Welcome friends to another 311 fan spotlight! This week we learn the tale of Jason Ritchey!
The story of Jason and his love for 311 starts in 1994 during the “baggy JNCO jeans era.” He was 14 years old, listening to a variety of music from the 90’s – anywhere from old school gangster rap to grunge and nu metal. “My first 311 listen was with my friend Adam who I always had admired his taste of music. Never heard any 311 ever. He had gotten Grassroots from his sister. First listen with him we had gotten hella baked and I was so immersed in the sounds of this album, that I questioned everything I’ve ever listened to as a teen up to this point! I never bought it but borrowed it from him long enough for him to get pissed at me because it was his sisters! The Blue album came out a few months later and I couldn’t believe how much the sound changed and i…totally realized how amazing these five guys were.”
For Jason, his show count as of the year 2021 is 21! He first saw them in 1997 and then didn’t get to see them again until 2016. First show for him was at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, Michigan. “Super small venue! But me and my wife have made up for it ten fold this past 5 years most definitely. We’ve YOLO’d a lot haha!”
Summer Unity Tour in 2016 was a memorable one for Jason and his wife. It was in Freedom Hill, Michigan, and the show was cut short due to lightning. It was also he and his wife’s first show together, and her first show overall. “Her song was and still is Hey You, which was supposed to be played that night how it was cut literally 2 songs before it was played. They made up for it in 2017 with the summer show playing I think 32.” Jason said 2017 was definitely their year as they ended up on the cruise and was able to see them 6 times that year. However, what was the absolute best concert experience for him? “2020 311 Day was and should always be the best experience I’ve ever had.”
One song that Jason loves is “Let the Cards Fall.” “I did cry at sail away show 1 of the 2019 311 cruise to Let the Cards Fall…I adore that song so much and it was the first time I’ve seen it live.” As for song lyrics, he loves the story that’s told in “What Do You Do.” “The story Nick speaks in that song, I’ve always been so intrigued by.” Jason also said Count SA gets him going with the lyrics in “Galaxy” and “Existential Hero.”
Jason grew up in a fairly small town in Brooklyn, Michigan, with the population being around 1000. “The most boring town in south central MI that felt like we were so far away from civilization haha! No music stores, 2 fast food restaurants and 2 stop lights. Tons of lakes around thought, so lots of lake time as a kid.” At 20 years old he moved out of the state and ended up in Minnesota via Twin Cities. “What a beautiful and thrilling state it is. Totally flipped 180 from small town life. I lived there for my entire 20’s. Moved back to MI when I started dating my now wife whom she and I had known since we were teens in Brooklyn. We had 2 wonderful boys that are now 8 and 10. Life is so good!”
Fun fact about Jason…his nickname in high school was Puff. ” My hair does not grow long and straight, it grows out like a white boy afro. I keep it short!” As for special talent, he’s always had a knack for trying to figure out how the weather works. “I used to watch the weather channel every day as a kid, like 8 years old. My mom thought it was so weird. I know so much about it. I wanted to be a meteorologist for a very long time. I think it was because of my grandpa, he would sit with me in the garage as a toddler and watch storms roll through.”
There are many styles of rock and hip hop that Jason loves. Lately he’s been getting into music from RTJ and the Chicago group Palmer Squares. He also enjoys Parkway Drive, Deftones, YYY’s and Tropidelic. “Mindless self Indulgence, always keeping an open mind.”
For guilty pleasure, he said he and his wife have a healthy (or unhealthy) obsession with pin collecting. “All music, mostly 311. We have it covering our entire dining room wall. And concert posters. My favorite being the 311 Day ’18 and ’20 live full prints custom framed and all the live from the hive autographed posters. We need more wall space!”
To 311, Jason has these words: “Man, so…guys, please continue to be yourselves. It is because of this I feel that I have made myself to be the person I am. To thine own selves be true.”
Now his words to all his fellow fans:
“Thanks to every 311 fan that I have ever met, it’s been a pleasure to be part of this beautiful disaster. And I hope to be a positive piece of any one of your lives. Take care of yourselves and strive for others.”
Many thanks to Jason for sharing your story! Gratitude goes out as always to all the readers of this little blog. I hope you all have an amazing week! Stay positive & love your life!
Much Love – The Runt