Welcome back excitable friends! It’s time for edition 275 of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s all read the story of Mike Tomlin!
It was the fall of 1995 when Mike first heard the melody of “Down” and he was hooked immediately. “I remember jamming out to it. I was big into rap at the time and was drawn to the music by some cosmic force.” Then a friend let him borrow the Grassroots CD. “I never returned the CD and still have it. I went out a couple weeks later and picked up Music and the Blue album.”
While Mike didn’t keep accurate track of his show count, he went back and looked to tally it up and he’s currently at 21. His first show was supposed to be at the 9:30 Club in D.C. back in 1996 but he ended up having to work that night. So his first show was delayed until September 1999 when he finally saw them at the HFStival in D.C. He then saw them again that same year in Virginia Beach while he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, serving in the U.S. Navy.
Favorite show or event for him is a tie between 311 Day 2016 in New Orleans and the 2019 cruise. “Both were unique experiences in the own way. 311 day ’16 we sat in front of Scott Homebrew and we found out we only lived 30 minutes from each other. Yet we met each other in NOLA. Scott introduced us to all the social media groups and a lot of hard core fans. We finally found our home with the Excitable ones.”
The song that means the most to him is “Love Song.” “I know cheesy, but this was me and my wife Leann’s first dance at our wedding, which was 4/12/08 (Nick Hexum’s birthday).” One of his favorite lines comes from a current favorite, “Too Late” – “At the end of the day the relentless always win.”
Mike grew up on a farm in Frederick County, Maryland. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1997 until 2001 and did two tours to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf. He still currently lives in Frederick and is going into his 18th year working as a Quality Analyst with Wells Fargo. “I had a five year streak when I would win tickets from DC101 for shows because I was poor, but now I can save like an adult for shows.”
Interesting fact about Mike is that he cooked in restaurants for about 15 years and was an Executive Chef at his cousins restaurant. “I really didn’t think I was qualified for that title but my cousin gave me the title for a TV spot we did.”
Guilty pleasure for Mike is classical music. “Often when needing to meet deadlines at work I will blast it to concentrate.” Aside from classical and 311, other music that Mike enjoys includes Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Nick Hexum Quintet, Motley Crue, Twiztid, Tech Nine, and Jewel.
Mike was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis back in 2007 and he has spent the last 13 years volunteering with with National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “I have cycled my first bike MS century (100 miles, yes on a bicycle) in 2011, and have completed at least one century per year since. I have a FB page dedicated to tracking my history and spreading awareness. www.Facebook.com/MikeBikesforMS”
On the cruise Mike was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do the beer tasting with SA and Pnut. “I told SA that I was thankful that they focused on positiveness in their music and I asked P nut when they are going to release a CBD beer. This was because when I was 19 a local brewery in Frederick had a beer called Hempin Ale brewed with Hemp seeds.”
Mike has these words to all his fellow 311 fans:
“I am thankful for the fans for keeping the positivity going for all these years. Continue to love one another. The world needs it more than ever.”
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Thanks for sharing your story Mike! A great story it was. Everyone go check out his Facebook page when you have a chance. Much gratitude as always to all the readers each time. Have an amazing week & keep on smiling!
Much Love – The Runt