Hey everyone! Welcome to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet spotlight #295 – Linnea Geres!
It was around the age of 12 that Linnea was introduced to 311 by her older brother. He lent her copies of Grassroots and the blue album and said, “Here listen to this, you’re gonna like it.” Linnea said she did like it, but it was more of a slow burn for her at first. “There were some songs that drew me in right away, but a lot of it went right over my head for a while. That all changed for me in high school. I bought Soundsystem and Evolver, absolutely loved those albums from start to finish, and then went back to the older albums with a whole new appreciation for the music. Somewhere along the way it all just clicked for me: the message, the energy, the sound, and I got hooked. When I finally saw them live for the first time, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed every minute of it, and I knew, without a doubt, that 311 was my favorite band. It didn’t happen all at once, but over the course of several years. As I grew into the music, suddenly, in that moment when I saw them live, I was home.”
First show for Linnea was March 1, 2010, at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. “At the time, I had been living out there for a year and was planning to move back to Connecticut at the end of the month. I think I just happened to see an ad for the show in a local paper and decided to go check it out, like a fun last hurrah before moving back home. I had no idea that night would turn out to be one of the best nights of my life!” Since then she’s attended just over 30 shows including Pow Wow, 3 of the cruises, and two 311 Day celebrations in New Orleans. “Basically, any money I’ve had to spend on fun and entertainment for the last decade, I’ve spent on 311-related adventures and concerts, and it’s been worth every penny! Honestly, there is no place I would rather be than a 311 concert.”
Favorite show for Linnea is difficult to pick with all of the great experiences she’s had. She decided it would be a tie between Pow Wow and her first cruise which was in 2012. “The Pow Wow was my first experience at a large 311 event and also my first music festival, and while it was ridiculously hot, I had the best time I could have ever imagined. I met so many amazing people, and Suwannee at night was out-of-this-world beautiful, not to mention having the opportunity to hear Transistor in its entirety. Similarly, the cruise was just beyond words, and that’s where I really felt like I became a part of this incredible 311 community. The show they played on the beach was a once in lifetime experience, and even just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!”
One of Linnea’s favorite songs, that means a lot to her, is “Speak Easy.” “Through many difficult times in my life, I have put this song on to remind me not to think too much or let my sadness, fear, or anger lead me down the wrong path. I’ve battled with anxiety and depression for most of my life and this song has always given me the strength I need to slow down and allow the difficult thoughts and feelings to pass.” Another song she loves is “Get Down.” “When I saw them in Boston in 2016, just before the show someone asked me what one song I’d like to hear, and I said “Get Down.” Sure enough, they played it, and it just hit me hard, unlocking all of this unspoken pain inside of me so I could finally let it out. I was going through some difficult changes in my life, and it was like this crazy, beautiful moment just for me. I’ll never forget that.”
For lyrics that Linnea loves, she chose the following:
“If there’s a shadow in your life, then there’s sunshine, things turning inside out all the time, just rewind, it’s all in your mind.”
“From chaos comes clarity.”
“Love is a stream that will find its own course.”
“Everything you do, it comes back to you, whatever it may be. If it isn’t one thing, rest assured that something will come back and pay you for your deed.”
Linnea was born and raised in central Connecticut right near Hartford. She attended University of Connecticut and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Film Studies and Psychology. After graduation, she moved to Seattle for about a year before returning to CT in 2010. “I found my way into a good restaurant job when I moved back and worked my way up into bartending for the last several years, but ultimately, I’m aiming for a career in video production/editing or something where I can flex my creative muscles in the communications field. The money bartending has been quite good for me, though, and has pretty much funded all of my 311 adventures!”
Aside from going to concerts, other hobbies Linnea has include playing guitar, writing poetry and short stories, photography, and hiking. “I also love board games. I have a whole bookcase dedicated to them! I have two cats and a fish tank, and S.A. is the name of one of my fish! I love stand-up comedy, and I like to think I’m pretty funny, but I don’t know… my cats can’t laugh, so my humor is pretty much wasted on them. To sum it up, I’m just a fun-loving hippie chick, and the first thing anyone who knows me would probably say about me is that I’m the crazy cool girl who loves 311 (well, and cats… and pizza).”
Interesting fact about Linnea is that she experiences lucid dreaming. “I’m not sure exactly when it started, but at some point, I realized I was experiencing a dream while still conscious that I was dreaming, and from there I just started playing around with what I was able to do in my dreams. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, I just become highly aware that I’m dreaming and know that I can then actively make decisions and choices throughout my dream. It’s definitely a weird experience, but now I just have fun and roll with it.”
Something that makes Linnea unique is her ability to work with space in a purposefully creative way. “Whether it be how I design my living room to how I frame the subject
of a photograph. I think that affinity for spatial awareness is what first drew me to video production, and subsequently, to photography and graphic design. I love playing with the use of space and framing in an image, and I mirror that aesthetic in all of my creative endeavors. I would love nothing more working on the cinematography and editing of a 311 video project… a girl can dream… lol.”
Linnea said, “If I was a pie chart, music would probably make up half of that chart.” Needless to say, she loves music and there are many, many artists that she loves. Some of her favorites are The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Queen, Collective Soul, Less Than Jake, Atmosphere, Halsey, Incubus, Modest Mouse, Porcupine Tree, Slightly Stoopid, Deep Banana Blackout, Paramore, and Sublime. She also has a musical guilty pleasure – Avril Lavigne! “I’ve always said that my guilty pleasure was Avril Lavigne, but, honestly, I don’t even see it that way anymore. I love her, and I’m not afraid to say it! She kicks ass!!”
To 311, Linnea has these words: “. Music is a journey of the heart and soul; thank you for shining a light on the path that speaks to mine.”
To all the other fans out there:
“To all of my amazing 311 friends and family, thank you for welcoming me into this incredible community with open arms. I have grown so much as a person through all the crazy experiences and wonderful friendships, and I wouldn’t change any of it for a minute! It’s definitely a strange time to be alive, but I’m glad to know that there’s so many other people just like me because we have an energy that can change the world 🙂 Keep Livin and Rockin!”
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What a great story Linnea! Thank you so much for sharing it and of course, many thanks to all the readers! Take a moment today to remember that we are all on this crazy ride together, and for that we should be truly grateful. Have an amazing week!
Much Love – The Runt