Welcome back Excitable nation! Shall we get to the newest edition of the 311 Fan Spotlight? This week we. meet the other half of last week’s spotlight – David Tucker!
When David first started dating his wife Ammi in 2000, she was always listening to 311. “I think she was probably the biggest fan in our area. I was more into hip hop / rock / rap music. She introduced me to 311 music. I didn’t get into them at first. But the more I listened to them, the more I realized they were mixing in some of my favorite music genres. I then became a fan. After my first show, I was hooked.”
Show count for David is at 18, that includes four 311 Day events and the last cruise. First show for him was June 24, 2000, at the Mud island Amphitheatre in Memphis, Tennessee. “It was the Summer Tour that had Incubus as their opening act. Side note: I was really looking forward to the 20-year reunion tour in 2020. Stupid Covid got in the way. I’m hoping that reunion still happens.”
Picking a favorite show was tough for David as he said every show is electric. “311 Day and the Cruise are both experiences that every fan must have at some point. But, I would say that my favorite show has to be the Transistor Album show in Chicago on October 23, 2022. When Omaha Stylee was played, everyone in the place rocked in unison. I will forever remember that moment. It was amazing.”
Picking a song that means the most to him was also difficult for David. “I think every 311 fan has been attached to a different song at different moments of their lives. I have several that have gotten me through good and bad times. I think lately I can relate to “Don’t Stay Home” the most. Growing up, I chose to stay home many times. It was my comfort zone. Looking back, I realize that I missed a lot of things going on around me. Then, during my early career and when my first 2 boys were little, we had no choice but to stay home. Now, in this season of my life, I want to experience everything that I can experience. Life is too short to miss the little things. I would tell anyone that is in that situation, go enjoy life. You have your entire life to make money. Trust me, I get it. I rode the struggle bus for many years. I know budgets are tight. But, 5 years from now, which is more important, $50 or a night of memories that you will have forever.”
A lyric that has stuck with David since this last cruise is from the song “My Stoney Baby” – “I want your fish right by me, that’s how it has to be.” “My wife made a pretty cool sticker and shirt with that lyric on it. But I also have so many other ones that I love as well.”
Northeast Arkansas, in a small town, is where David grew up. He’s been there his entire life. “We didn’t have a lot growing up, but our needs were met. We had a close knit family. As a kid, I always loved art and music. My tastes changed many times, but those two things remained. I was a band kid. I played the alto saxophone and was the drum major in my senior year of high school. I played in a local college band before deciding that path wasn’t for me at that time.”
A few years later David found his calling as a funeral director and he’s been in that profession since 2004. “It feels good to help people make their final decisions to respectfully honor their loved ones. I decided a couple years ago to continue my education by graduating with my bachelor’s degree in December and entering the MBA program in January. My wife and I have four boys. They are 16, 14, and two are 6-year-old twins. The oldest two are band kids that both play saxophone. They are way better than I have ever thought about being. All four have been exposed to 311 and other bands that we like. We are hoping to one day take them to a 311 concert. We are trying to open every door possible for our children to experience things that we didn’t and give them options for their own lives. I am happy to be where I am today in my life.”
Interesting fact about David is that he didn’t learn how to swim until he was 16 years old. “I always had a fear of water. I still have a healthy fear. I still remember the day I decided that I was going to either learn how to swim or die trying. We had a local hotel with a pool. During the summer, for $5, they would let you swim all day. Living in Northeast Arkansas, there wasn’t much else to do. So, one thing that I always noticed while being in the shallow end of the pool was that I was always surrounded by little kids. The deep end was where my friends and the pretty girls were. One summer day at that hotel pool, I told my brothers that I was jumping in the deep end and to come get me if I don’t come up. Before they realized what I just told them, I jumped into the deep end. As expected, I went to the bottom but then came up out of the water. I was swimming. It was doggy pedaling, but it was still swimming. I didn’t drown. When I opened my eyes, I realized that my brothers were on each side of me. They were ready to save me. I got better at swimming that summer. I got to talk to more of my friends and the pretty girls instead of the little kids too.”
Something that David has always loved to do is make parody music. “I’ve never recorded anything or even have any written down. But it’s just one of those things that got me through boredom while growing up. Sometimes I’ll make up goofy songs as jingles for local companies. I don’t know if that’s a talent, but it is usually a fun time with my wife and kids.” Guilty pleasure for him is playing video games. “Mainly MLB the Show while watching The Office at night after everyone goes to bed. It seems to remove a lot of stress from the day.”
Other bands that David loves, he says they change all the time. Or more so that he adds to the list as the years go on. “Now I mainly listen to bands I’ve heard on tour with 311 or one of the many Spotify playlists that includes them mixed with some of my old favorites.” Some of the bands he can be found listening to include Ballyhoo!, Little Stranger, Ries Brothers, Bumpin Uglies, Dirty Heads, Incubus, Weezer, Green Day, Cake, The Offspring, Tropidelic, Sublime, and Iya Terra.
To 311, David would like to say these words: “Thank you for continuing to make and perform music that gets me through life daily.”
Now here is his message to all the other fans out there:
“I have a career that experiences a lot of sadness. But in that sadness, there is often joy as well. Whatever you are going through, remember that there are better days ahead. It’s easy to consume ourselves with sadness and negativity, but I also believe it’s just as easy to consume ourselves with joy and positivity. You matter to someone. Always remember that. And it’s been fun celebrating 311 music with everyone. This community had brought me many friends that I would otherwise never have had the pleasure to meet. Keep rocking on! I’ll see you in Vegas!”
Many thanks to David for sharing his story with us all! As always, my eternal gratitude to all the readers each post. Have an amazing week and Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA friends!
Much Love,
The Runt