311 Fan Spotlight – 11/7/16 – Megan Colby!

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Hey hey hey excitable brodels and slinkies! Welcome again to the 311 fan spotlight. This week we meet the lovely Megan Colby!

Just like many other fans, the blue album is where Megan’s love for 311 began. “Hearing Down on the radio – how completely different it sounded from other music that was out there at the time – I was enthralled and eventually hooked!” It was winter 1995 and Megan received the CD as a Christmas gift from the family she babysat for. “I listened through it a zillion times, read through all the liner notes, stared at the photos in the CD booklet, and it quickly became a favorite.”

Amount of shows she’s been to, well she hasn’t really kept count, but her guesstimate is somewhere between 25 to 35. First show was back in 2000 when the band toured with Incubus. She saw them at the Pine Knob Amphitheater in Clarkston, Michigan. Like many, she had trouble narrowing down a favorite show and said there are many faves for a variety of reasons. “311 Day 2010 because it’s the day Chris and I got married and the entire day was pretty magical. The very first show on the first cruise was exciting and fun because it was so special – I mean, who else gets to see their favorite band on a freaking cruise ship surrounded by a bunch of other Excitables?!  Pow Wow was amazing because we met soooooo many new friends on that adventure. However, I’ve never rocked out harder than at the Atlanta Halloween show in 2010 – that was hands-down the best last-minute spontaneous trip of all time.”

The song “Electricity” means a great deal to Megan. Every time she hears it she gets goosebumps! “That song truly expresses how I feel about the human race. We are all one. We are all the same. We should treat others with respect and be open to others’ experiences.” Some of her favorite lyrics are this – “Life’s not a race.” “It’s a great reminder to take time to dream, to meditate, to take things slow, and to stay grounded.”

Southern California is the location of Megan’s birth, then right before her 2nd grade year, her family moved to Michigan. “Our house was on the outskirts of the bustling metropolis of Mt. Pleasant, which is smack dab in the middle of the mitten and at least 2 hours drive to anywhere you’d want to see a good band back then.” Megan attended college at Central Michigan University, where she met her now husband, Chris Colby, through mutual friends that are also 311 fans. “I still remember the day my friend Ron Hegenauer told me that 311 was going to be playing at CMU – that was CRAZY!!” Megan graduated and moved to Florida with Chris and their dog Bella. In 2010 they were married and they now have a 4 year old named Nicholas, whom she says is the most exciting part of their daily lives. For work, Megan is at a audio/video marketing business based in Tampa Bay. “I’m proud to be a part of a company that’s grown so much over the 11 years I’ve worked there.”

A fact most people don’t know, Megan used to be a cheerleader! She’s also pretty crafty and can sew. “I’ve made lots of jewelry, purses, clothing, costumes, curtains, and other crafts throughout the years. This year my big project was a blanket out of dozens of 311 shirts that Chris and I have collected over the years.”  Guilty pleasure for her comes in two forms – she loves Michael Jackson and wandering the aisles of Target by herself!

When not listening to 311, Megan can be found jamming out to artists like Rebelution, Beastie Boys, Beats Antique, Rage Against the Machine, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, CAKE, The Prodigy, Dirty Heads, DJ Shadow, Black Keys, Tool, Radiohead, Pretty Lights, Incubus, Beck, Jurassic 5, Gorillaz, Jack White (in any form), Silversun Pickups, Stick Figure, Weezer, lots of different 80-90s punk.

Megan’s message to 311? “The couple of times I’ve had an opportunity to talk to them, I’ve always said, “Thank you.” So I’ll say it again – thanks for doing what you love and including all of the fans on your adventures – it truly means the world!”

Megan’s message to all the other 311 fans:

“I never thought I would be so close with people I see only once or twice a year. I’m so glad to have made friends as amazing as all of you, and I can’t wait for our next adventure together!”

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That was the story of Megan Colby! Very much thanks to Megan and the readers. You are all amazing and give me something to look forward to every week! Until next time…

Much Love – The Runt