Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Happy Halloween 2022! It’s time for the next fan spotlight. Let’s hear it for Mario Ramirez!
For Mario, it was after seeing 311 live for the first time that he became an instant fan. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but I felt like the music went through me. The day after the show I went to the music store and bought all the 311 CDs they had.”
For show count, Mario has seen them 111 times. His first show was just after graduating high school, during the summer of 1995 at Hospitality Point in San Diego. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it was possibly an MTV Rock the Vote show.”
As for picking a favorite show or event, Mario said he really doesn’t have an answer because he has so many great memories over the years from all of them. ” I’ve gotten to this amount of shows because that is how much I love what these five dudes do to me musically. I’ve seen multiple 311 Days which are epic! If I had to single out two particular events, it would be the 2019 cruise, because two months before I boarded the ship I found out the mass on back of my head was not cancerous. The other event would be the October 2021 Red Rocks show because it was not only a bucket list venue for me, but three weeks prior I successfully had the tumor removed from the back of my head. I decided to go to that show on my own for myself.”
One of Mario’s favorite songs is “Cali Soca.” “The reason why I’m choosing this particular song is because as 311 fans we all know that Nick and SA can sing and rap their asses off. This song does not include lyric it is just an instrumental. It is beautiful music to me. It is just the five of them making music. Whenever I play music, I tend to play this song first because it’s just a beautiful calypso summer song to me. I finally got to see this song performed live on night two at 311 Day 2022. That put the icing on the cake.”
As for a favorite lyric from 311, Mario said this line really strikes a chord with him: “I’d say you hung the moon if they asked me.” Mario then stated, “That’s just some smooth shit right there!”
Mario was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up in a very loving home with parents and sister. Being from San Diego, he is a huge Padres fan. “From the words of Eek-A-Mouse, “I love my city because it’s very pretty.” I say that because it is a privilege to live in Paradise. My trade is in the construction industry. I am fortunate that my career allows me to fund this 311 thing that I can’t get enough of.”
Fun fact about Mario is that he grew up surfing. Something that makes him unique? Mario said he’s a muse! “I make shit happen for myself and for others. I’m snazztastic! In all seriousness, I’m a halfway decent golfer.” Guilty pleasure for him is professional wrestling. “I grew up watching it with my dad, he was kind enough to order all wresting pay-per-views and took me to many shows. As I got older, I gave it up. The summer before my tumor surgery professional wresting came back into my left with a vengeance and I fucking love it!”
When not jamming the tunes of 311, one of the other artists that Mario really digs is Ozomatli. “One of the highlights of the 2019 cruise was seeing Ozomatli perform on the deck. I also like Little Stranger, reggae music in general, jazz, standards such as Frank Sinatra, and The Pharcyde.”
Mario would like to send this simple and wonderful message to the guys in 311: “Thank you for giving me beautiful music since 1995.”
Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:
“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”
Many thanks to Mario for sharing your story with us all! As per the usual, I can’t go a week without thanking all the awesome people who read this little project. I wish you all an amazing week and a very spooky Halloween!
Much Love – The Runt