Well hello again my friends out there in Excitable Nation! Here we are, time for a new fan spotlight! Let’s meet Andrew Dean!
It was around 1997-98 that Andrew was first introduced to 311, when his friends who were about 2 years older than him showed him the “Enlarged To Show Detail” VHS tape. “They were into bands like Incubus, Primus, Korn and Deftones. At the time, I mainly listened to West Coast Gangster Rap, R&B with a side of Pop Rock. The transition between those genres and 311 seemed to blend together just fine because I was slowly opening up to a heavier Rock and Metal style of music along with the funky rap style of Nick and SA just felt right. Mix in the reggae vibes and by 2000, I definitely became a Brodel. The one thing that keeps me a fan after almost 30 years is that with every album they release, you never know what direction they’re going to take next. They always keep it fresh. Funky fresh.”
As for show count, Andrew said he really didn’t start keeping track until about 2010, when he began collecting ticket stubs. “Anyone remember those?” Taking a guess, he believes he’s around 20 shows. First show was the summer Unity Tour in 2003 with G. Love, at Fiddlers Green in Denver with about 6 of his friends. “I was such a “fun-guy” that night, much of the evening did not get stored in my brains hard drive. Rookie move.”
To pick a favorite show stumped Andrew a little, because it’s a tough one for most. He did pick one, but also picked a runner up. ” New Years Eve 2017 at The Marquee in Phoenix deserves to be runner up. The whole balloon drop at midnight was such a cool and intimate vibe with it being in such a small club. And, add to the fact that it was a show that started at night and ended in the early AM made it even cooler. Before that, it had always been in arenas or amphitheaters. As for my favorite/most memorable show, it has to be Reggae On the Rocks 2016. I wasn’t even supposed to go. I had been visiting home and I had a friend drop me off up at Red Rocks with no ticket in hand. I waited outside all 3 entry gates asking for a spare ticket with every intention to buy one. Never did score one, but the entry attendant spotted me trying, we worked a deal and I was in just in time for 311 to start. By the end of the night, I was 3rd row back, made a cameo appearance on the once ‘couch tour’ stream to say hi to my girlfriend Jennica AND secured P-Nuts setlist. Ended up being a pretty crazy night. For “Event” I’d have to say 3/11 Day Vegas 2018. The people we met and the memories we made during those few days in the house we rented have become lifelong friends. It was almost like we already knew each other. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
For a favorite song, for a long time it was always “Use of Time” for Andrew. “I love everything about it. When miT strums those first chords I get goosebumps, every time.” However, now, out of every song they’ve made, his fave is “8:16 A.M.” for one very special reason. “I locked down my best friend and the love of my life, Jennica. In the beginning of our relationship we were long-distance video dating. One day during a conversation she didn’t believe me that I was a fan of 311 and could spit some bars. Well, here we are 10 years later and I’m still the first thing that she sees when she wakes up. Tremensley.”
As for a lyric that resonates with Andrew, he said one that’s always at the top of his list is “Can you hear the void I describe? What can I say vacancy sounds like.” “Some bad decisions that I made at different points in my life, left me in the company of just myself and it resonated with me. Another one that I’ll always remember is “Eat smoked fish. Thats my favorite dish.” Like, what did he just say?!? It took me YEARS to finally figure out what he was actually saying.”
Andrew was born & raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When he was 24 he moved to Iowa for a few years. “The winters there were undesirable and the summers were way too humid for me, so I left for the sunshine in Santa Barbara. I eventually ended up back home in CO about a year later. Halloween 2015, I took a trip down to AZ for a TOOL show and decided after that, that’s where I wanted to be. I ended up spending about 5 years in AZ, basically living inside an oven set at 450 degrees, before deciding to settle in NH. I love it here and I’ll be sticking around until it’s off to the next plane, soul remains.”
Andrew never went to college after high school. Instead he started working jobs anywhere and everywhere that he could find because he wanted to move out on his own. “In-house maintenance repair for apartments, mobile audio installer, painter, fast food, street pharmacist, construction labor, factory work, landscaping and snow removal to name a few. I don’t ever recall getting help from family or friends to go to shows, so it was definitely up to me to come up with funds if there was ever a show I wanted to see. Prices were decent, so it didn’t hurt as bad as they do now.”
Fun fact about Andrew, he is still the only person he knows who at 14 years old hiked to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. “My grandfather was a member of a running club that would run the Pikes Peak Marathon Accent/Decent and one summer for his training he took me with him up the trail for pre-race scouting. It started out real fun, but by the time we got to the summit it was exhausting and I was completely over it. When I turned 19, I ended up getting a job working maintenance for the Pikes Peak Summit/Highway. I spent my whole childhood staring at the peak from our front window of our house, so it was pretty rad to be staring at my home from the top.” Oh and there’s something else. “One more thing and not to toot my own horn here, but Earth Wind and Fire‘s song “September” may or may not have been about me being born. “Do you remember, the 21st night of September?” Just saying. No need to fact check that. LOL”
Andrew said that he’s pretty boring as he grows older. “I mean, leaving the house to “public” nowadays pretty much requires an internal pep talk. For junior high and high school, I played in the Jazz, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and Marching Band, so I am pretty confident that if handed a trumpet or saxophone I could pick back up where I left off given an opportunity. Hobbies and such kinda come and go for me. Work consumes my life, so I try to enjoy the times I get to kick back and appreciate this life. 311 Cruise ‘25, here we come!!” Guilty pleasure for him? “No one is going to read this right? I LOVE a good fist pump while watching Jersey Shore! GTL! I’ve also been known to dabble in the world of the Supernatural. Baby sure is a sweet ‘67 Chevy. Oh, and I love cats now and am accepting that.”
As for other musicians that Andrew loves, he said he only listens to 311. “Sike. I literally listen to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Even Polka. Yup, I said it. Music has been running through my veins since I was born. This list is in NO WAY complete and I could no doubt make this the longest answer EVER for a question, but I’ll do my best to limit it. The most consistant and favorite bands/artists in my life would be: TOOL, Underworld, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Deftones, Everything But The Girl, Devin The Dude, Scarface, DJ Quik, Bone Thugs N Harmony, LTJ Bukem, NIN, The Chemical Brothers, Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Garth Brooks, Phil Collins, Kenny G., Funkdoobiest, Cypress Hill, Twista, Incubus, Chevelle, Duke Ellington, The Hip Abduction, Dirty Heads, Sasha & Digweed, Limp Bizkit, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, The Prodigy, Skankin’ Pickle, NOFX, Mozart, RATM, Sade, Tracy Chapman, 2Pac, Above & Beyond, Alcest, Al Green, AiC, Angus and Julia Stone, Aphex Twin, Beastie Boys, Crosby/Stills/Nash, Hall and Oats, David Gilmour, Diamond Rio, Restless Heart, Shania Twain, Jurassic 5, Korn. Ok, Ok…you get the picture. I’d be happy to talk music with anyone ANYTIME! Granted, I’m not too up-to-date on the stuff those kids nowadays listen to, but I’m always down for conversation.”
For his words to 311, Andrew said as cliche as it sounds, he would say Thank You. “The songs they have created and the lyrics they have given to the world have no doubt helped me shape the person who I am today.”
Now here are his words to all the other fans out in the universe:
“To all my Brodels and Slinky Ladies- Always remember to love yourself and to quote Bill S. Preston (Esquire) and Ted Theodore Logan, “Be excellent to each other!” SPALYL!!”
Super big thanks to Andrew for sharing his story with us all! Per the usual, my undying gratitude to all the readers each week. Hope you all are well and have an amazing week!
Much Love,
The Runt
