return that love because we are united through the music that feeds our souls. Nobody ever said that life is going to be easy, and quite frankly, it can be downright cruel at times, but I employ you to keep utilizing this music and the community to help carry you through these rough times. Continue to love one another. See past the differences we may have. Look for the positive in all that you do, and when you can’t seem to find it, lean on each other because we will carry each other for as long as it is necessary. Utilize music as your therapy, for it is our constant companion. Love yourselves, because if you don’t it makes it so much harder for others to love you. You deserve to be loved and don’t let ANYONE tell you otherwise. Follow your dreams. Put in the work necessary to reach your next milestone. Don’t ever give up. Be the light during someone else’s darkness. Always remember that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. You have made it through every obstacle up to this point and you are still here and standing. Be kind to yourself and give yourself the credit you deserve. I am so proud of you all and my love for each of you is endless. Thank you for being part of this amazing community and bringing me the joy you have over all these years. I will forever cherish our memories, and I look forward to creating new ones along the way. I love you all.  – Jesse Teel, The Bearded Prophet”

---

Thank you Jesse for sharing your story with all of the community! And as always, my eternal gratitude to all who read these posts. Hope you have an amazing, day, week, month, year, and beyond!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my Excitable friends! Welcome to the latest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight. Let’s get the story from the lovely Kelly Riddle!

For Kelly, she first found 311 thanks to the song “Beautiful Disaster.” It was late 1994, she was in 7th grade, and was with her brother. “I got into Music and Grassroots after that and bought the Blue album in July of ’95 when it was released.  I loved that their music was on the hard side with what I call a sing-songy vibe.  It helped that I thought Nick was hot and they had the skater boy thing going for them which I was VERY into!  I saw them a couple times live before I met my late husband in May of 1998. Having someone else with as much love for music and 311 as I did, was paradise.”

Show count for Kelly is in the 60’s range after this recent cruise. First show for her was in 1997 in Kansas City at the Sandstone. Favorite show? There’s multiple for various reasons. “The first was in 2014 right after I had finished all of my breast cancer treatments. I splurged and bought Andrew and I VIP Meet and Greet Tickets to celebrate.  I wore a shirt my friend had made for me and forgot to have them sign it. After, the show Mahoney made eye contact with me and I asked if he could sign it.  He said yes and pointed to the side gate.  Someone came and got me (Rosco maybe) and took me through the gate and back by the tour busses.  He asked if I had a shirt on underneath, I said no but I don’t have nipples and took my shirt off.  He laughed and took his sweaty, button-down shirt off and put it on me.  I didn’t care.  He handed my shirt to someone and they took it in the RV while I stayed out with Rosco and another woman and they were asking me questions about cancer. My shirt was brought back out and the guy said they would had me come in but they guys were in their “skivvies.” I said that’s ok and talked more as we walked out.”

Second and third faves are as follows: “My second favorite is the year after Andrew passed away.  A couple weeks after my first 311 show without him, I went to 2 of the Colorado shows, the Ogden and the Stanley, with people in a facebook group.   I had never met a nicer group of people.  That stay changed my life and gave me hope when I had just been through the hardest thing I have ever experienced.  These people have become my family.  I am forever thankful to Devin Larm, Brook Savoy, and Ashley and Eddie Bratke for being there for me.  I can’t tell you how much you mean to me.   My third favorite, as a whole, are the big events.  It was always our dream to attend 311 Day or Red Rocks.  We were young parents and prioritized our family vacations instead.  When he passed, I vowed to never miss a 311 Day and I haven’t yet.  The cruises are everything I dreamed of and more.  I saw my 50^th show at Red Rocks in 2023 and during Sunsets in July, I could feel Andrew with me.  Watching me dancing and having the time of my life.  I bawled like a baby.  He was always so happy and full of life and love.  I think he would be so proud of me for taking all of the big steps I’ve taken and finding my people.”

As mentioned, Kelly lost her husband Andrew. He passed away because he did some cocaine from someone he knew well, and it ended up having Fentanyl in it. “He died 15 minutes later while driving on a 4 lane highway during rush hour. Thankfully he didn’t hit anyone and instead hit a concrete post. It’s still surreal that it happened and can happen to anyone.”

Favorite song for Kelly is “Tranquility.” “Voyager was the last Album we listened to together.  I played Tranquility at Andrew’s funeral and my brother surprised me with a cameo from Nick for my first Valentine’s alone.  He played Tranquility.  When he sang, “You can’t walk around it, you have to walk right through it….,” it repeats over and over in my head when I try to ignore my sadness and grief.  It is my reminder, that things will get better if I go through the hard stuff. After the last cruise, I told my friend that every time it plays I wonder what song it is for about 10 seconds before it hits me.  It then makes me laugh and say, “Really Kelly?”

Some quotes Kelly loves, one is obviously from “Tranquility:” ” You can’t walk around it, you have to walk right through it.” Another fave is “fuck the naysayers ’cause they don’t mean a thing.”

The Kansas City area is where Kelly has lived since she was born. She met her husband when she was just 16 and they got married 3 years later. They bought a house and had 3 daughters – identical twins who are now 22 and then their 16 year old. At the age of 31, Kelly had to undergo a double mastectomy, chemo, and radiation, and other reconstructive surgeries. “Somehow, with all my gracefulness, I popped an implant ice skating and said to heck with boobs and had them taken out.  I am now proudly concave and ready to educate.  To add to that education, I lost my older brother suddenly to melanoma right after my treatments were done.  I have now saved many lives and prolonged others with my advice on moles, follow-up for past diagnosis, and easing the fear of what a full body check entails.  It isn’t as scary as it sounds.  I am now educated about MS due to being diagnosed in 2024.  Luckily, I am healthy and with a simple infusion every 6 months, I would never know I had it. All this has inspired me to go to nursing school to get a BSN and I am beginning my 3^rd year.  I am excited to help the people I see to stay positive and love their lives.”

Fun fact about Kelly, she may wear a custom 311 cheer uniform, but she has never cheered in her life! “I have coached for many years though.  I am very uncoordinated. We need to make a squad.” Something that makes her unique, her brain works in song lyrics. “I can usually sing a song immediately using a word someone says.” Guilty pleasure? It’s a unique one. “Cleaning pools.  I have an above ground pool I use a few times a year just so I can clean it and keep a sparkling clear, beautiful view to look at.”

For other music Kelly is into, she said Tropidelic holds a special place in her heart.  “I had a very small private party in 2021 at my house to celebrate my 40^th birthday and what would’ve been my 20^th anniversary.  Tropidelic’s song, Highs and Lows, got me through many gut wrenching moments.  It reminded me that better days were going to come if I could get through that second.” Some other bands she loves include Ballyhoo, Bumpin Uglies, Callisto, Mad Season, Alice in Chains, Pacific Dub, Hours Eastly, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Tom Petty, Operation Ivy, Mihali, Little Stranger, and The Movement.

Kelly also wanted to give a big shout out to Brook Savoy, for being her ultimate travel buddy. She loves her very much and their adventures together!

For a message to 311, Kelly has these words: “Thank you for everything you have created and sacrificed in your lives so that I have been able to experience adventures and make so many amazing memories throughout my life.”

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

“When I suddenly lost Andrew, in November 2020, I didn’t think I would make it through.  Because I faced my fears and continued doing what we loved, I was brought to all of you. Thank you for welcoming me into your tightknit community and helping me see beyond the grey sky.”

---

Super big thanks to Kelly for sharing her amazing & personal story with us! As always, many thanks to all those who follow this little blog. Hope you all are well and have the best week possible!

Much Love, The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in the Excitable universe! Shall we get to the latest fan spotlight? Let’s meet Barbi Baca!

Barbi became a fan of 311 in 1995, when she was just 16 years old. “I went to see The Phunk Junkeez and they were playing with 311. I was blown away. I was a crazy teenager and I loved getting in the pit those days. In the 90’s 311 had the most fun pits!”

Show count for Barbi is sitting at around 80. “I have lost count. My first show was that show with the Phunk Junkeez in Phoenix, Arizona at a venue called The Party Gardens. It was outside. That venue is long gone, and very missed.”

Favorite show for Barbi was the show in Athens, Georgia, at the Georgia Theater. “I was in Atlanta working, (this was 2018 I think?),  and my husband I drove down to Athens to the small theater they were playing at. It was GA and we were packed in like sausages. The vibe was amazing, everyone jumping and singing. The town reminded me of Tempe, Arizona in the 90’s. A music town. It was a blast.”

Barbi became a mom at the age of 19. She sang the song “8:16AM” to her son as she rocked him to sleep for years. So naturally, that song is very dear to her. “I have some of the lyrics tattooed on my arm.”

As for lyrics she loves, she chose words from “Freak Out.””If you don’t have someone to do it with, it’s not worth doing. To all my friends, it’s not the end, the Earth has not swallowed me yet.” This part of the song was she and her husbands music as they were introduced at their sons wedding.

Flagstaff, Arizona, is where Barbi was born, because there was no hospital in Sedona. “My dad has lived in Sedona his entire life and my grandpa owned the first gas station in Sedona.. I went back and forth from the valley (Phoenix) to Sedona my whole life.”

Barbi and her husband own a production company that provide sound, lighting, and decor for events. “My husband is a freelance sound engineer. I tag along a lot and have gotten to sit side stage at many amazing concerts, and festivals. I toured with an expo for 8 years which allowed me to work with a lot of B level celebrities. Some nice, and some not so nice.  My husband and I have been married for 25 years, probably cause he has been on the road most of the time, so we are always just meeting again lol. I have a 27 year old son who also has a 311 tattoo and has been to more 311 shows than the average fan.”

Fun fact about Barbi, she loves punk shows….like a lot. For other music she is into, she loves Sevendust. “I always see Filter when they are in town, Richard Patrick is so nice. I love The Dirty Heads, and will always request Medusa.”

Something that makes Barbi unique, she doesn’t have stage fright. “I have a strange ability to interview people on stage. I am more concerned about making the interviewee feel comfortable that I don’t worry about myself. I have an odd talent of making people feel at ease, even if I don’t feel at ease. I only know this part because people have told me I exude an image of calmness in the most stressful situations. Thanks ADHD! 

Guilty pleasure for Barbi? She loves the “Jersey Shore.”I feel like I grew up watching them and lived vicariously through them! I still watch the new series as they mature and raise their families. I had the unique experience to interview Lauren (Mikes wife) on stage at an event, and she was so nice.”

As for what Barbi would say to 311, she’s been luck enough to meet them over the years. “I met Nick at a dispensary in Hollywood a few years back and told him all about all my 311 tattoos. He was so gracious to listen to me babble on and on. Best day ever!!I have met all the guys at a meet and greet, but I could say over and over “Thank you for being the sound track of my life. There would be a hole in my heart without 311 there.” 

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

“I hope you always carry the messages of 311 with you through every stage of your life.”

---

What an excellent message to close this post with! Thank you Barbi for being a part of this. As always, thank you to all the supporters & readers each week. Sending you all light and love as you navigate this week.

Much Love – The Runt

Oh hey there 311 nation! What is up? Are we ready for the next fan spotlight? Let’s meet Steve Kostecki!

For Steve, he remembers the day very clearly when he became a 311 fan. Or when they blew his mind – it was July 30, 1997, “I was driving westbound on McLeod Road in Niagara Falls Canada. I was in my 1987 Ford Ranger XLT pick up truck with a brand new candy apple red paint job. I was listening to 103.3 the edge out of Buffalo. They declared a new 311 song titled Transistor, and from the third or second note I was instantly hooked, the tone and the changes of the song blew my mind. The sound of Chad’s snare was epic, and unlike anything I’ve ever heard and then the melodies and harmonies of SA together truly beautiful. I’ve never heard anything like that like that. And, to this day, I’ve not heard anyone else in any musical group who can harmonize as good as them. The song blew my mind. It sounded completely different than anything I’ve ever heard and the constant changes were exactly what I needed.”

For show count, Steve stopped counting at 20 but he believes the most recent show in Niagara Falls was number 25. As for a favorite, he finally made it to a 311 Day back in 2022. “It blew my mind and was so much fun. I have to do another one sometime soon.”

While Steve didn’t want to pick just one song that means the most to him, he landed on “Stealing Happy Hours.” “The song just hits me differently and has such a real good tone. Brings back many great memories for me.” For lyrics, Steve chose ones from “Space & Time” – “I think you’re more damned if you don’t, I figured that out long ago, truly. But I’m on a one way highway out of town, I got to get away or I might have a breakdown. So break it down, so long to this kind of worry and the doubt. I roll the window down and give myself a way out, a way out.” Steve said this part of that song is almost biblical to him. “It’s a constant reminder for me to take breaks. I’m busy .. a teacher, business owner and I have 6 children. If I overload my plate … I pretty much fuck myself and my family, still crash n burn. This song is special that way for me. I also use this with my wife to make an excuse why I need another 311 show! 😆”

Steve grew up in Niagara Falls, Canada and he has several college and university diplomas. He’s lived in London, Ontario Canada, Ridgeway Ontario Canada, and Boston, Massachusetts for about 3 years. He funds his 311 habit by working his ass off and never stopping. “Except of course when I need some Space & Time, wink wink, nudge nudge.”

Steve has had a lot of run in’s with celebrities over his lifetime. “I’ve met Britney Spears. I played pool with Jessica Beal and I even met Julia Roberts. All of these meetings with celebrities have all just been chance, kind of strange. Most people never meet anyone famous.” Steve also has a cousin who won the Stanley Cup playing with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. He loves to work out, doing Crossfit, running and lifting weights. He also loves skiing but says his true love in life is golf. “I have a plan to golf in Scotland in about 2 years for 2 weeks. I’m going to travel to Scotland and meet some cousins I’ve never met and golf at some of the best courses.”

As for something that makes him unique, Steve said that it’s a really tough question to answer. However, he said if his wife answered the question, she would say that he has tremendous ideas and business ideas. “I have a great way of creating these ideas from my mind to reality.”

Guilty pleasure for Steve, he said isn’t really a guilty one at all, maybe just a little nerdy – he enjoys collecting coins, American and Canadien. “My other guilty pleasure is probably that I review restaurants online. I’m super critical and professional and take it super seriously.”

For other music Steve loves, he has a wide range of musical interests. He also plays bass. “And I like to play jazz and really old jazz, like the 30’s and 40’s kind of stuff. I really love Oasis, The Beastie Boys, reggae and Christian worship music.”

For his message to 311, Steve has these words: “Thank you so much for creating the music that you continuously do. Please, don’t ever stop but if you ever do, I understand. Your music has helped me more than I ever thought and I just recently came upon this discovery. It’s so important to me and thousands of people we are eternally thankful.”

Now here’s his message to all the other fans out there:

“Thank you for being like me. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. “

---

Many thanks to Steve for sharing his story with us all! And as always, my eternal gratitude to the readers each week. Hope you all have an awesome week! Go be amazing!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back my friends in 311 Nation! It’s that time again, let’s get the story of another fan! This week we meet the one & only Ricky Rappa!

It was thanks to MTV that Ricky first found 311, when the video for “Down” debuted. There was also a local alternative rock station called “The Buzz” that played their music a lot. “Having an older brother that typically influenced my musical interest, this was one of the first bands I remember discovering on my own. The space theme and alien stuff drew me to them even more, besides the catchy riffs and dope lyrics!”

Show count for Ricky is 62. He’s been to five 311 Day events (2006,2016,2018, 2022, 2024) and one cruise in 2017. His very first concert ever, of any musician, was 311 during the Transistor Tour back in 1997. “My brother got me the new Transistor CD (my all time favorite album) and a pair of tickets to take me to see them the following month!”

As for which show of the 62 means the most to him, he said it’s hard to pinpoint. “The cruise is obviously special, but that seems like a cop out answer. It’s definitely something you have to experience at least once! I’ve been to Red Rocks to see them 4 times now, and each one is better than the last. That place is heaven on Earth and my absolute favorite venue I’ve ever been to. 311 day is always a good time, seeing lots of old friends and making tons of new ones! The Chicago double album show stands out tho, two of my favorite albums in their entirety, with some of my favorite people and friends I’ve made in this community, in the awesome city of Chicago! I always regretted missing the Pow Wow, so this was my redemption! We had a huge airbnb with like 14 of us in this crazy dope maze of a house, it was a good/memorable weekend.”

For song that means the most to him, Ricky chose “Love Song” because it’s he and his wife’s wedding song. As for a favorite lyric, one of his faves is, “I cannot handle all the negative vibe merchants.”

Ricky was born and raised in South Florida.He’s lived there his whole life and has never had the chance to live anywhere else. He works for himself as a box truck driver and delivers freight in the South Florida area. “I’m married to my beautiful wife Brooke and we have 2 kids, Lilliana (11) and Roman (5) and we have a yorkie named Geno! I help run the 311 Merch Xchange Facebook group and I like to host “waffles”, I enjoy connecting people in search of/selling/trading/buying 311 merch.”

Ricky has a talent – he’s good at helping people find the 311 merch they are searching for! “I’m known for hosting waffles in the 311 Merch Xchange group, it’s a labor of love, but I really enjoy it! When I go to shows, people recognize me now, it’s still weird to me, bc I’m just another fan!” Guilty pleasure for him, he is a Marvel nerd! “The comics, the movies, all of it! I Always have been! I Collected comic cards more than baseball or football cards as a kid, long before I collected 311 posters and merch!”

Other musicians that Ricky likes he said are mostly a byproduct of going to 311 shows. The list includes Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads and The Movement are probably my favorites besides 311. I also like Stick Figure, Little Stranger, and Pepper. He’s also into some local bands such as Artikal Sound System, Seranation and Cloud 9 Vibes.

For his message to 311, Ricky has these words: “Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life!”

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

“I appreciate all the friends and family I’ve made in this community! There are way too many to thank personally, but the memories I’ve made with yall are some I will cherish forever!”

---

Thank you Ricky for sharing your story with all of us! As always, my gratitude to all that read these. Hope you all have an amazing week and keep spreading the positivity!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out in Excitable nation! A new week is upon us and that means it’s time to meet the next fan spotlight. Let’s get the story of Colin Kelly! (Just a little side note, Colin’s wife Senecah was going to do the spotlight, but she gave it up and went through these questions with Colin – super cool of her to do and thanks Senecah for doing this interview!)

Colin said that knowing about 311 was inevitable being a kid in the 90’s. It was at his buddys house that he really became a fan. “I was learning guitar and sleeping over at a friend’s house and he was playing enlarged to show detail video on VHS and I fell in love immediately!”

As for live shows, Colin has been to 7. His first show was at the Orlando House of Blues with his older brother. He’s also been on 2 cruises (the second one he was with his love Senecah), attended one UCF concert and an Earth Day one in Orlando, which also was with Senecah. “We are looking forward to our next 311 cruise together in 2025!”

As for Colin’s favorite, he said it would have to be the first cruise. ” I remember Dirty Heads were there and the wind was blowing dude’s hair and that was just a MOMENT in time for me. Sen calls it reggae magic. It’s like a force of down to earth vibes- an ability to truly kick back and exhale and enjoy the humans around knowing there’s a oneness.”

Song that means the most to Colin is “Home Brew.” Yet it’s “Come Original” that he said house his favorite lyrics from 311. “I used to be so depressed but that spoke to me and I needed it! Be yourself. Just be you! The rest falls into place when you’re being true.”

Colin was raised by a family that was very supportive of his interest in 311. “My parents loved music festivals and camping trips and so I found myself in that type of community easily and doing things that vibe with my love for nature.” Colin’s trade is he’s an arborist, meaning he takes care of trees and he said is somewhat successful at it. He and Senecah also do a lot of side work cutting trees to get their cruise money. “That’s one of our favorite past times together actually- slaying treework and then going to our wing stop together and reliving old memories at our favorite table, hitting that jukebox with 311 and talking and laughing into the night. 311 made me feel good about myself when I felt really bad about myself. (This topic brings unexpected tears!)”

Something people may not know about Colin is that when his life isn’t going exactly right, and when he’s been listening to podcasts for too long, he goes and puts on 311. Then he slips back into feeling alright. “Something interesting Senecah is so good at reminding me is- what you focus on elaborates. So when you’re feeling not so much yourself, or like life has a hold on you, don’t give into those feelings. Try to change the thought process to what you’re happy with and those thoughts will take you to your next level up even through your circumstances. That’s an interesting perspective about me that can give you value. Choose your thoughts.”

Something unique about Colin is that he’s really good at making a tree fall down exactly where it should and needs to fall when he has to cut them. ” And honestly- I apologize to every single tree that I cut down.” Guilty pleasure for him is having his moments to himself and time on his own, which he said can sometimes span an entire day or weekend. ” I love that Senecah supports this and is so giving of my me time. I’ll spend it sitting out back by the woodline, or out on my kayak, or out on an early morning shoreline fishing. Just me and my thoughts. Time alone to reset may be a guilty pleasure but it’s a great reset.”

When not listening to the tunes of 311, other artist Colin loves include Oliver Anthony, Sevendust, Incubus, Trivium, and Iya Terra, just to name a few. “There’s so much good music!!!”

For his message to 311, Colin has these words: “You guys helped develop my love for the world. Even as a growing boy and still now as a 40 year old man. I see through a lense of beautiful music and lyrics and have a sense of peace running though me.”

Now his words to all the other 311 fans out in the universe:

“To the fans who find this story, my only hope is that you have found 311 early enough in your development.”

---

Thank you Colin, and Senecah, for helping share this tale with all the other fans out there. My gratitude, as always, goes out to those who read these posts each time. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt