We meet again my excitable friends! Welcome back. Are we ready for our next fan spotlight? It’s time to meet Jason White!
Like many fans, Jason was introduced to 311 via the music video for “Down.” “I thought they were new and different, and wanted to go find as much of their music as possible.” He immediately went out and bought the blue album, Grassroots and Music. Once he heard Music he was hooked and it’s still his favorite album.
Number of times he’s seen 311 live…well he really has no clue. He tries to hit at least one show every summer. Of the shows he has seen, favorite slot is a toss up between 311 Day 2012 and Pow Wow. “311 Day 2012 was my first, and I ended up staying in a house full of complete strangers. But even though I knew nobody there, it just seemed like we were all family. The environment at Pow Wow was just amazing, but my favorite experience at it was after all the shows were done the first night. I went to hang out at the camp site next to mine, and we made everyone that was on their late night walks to the river stop and take a shot of vodka with us. I really don’t recall a lot about that night, but all weekend random people were yelling my name and I just gave them a confused look like, do I know you?”
Favorite song constantly rotates for Jason because so many mean a lot to him. Currently it’s “The Call.” “The world can be such a jacked up place, especially now. To me the song is an anthem to push me to be active to affect the change I want to see.” Two of his favorite lyrics are “Stay positive and love your life,” and “Everything you do it comes back to you.”
Jason was born and raised in Southern California. After that he moved to North Carolina for high school but then had the opportunity to spend two years of it in Ausburg, Germany as an exchange student. After high school Jason joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. “I was one of the crazy people that liked it there, and just kept extending. Deployed to Thailand, S. Korea, and Australia for exercises.” Jason was then medically discharged and decided to go back to school, so he moved back to North Carolina for his undergraduate degree and then continued on to Ohio for law school. “Never expected to ever visit Ohio, but I determined that it was fate that that was where I was supposed to be because when I got my apartment assignment at the school, I was assigned to apartment 311.” From there he spent a brief time in Richmond, Virginia but decided it wasn’t for him and finally made it back to Cali where he took a position with the National Archives and Records Administration at the Nixon Presidential Library.
At the last 311 Day Jason was dubbed “The Wanderer” because he tends to wander off a lot. “I think that fits, because I’m already ready to leave California again to see where my next adventure will lead me. One of my goals is to set foot on every continent on earth, so hopefully next summer I’ll be making my way to Africa. Then all that will be left is Antarctica, and while difficult, I think I have figure out how to make that one happen as well.”
Fun fact about Jason: He hated Transistor when it first came out. “Just could not get into it at all. It wasn’t until I saw them do it live, front to back, at Pow Wow that I really started to like it.” Cool talent that he possesses: He can play the bagpipes! Guilty pleasure, as much as he hates to admit it, is that he’s a bit obsessed with the Bachelor/Bachelorette T.V. shows! “I started watching them because a local radio morning show would always talk about them on my way to work, so I decided to check them out so I would know what they were talking about. The shows are just so horribly bad that I can’t stop watching them now, and watch it whenever a new season starts.”
Some other musical artists that Jason can be find jamming out to are Bad Religion, Suburban Legends, Twenty One Pilots, The Hamilton Soundtrack, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Radiohead, The Smiths, The Cure, and Danzig.
To 311, Jason would like to say: “Thank you for making music that touches so varied, and touches so many people’s lives. Current music just seems so cookie cutter, and that is one thing I don’t think anyone could ever say about 311.”
To all the other amazing fans of this wonderful band:
“To the fans, I have to say thank you as well. While I do love going to shows to see the band, the thing that keeps me going to show after show is really the fans. They are always so welcoming, and fun, and just all around good people to be around. So thanks again.”
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Now you know the story of Jason White a.k.a. The Wanderer! Thanks for reading about another fellow fan. You are all amazing people and I’m happy to be a part of this clique that’s more like a family! Until next time…go spread the love and positive vibes.
Much love – The Runt