Well hey there excitable friends! Welcome back to another edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s get this party started – it’s time to meet Parker Buehler!
Twelve years old and riding around in the car with her older brothers, that is where Parker’s love of 311 begins. The two songs that drew her in were “Hydroponic” and “Do You Right.” She said those were the two songs that really jumped out at her during those car rides. Flash forward to when the music video for “Down” was released on MTV. “I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t wait to show it to my brothers. When I did, they reminded me that 311 was the same band who created the two songs I begged for every time in their car. It was curtains after that. Ride or die for life…LOL!”
Every time someone asks Parker how many times she has seen 311 live she always has to go count her ticket stubs, usually because she’s added some since the last time! “This past 311 Day were shows 49 and 50 for me. My first show ever was at the HoLLYwooD Palladium in April of 2000. I was 16 years old rolling with my dad and his girlfriend. My mind was blown.” When asked what show of the 50 is her favorite, she said, “You can’t ask me that…LOL. Oh there are so many! One of the most epic moments for me was sitting on my tube floating in the ocean while 311 rocked the F out on the beach of Half Moon Cay on cruise 2. Such a magical moment.”
When asked what song or lyrics mean the most to her, Parker also said these were tough questions! “So many have gotten me through all the good times and bad. I can’t even begin to claim a favorite. 311 has been there for every moment.” While there are a lot to choose from and she doesn’t have a favorite, she did pick three that stand out to her. “I’m a big fan of Electricity. Golden Sunlight and Eons tug at my heartstrings more than usual.” Some lyrics that she loves are: “Life’s a bowl of punch, go ahead and spike it,” “We’re all from the same Lucy despite the differences you see,” and “I got a mind full of weapons in the battle of me versus myself and everything that I kept in, I’m finding the courage to tell. The sweetest repose comes in the strangest of places, I never supposed clarity would find me.”
Parker was born in Los Angeles, California, and spent the first half of her life there. After that she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then on to Indianapolis, Indiana. Mom is a stylist and dad is an actor, who she says you may or may not recognize depending on your age. She’s still in Indy and has two sons, ages 6 and 12, who also love 311. Parker is also recently engaged! It happened while in New Orleans for 311 Day! Congrats Parker!
Parker is a stay at home mom but plans escapes to 311 events. Other than that she likes being at home doing crafty things. “I like to create things, fix things, learn things. I’m a big nerd. I am the person who made all the bottle cap magnets back in 2013. I made over 1000 to pass out to fellow fans. I’ve had a lot of requests to make more so I may have some to pass out this summer. I’m also the person who does the 311 Day rockets. It started out as my celebration on the odd years of March 11th. I live in Indiana so there’s not much to do. I build model rockets and decorate them 311 stylee. Then we launch them on March 11th, weather permitting. Then it turned into every year. 4 out of 5 years have been successful launches. Yay for nerds!”
While Parker is mostly left handed, she sometimes is ambidextrous depending on the task she’s performing. She also has the ability to read people very well and thought about going into psychology because of it. “I would love to help people, especially with mental illness.” Back to her craftiness, she can make pretty much any craft and loves her hot glue gun. Talent also comes virtually via video games. “My high score on Ms. Pac-Man is 527,340 and I will kick your ass with Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2.” A little bit of trivia you may not know – Parker collects Barbies! “I have over 150 of them. Most of them are in storage. I have like 4 out in my bedroom, but just wait til I get a bigger house…LOL! One day this crazy lady will have a Barbie room.”
Another band that had Parker’s heart prior to 311 was The Smashing Pumpkins. “I still love them so and am catching them in Louisville here in just a few short weeks. So excited!” Other bands she loves are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dirty Heads, Sublime, and No Doubt. Lately she’s really been getting into Queens of the Stoneage. “I’ve seen them a few times now and they are amazing. They may take my #3 spot away from the others.”
Parker’s message to 311 is simply this: “Thank You for existing in my lifetime.”
Now to all of you amazing fans:
“You guys are the absolute best! Strangers coming together during the good times and the bad makes my heart sing beyond words. I’m so blessed to be a part of this.”
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Thank you Parker for sharing your story! I hope everyone loved it as much as I did. I love sharing all of your stories so you can learn more about your awesome fellow fans! Thank you all for reading and until we meet again…keep being awesome!
Much love – The Runt