Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s a new week and that means we get to learn the story of another awesome fan. Let’s meet Rachel Milstein Varney!
High school is when Rachel became a fan of 311, in 1997, when she heard “Come Original” on the radio. “I was drawn to the uplifting beats and the positivity in their lyrics, and drawn especially to the hot lead singer! ;)”
Show count is unknown for Rachel, as she never really kept track. She dis say it’s quite a few. First show for her was Edgefest on June 29, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As for favorite show or event she’s been to, she said it’s a tie between the second cruise beach show, Pow Wow, and the last Red Rocks show.
While picking a favorite song is difficult, Rachel said that right now it’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” “It is such a beautiful display of remembrance and always gets me choked up when I see it live. ‘Freak out’ is my other favorite, played live, it’s such a display of high energy.”
Some of Rachel’s favorite lyrics include: “Let the cards fall, let the cards fall where they may, all I can do, all I can say. Gotta move to trust my instincts, and surrender and let my song sing itself,” “I believe in your purpose baby, coming up to the surface,” “Stay positive and love your life,” and “This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where Rachel was born& raised, and she is still residing there. Growing up it was just she and her mother, so she had a lot of time to herself while her mom worked. “I remember using her tape deck to record songs from the radio. I would call in to request the song and wait with my fingers on the play/record button to record to my cassette. 🙂 (the original download, I guess)”
Rachel’s mom took her to her first concert when she was 8 years old, and it was Randy Travis, who her mom loved. “I fell in love with the concert scene! As soon as I was old enough to choose my own music, I started purchasing albums from 311, STP, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc. As soon as she let me, I went to my first show. It was Edgefest, with 311/Gravity Kills/Incubus, Smashmouth, Limp Biskit and many more! I had the best time and knew festivals were going to be “my thing”!”
In 2002, Rachel was working for a parking garage, so she ended up listening to the radio all day long. “With that comes many many opportunities to win all the things! I got sooooo good at winning, the promotions manager and I were on a first name basis. She’d even call me if I hadn’t won tickets to a show and offer me the meet and greet options with a pair of tickets! I won tickets to every show I could and even had to start using my friend’s names when I won in order to follow the station’s rules. One time, my sister in law jokingly asked me to win her some tickets. (in this case it was actually to a 311 show, so it’s an even cooler story here!!!!) We turned on the radio while hanging out and I got the cue to call about 20 minutes in. I got through as caller 10 or 3 or 5 or whatever it was that day, and was told I had won!!!!! When I told the DJ what had transpired, they almost didn’t let me win, but instead had me hand the phone to my sister in law so she could claim the prize! LOL The next week, the day of the show, she got the call that she had won a meet and greet with 311!!!!! Of course being a fan, she asked me to go… but my boss wouldn’t let me leave early so I had to miss it!!! She told the guys about the whole thing when she met them, and they made a point to autograph a paper especially for me with a couple of personal messages!”
For the 6 years that Rachel worked for that parking garage, she won a ton of tickets, which meant she really didn’t pay for a lot of shows during that time. Then she started adulting, working for a District Attorney’s office, and she didn’t have the radio time she had before. “I also realized that festivals and concerts aren’t cheap! Thankfully we had a 2 income household that supported my concert habit and I realized quickly how important it is to always have concert/travel savings! These days I own my own business as a Canna-yoga instructor. I educate people in cannabis, yoga and mindfulness modalities helping to instill a sense of wellness, wholeness and to help create a connection with their innate ability to heal from within. www.leafandlotus.org”
In 2011 Rachel and her boyfriend went to the Pow Wow Festival, and that’s how she turned him into a fan as well. “He was so blown away to be in an alcohol infused space, and to not see one fight! The only incident we witnessed the entire weekend was a chick shoving her man down the road as she yelled at him…. that was it! He quickly recognized how amazing the band is and the unity they evoke through their vibe and tribe! Since then, he and I have been traveling to see 311, catching them any opportunity we can. On the riverside in Jamaica during the 2015 311 cruise, after 17 years together, he finally proposed to me and this 2023 cruise will be our 5th time cruising with the band!”
A fact that many don’t know about Rachel is that she gets a ton of anxiety in social situations. “Most of the time I power through and appear to be a social butterfly!” Something that gives her a unique element is that she’s a really great teacher and guide, in Cannabis and Yoga. “I can help others find their perfect cannabis pairings to achieve their desired results and have been told many times I am an amazing yoga instructor.” As for guilty pleasure, Rachel said that it’s definitely traveling. “As often and as far as possible for as long as possible.”
For other musicians, Rachel can often be found listening to a wide array of artists, including Nirvana, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Gravity Kills, Tool, Samuel J, Satsang, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Hirie, Aer, Tropidelic & Ballyhoo. The last four bands she mentioned she found through 311ing.
For her message to 311, Rachel would like to say these words: ““Please don’t break up! Be the example of how we can be unified with others even when our views, ideologies and /or moral values do not line up. Be the example of how it takes all types to work together to transmute negativity, to educate and inform and how to love and accept each other, despite our differences.”
Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“Hey You! Life’s Not a Race! I’ve Got a Good Feeling that your Purpose isn’t Plain. We’ve come Light Years to Tune In, Reconsider Everything and Seal the Deal. Stay Strong All Along, Wake Your Mind Up and Thank Your Lucky Stars for the opportunities we’ve been given in this life! Mad respect to all the 311-est excitables in this community! Stay Positive and Love Your Life!”
Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her 311 story! Of course, many thanks to all the readers each week as well. Sending you all light & love, hope you have an amazing week.
Much Love – The Runt