What is up my friends in the 311 universe! Hope everyone is doing well. Shall we get to the latest fan spotlight? Let’s meet Nadia Rushing!
In 1995, Nadia needed a ride home from marching band practice. She was unaware of the musical journey she was about to go on. “A guy named Tony was kind enough to drive me home and he introduced me to Music and Grassroots and I was instantly hooked. I had never heard anything like them before. I believe Blue had just recently come out too. Being I wasn’t yet able to drive, I begged to get to the record store and spent most of the money I had to buy the albums. I spent hours upon hours lying on my bedroom floor listening to the CDs, reading song lyric after lyric and singing my heart out. And yet, after hours of studying, I still sing what I hear!”
For show count, Nadia said she sadly isn’t one of those fans that keep accurate track. She believes it’s around 30. First show for her was in 1996, at the Omni in Atlanta, when No Doubt was the opener. “Besides my infatuation with 311, Gwen Stefani was my female role model so this show was amazing.”
Picking a favorite show can be difficult for most 311 fans. Nadia has been fortunate enough to attend a few 311 Day events, 2 cruises, and a show at Red Rocks. Of all of these, she said her first cruise was an experience like no other. “While this was my favorite event, I must share my favorite experience. While in college, 311 was playing in Jacksonville, FL with Jimmy’s Chicken Shack as the opener I believe. My friend I didn’t have a tickets to the show but the venue told us we could buy at the door. So we drove 3 hours only to find out it was sold out. (This was before the days of internet sales). We were bummed and didn’t just want to drive home for nothing so we wandered into a nearby tattoo parlor. There we ran into one of the road-crew guys for 311. We told him our heartbreak and he told us where to go to see their tour bus and hopefully catch a glimpse of the guys. We took his advice and hung around the tour buses, taking with other fans, etc. and wouldn’t you know, I looked over my shoulder and there stood miT, talking with the fans. We got his autograph and were lucky enough to meet Chad as well. P-nut then came out and one of the fans told him our story and asked if there was any way for us to see the show. He said “of course! Write your names down for me and I’ll turn it in at the gate”. We were in complete disbelief and never thought it would have actually happened. But sure enough, we went to the gate a while later, acting like complete fan-girls and we were on the list! It was an amazing show and we had a blast. Post-show we went back to the busses and were lucky enough to meet all 5 members and get all their autographs, I still have the shirt they signed all those years ago!”
For a favorite song, right now it’s “Persimmon” that holds some weight for Nadia. “Recent current life events led me down some dark roads and this song has helped me in ways I can’t explain. One thing I can say for sure, there is a 311 song and album for each part of life and I’m so thankful to have them all when I need them. In good times, happy times, sad times and angry. 311’s catalogue never disappoints.” Nadia also said that “The Happy Slam Dance Song” a.k.a. “Do You Right” will always be a favorite of hers! As for a lyric, she doesn’t have one in particular. “But I know I can always count on 311 to have the words I’m looking for. To have an ounce of the lyrical talent of SA would be a gift.”
South of Atlanta, Georgia, is where Nadia grew up, in a small town known as the bubble or gold cart capital. Others may know it as Peachtree City. She has very supportive parents and two sisters, one of whom has been the fan spotlight before (Jenna Kimlinger)! “I had no idea then, but she used to sneak into my room, find my diary and listen to 311 when I wasn’t home. She became a bigger fan than I can ever claim to be because of this.”
Nadia attended college in South Georgia, at Georgia Southern University. Radio and CD’s were her only music options. “There weren’t many non-country options so I didn’t keep up with 311 much after DTOM. (Thankfully my sister brought me back into the light a few years later and am thankful for that every day!) I graduated with my BSN, worked as a nurse and got married; we stayed in south GA for some time and I became a mom to 2 amazing kiddos. I am happy to report that I’m turning my youngest into a 311 fan as we speak! I can’t seem to get my oldest into them but can appreciate my love for 311. I’m now divorced and living back up near the ATL area with my kids.”
Nadia still works as a nurse, in a role that has allowed her to have an amazing work/life balance. “While my sister Jenna and I share the 311 love, our older sister never got into them. She has come to show here and there so we can spend sister time together. We keep trying to convert her and maybe one day we will be successful. While she may not be a fan, she did share with me how she sees the roll that 311 and the connections made through this band have had such a positive impact on my sister and I. We’ve been lucky to have our amazing 311 family jump into action when we needed it most. These friends will never know how much we love them and appreciate the amazing humans that they are. And of course, I can’t even begin to say how much my sister from another mister, Tish Morgan means to me. Jenna, Tish and I all got matching 311 tattoos recently and life is all about who you have matching tattoos with. I would not be the person I am today, without those who matter most.”
Interesting fact about Nadia, she said the older she gets, the more introverted she is becoming. “But I wish I could be more extroverted and have the guts to talk to more people.” A talent for her, she was stumped, so she asked her sister. “Interestingly enough, she said that I am a great gift giver and have a knack for picking out just the perfect Christmas gifts for others! Who knew. 😉” Guilty pleasure for her? It’s the show “Gilmore Girls.” “It’s always on in the background and I can recite most of it by heart. I usually have to have some kind of noise in the background so it’s either music or Gilmore Girls. I also have to admit, I like Ed Sheeran!”
When not listening to 311…or Ed Sheeran, Nadia is a huge 90’s rock alternative fan. She listens to it often. She’s also currently loving Little Stranger, Dirty Heads, Tropidelic, The Elovators, and most recently, Sitting on Saturn.
To 311, Nadia has these words: “Because of this band, going to shows, and the love, positivity and support of the Unity that is 311, I will always be thankful to 311 for the amazing friends I have the pleasure to call my 311 family.”
Now here are her words to all of the other fans out there: “Thank you to everyone who makes each event an amazing experience. There is nothing better than a 311 show and I will never be able to explain how each event fills my soul. IYKYK!”
Thank you tons to Nadia for sharing her story with us all! Of course, my love and gratitude to everyone who reads these. Sending you all good vibes and nothing but happiness.
Much Love – The Runt