Welcome back friends and fans of 311! It’s about that time that we meet a brand new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Jeffry Chambers!
Jeffry’s story starts when he was living in his brothers basement, recovering from his divorce, and his four kids stayed with him every other week. After some time he got his own place again and as he said, “the world began to turn more perfectly on its axis.” Since Jeffry felt a little more secure he began to self medicate but only when the kids weren’t around. “They busted me anyway and let me know by introducing me to this band that openly sang about weed. It was interesting but not quite like my favorite Steely Dan style. Christmas they gave me “From Chaos” and my musical world changed forever. I listened to it every Sunday during what I called “kitchen church”. Head nodding and solo kitchen mosh pit became a religious experience.”
Jeffry was happy with just that CD for some time until a friend of his, Tim Zinkan, whom he calls the “true master of ceremonies,” told him that there was so much more to 311. “Learned about iTunes and downloaded 9 of their other albums to my computer in one setting. I had found my bible. Was given Stereolithic long cd by my people who went to 311 day 2014. I have had 311on shuffle exclusively for three trips to Florida and back as well as for my own listening pleasure at home. The number of plays is amazing as well as the fact they are still fresh and enjoyable. Would have to say the fact that my kids were so into them was the first draw and then “Champagne” and “I’ll Be Here Awhile” filled me with lyrical and musical joy.”
Show count for Jeffry isn’t the highest but he’s loved every one he’s been to. First show for him was in 2005 in Indianapolis and The Roots opened. “Drove an old motorhome to it. My youngest son was a senior and wanted to know if he and his friends could go back in the back and burn one on the way? Youngest daughter was with us so it was kinda uncomfortable. She said “don’t worry about it Dad it’s all good”. And it was and is. Even as a straight designated driver who was fretting about his kids taking on one of the habits that their mother disapproved of 311 (The Guys) made me want to bounce. Got bad knees so had to fake bounce. Sure felt the music.” Jeffry also attended a show in Cincinnati and went on the 2015 cruise, which he said was his absolute favorite. “A highlight of my life.”
Some songs that Jeffry loves are “Beyond the Gray Sky” and “Made In The Shade.” Some lyrics he loves are: ““I got a mind full of weapons in the battle of me versus myself,” “Can you get with a melding of two minds? What’s the worst thing you could find? A paper trail that prevails in demystification. People want to believe in mysteries. Is the truth so bad?”
About Jeffry, he said like the song “Trouble” again, he’s just a kid from the middle. He had horses growing up so shoveling “natures best” and wanting to be a cowboy is how he spent his formative years. He left town after high school for 10 years to try and be a cowboy. “ Colorado, Wyoming, Lake Tahoe, San Jose, realized the limitations of wrangling came back to Indiana got married had four kids wanted to and still want to be a singer songwriter musician. Didn’t help my marriage but remain signed on to musical aspirations for life. My songs are a little too country to fit the 311 but I bet “the guys” would do them proud.”
An interesting fact about Jeffry? “Other than being Dad to some awesome people, I’m just ‘tall that’s all’.” As far as what makes him unique, he said he may be the oldest 311 fan. “I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want some of that”! (From an In Living Color episode.) Some of you may remember it.”
Some other musicians that Jeffry loves include Steely Dan, Here Come The Mummies, The Green, Frank Zappa, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Guilty pleasure for him is playing bass and pretending he’s a non-jumping Pnut to some of the songs on “Don’t Tread On Me.” He also has a Thursday night board meeting with some classmates and has only missed 8 of them. “ All the problems in the world are continually solved and opinions are tolerated while beer remains the binding elixir. Females and sports are replaced somewhat, by blood pressure, prostate, blood sugar, etc. Tolerance of our differences and the love for one another make the pleasure stronger than the hangover that grows as the number of barley pops decline.”
To 311, these are Jeffry’s words: “ “I’m not saying you’re greater than Jesus” but your songs help guide my life!”
To all of Jeffry’s fellow fans:
“Just be a good person, follow the “Golden Rule” whether it is reciprocated or not!”
—————
What an awesome story! Thank you so much Jeffry for sharing your tale of your love for 311. As always, many thanks to everyone for reading. Have an amazing 4th of July week! Summer is here!
Much love – The Runt