Hello again Excitable nation! Who wants to read a new fan spotlight? Let’s get this party started – here is JD Coulter!

JD was introduced to 311 in the year 1998, when a friend of hers had her listen to the blue album. Flash forward a few years later and she stumbled upon “Transistor.” That’s the album that solidified her love for 311. “I remember one of my friends had the ETSD movie on VHS tape, and we would watch it after school, totally intrigued by these diehard 311 fans doing hardcore things like “the milk challenge.” I had to know more, I needed to learn every album. And every album has been the soundtrack to an era of my life at some point. My favorite always changes.”

While JD may have lost count of how many shows she has attended, she believes it’s around 10. First show for her was in 2003 at the Meadowbrook Farm in Gilford, New Hampshire, with O.A.R. and Something Corporate. As for favorite show, she said it’s definitely 311 Day 2014 in New Orleans. “It was my first time to NOLA and Bourbon Street. I got to stay in a haunted bed and breakfast! But my favorite part by far was seeing 311 play with the Unity Orchestra.”

The song that means the most to JD is “Eons.” As for favorite lyric, this one was actually her yearbook quote and it’s from Hostile Apostle: “Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions.”

JD is the age of 36 and was born and raised in Connecticut. She tries to catch 311 shows in the New England area whenever she can. ” I’ve been married for 8 years to my husband Andrew. I have a 15 year old son, Dylan. He is my world, and also a 311 fan!”

Fun fact about JD is that she loves hiking and exploring the outdoors. She also said writing is her passion. “I’m writing a poetry book.” As for guilty pleasure, she loves nerdy stuff and crossword puzzles.

As for other musicians JD can be found jamming out to, they include the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Modest Mouse, and Radiohead. She also likes hip-hop as well. “Super eclectic.”

For her message to the band, JD would like to say: “Thanks for reaching me with your positivity and attaching your music to my memories.”

Now here is her simple but awesome message to all the other 311 fans:

“Don’t worry, be happy.”

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Many thanks to JD for being a part of the fan spotlight! As always, my love and gratitude goes out to everyone who reads these fun little quips. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my Excitable friends! Who is ready for a new fan spotlight? Let’s meet Carlton Matthews!

It was right before Carlton’s freshman year of high school when he first heard 311. He was in drum line and one of the older guys drove him home after practice, blasting 311 as they drove. “After hearing Amber and Come Original, I was hooked and had to know more. I was drawn to their music because they fused all of the genres of music I love and made their own sound. They immediately had my attention and respect.”

Show count for Carlton is at 44. His first show was August 1, 2006, in St. Louis, Missouri, at The Pageant. As for favorite event, he said it’s the cruises, especially the one in 2019. “. I had my best friends from STL with me, and I loved seeing The Urge bring a bit of home on board as well!”

For favorite song, Carlton said it often changes for him. Currently it’s the song “Lose.” Some of his favorite lyrics include “Nothing in life is above being honest” and and “Life’s not a race.”

Carlton grew up in O’Fallon, Illinois, which is just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Music was a big part of his childhood. His parents play instruments, his mother sang in the church choir, and his godfather’s son was the church drummer. “I grew up listening to mostly gospel music (shoutout to Fred Hammond!) and Hip Hop, but my mom would also play a lot of Prince and Lauryn Hill in the car. With so many musical influences around, I started expressing myself by mimicking my godfather’s son and drumming on everything around the house. To my mother’s relief, I finally started band at school in 5th grade and kept with it throughout high school, which led me to Murray State University.”

At Murray State, Carlton taught percussion at Murray middle and high school. “I’m incredibly thankful for all of the experiences that music’s given me, I can’t live without it. Although music was a big focus for me in college, I have an equal passion for politics and history. I ended up double majoring in Political Science and History and graduated in 2013.” After college, Carlton moved to Indianapolis for 2 years to work for his fraternity headquarters. Then in 2016 he moved back to St. Louis to become a fundraiser for a private university there. “Traveling for work provided ample opportunities to get southwest points for more 311 shows 😀.”

Fun fact about Carlton is that he comes from a huge family. “My mom is one of 12 and my dad is one of 18.” Guilty pleasure for him is that he’s a massive Arsenal fan! “I watch every game and hope to make it to North London this fall for a Premier League match day.”

While 311 is Carlton’s favorite rock band, his all time favorite band is Steel Pulse. “I’m really into reggae music and enjoy listening to  Burning Spear, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Dennis Brown, Aswad, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Lila Ike, Stephen Marley, and Damian Marley. Outside of Reggae, I also enjoy a lot of Rap/Hip Hop. Big shoutout to Nas!”

To 311, Carlton would like to send this message:

“Thank you for the memories and for helping me find some of the best friends out there.”

Now here are his words to all the other fans out there:

“To the fans I’ve met over the years: Thank you for all of the crazy nights and memories I’ll hold on to for a lifetime.  To all fans: Empathy is the way to unity.”

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Thank you Carlton for sharing your story with us all! Of course, thanks to all the readers out there each week. Hope you are all staying well and keep on sharing the unity with the world!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my beautiful friends! It’s about time we meet a new 311 fan. Let’s hear the story of Adam Salamon!

It was 1995 and Adam heard “All Mixed Up” and “Down” on the radio and he ran right out to buy the CD. “I love the rap/rock/reggae vibe!”

Adam was late to the game to start seeing 311 live. His first show was in 2007 at Northerly Island in Chicago, his buddy Dujuan brought him to it and he’s never been the same. “Thanks, DAP!” As for show count, he never really tracked his number but knows it’s definitely over 50 times. “Eleven states, three countries, and eight 311 Days!”

A couple of Adams favorite shows include 311 Day 2014 in New Orleans and the 2015 Soundsystem cruise. “And the end of the world party at 311 Day in 2020!”

A few of Adam’s favorite songs include “Fuck the Bullshit,” “Full Ride,” and “Sun Come Through.” As for favorite lyrics, he obviously loves, ” Stay positive and love your life.” Another fave is “I chart the planets and the whales’ migration, I’m home everywhere, I run the station. The last light of a dying star, In every game I’m a wild card.”

Adam was born and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. He also lived in California and Arizona when he was younger. He is happily married with 3 kids who have all attended 311 shows with him. “Our youngest starts college in the fall, so I was able to bring my wife to her first 311 Day this year and we had an absolute blast!” For work, Adam is a commercial real estate broker that specializes in hospitality. And of course, he’s a full time positive vibe merchant!

Fun fact about Adam – he once saved a baby dolphin in Florida! “It had a fishing hook through it’s dorsal fin. While it’s mother along with a pod of dolphins and my family watched. Just another day in paradise. ;)”

When asked what makes him unique, Adam replied, “What makes me laugh, stand apart? Love and positivity for sure, mixed with a nice amount of style and zest. I’m spicy!”

Other music that Adam can be found listening to includes Dirty Heads, Pepper, The Movement, and Katastro. “RIP Andy.” For guilty pleasure, he said that sports cards, Kanye, and MeTV are a few that he has.

Adam has a message specifically addressed to Pnut: “I think you are an awesome human being and I hope the break you are about to take is exactly what the doctor ordered.”

Now here are Adam’s words to all the other 311 fans:

“It’s been a rough couple of years for us as a fan base and as a country. I would just like to remind everyone that winning hearts and minds comes from sharing love and positivity with people, not through hostility and derision. I feel like we as a group are ambassadors of what the world needs more of and I really hope my fellow excitables take that to heart! I am so grateful to be a part of this family. 311 and their fans have changed my life for the better in so many ways, I’ve got nothing but love for the band and our community.”

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Thank you so much Adam for sharing your story! Much gratitude as always to the supporters and readers of this little blog. Have an amazing week. Sending love & light to you all.

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there Excitable nation! I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. Shall we meet our next fan spotlight? Let me introduce you to Angela Kellam!

It was during Angela’s sophomore year, 1996, when she was first introduced to 311 at a friend’s birthday party sleepover. “I was drawn to the upbeat, fun mood their music brought on and the lyrics about just loving life and being positive really connected with me.”

Exact number of shows that Angela has attended she is unsure of, but it’s somewhere over 20. Her first show was May 1998 at the Mesa Amphitheater. “They played with Widespread Panic and Gov’t Mule lol.”

As for favorite show, Angela is in love with the whole 311 Day experience. “My now husband took me to my 1st one in 2017 and it was over from there. It’s now a tradition of ours and hopefully our 3 adult daughters can start joining us!”

Picking a favorite song is hard for Angela to narrow down. She chose the song “Creatures (For A While).” She had her three daughters young and was a single mom for most of their lives. “It was a constant running through life situation. Those rare moments I got to just escape and let go of things were most treasured. That song reminds me of those carefree times. I certainly have more of them now and make it a pact to love life more.”

One lyric that Angela loves is, ” “Whether you think you can, whether you think you can’t,  either way you’re right.” She said it’s up to us and our mindset and decisions to help us steer our lives.

Angela’s father was an Air Force chief, so growing up she moved around a lot. Until she was age 14, her music choices were very restricted. “Country, country, and more country lol.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good Reba, George Strait or Morgan Wallen song but it doesn’t always bring me that “feel good, get out ya seat” vibe that 311 has.”

Angela has lived all over the world, including places like Nevada, North Carolina, Mississippi, and England. “I would love to return to England or Wales one day, I so loved it there.” Her dad retired in Arizona, and she has been there since 1992. ” I love my state and all it has to offer. 311 is always playing in the car, on our Alexa dot while making dinner, or floating down the nearby river in a kayak. I married my husband Scott last March after 5 years together and was so very excited to find he loved 311 as much as I do!! We attend any concert we get the chance to here in AZ and try to make it out to see good friends Tim & Crystal Fisher in TX to see a concert there once a year too.”

Fun fact about Angela is that she’s a professional photographer! “It started as a hobby and over the course of 25 years or so  has blossomed into a great career. I feel fortunate to have sold several art prints, had local news stations share my photos and local magazines feature my work. It’s been an amazing and humble experience.”

An attribute that Angela feels makes her unique is her empathetic nature, which has helped her help others in their lives in a positive way. “I’ve helped with jobs, relationships and health.” Guilty pleasure for her is being a wild horse volunteer, which doesn’t seem like anything to be guilty about! “It has led me down such an amazing and adventurous path. My respect and relationship with animals has become such a unique and rewarding experience.”

Other music that Angela can be found listening to include tunes from Dirty Heads, Rebellion, Stick Figure, Soja and Fortunate Youth. “My dark side enjoys Slipknot, Tool, Avenge Sevenfold and Iron Maiden among others.”

To 311, Angela would like to send out this message: ” Thank you for being you and for everything you and your music has done for all of us! We love you all.”

Now her words to all the other awesome fans out there:

“Stay positive and love your life! Thankful to have so many of you in my life and look forward to meeting many more!”

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Many thanks to Angela Kellam for sharing her 311 story! A huge thank you to all the readers, as always. Go have a great week, spread the love & happiness to all you encounter.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in Excitable nation! It’s a new week so let’s meet a new fan. Here is the story of Timothy Morris!

It was thanks to a high school friend that Tim got into 311. His friend took drum lessons from someone older than him and it was they who introduced them to 311. “We were hooked from the start. I was drawn to their lyrics and a wide variety of sound.”

As for live shows, Tim is in the range of 60 – 70. His first show was November 8, 2005 at Purdue University. “Makes me smile just thinking about it.” As for favorite show or event, Tim chose the cruises. “3 X cruiser. So much fun!”

Favorite song or one that means the most to Tim is hard to choose, like it is for many. He went with “Beautiful Disaster” as it was the first 311 song he heard.

Some lyrics that mean a lot to Tim include: “And so many things that have gone wrong, at least you have ears to hear this song,” “Now I got a click but it’s more like a family,” and “The only thing that never gets old is honesty.”

Tim grew up in a small Indiana town that was close to the Ohio border. He attended college just south of Indianapolis where he studied Philosophy and Sociology. He now works as a Tech Support Manager in Indianapolis. “I have a very close group of friends, some of them from my hometown, that I still see quite often. I’m really just a grown-up kid now :D. I love riding my bicycle around downtown Indy, huge fan of building Legos, and over the last couple of years started 3D Printing, which has become a really fun hobby. I really enjoy movies/shows some of my favs are Dexter, Always Sunny, The Prestige, Seinfeld, and The Hobbit/LOTR. I’m also getting married this July!!!”

Fun fact about Tim is that he and his mom share a birthday! “Diff years of course, haha!” Something else fun, Tim learned the basics of bagpipe playing! He took that during an optional winter term in college.

Other musicians that Tim can be found jamming out to include Deftones, Incubus, Iration, Tool, and Passafire. Guilty pleasure? That would be crime documentaries!

To 311, Tim would simply like to say: “Thank you for all the music, it means a lot to me.”

Now here is Tim’s message to all the other 311 fans:

“Whether its a 5min convo or an individual that becomes a friend, I always find a fun caring person at these shows/events, the world needs more of that.”

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Thank you so much Tim for sharing your story! As always, thank you to all the fans who read these each week. Please remember to love each other. Be kind. Stay positive. Love your life. Sending strength to all those who need it now and always.

Much Love – The Runt

Hey there you awesome people in excitable 311 nation! Hope you are all well and staying positive. Let’s check out a new fan spotlight shall we? Meet John Leslie!

Intro to 311 was from the songs “Down” and “All Mixed Up” on the radio and MTV, but John didn’t really get fully into them at that point. It was when he heard “Beautiful Disaster” and bought the Transistor album that his mind was blown. “I got the Live album and Blue Album for Christmas. The bridge of Purpose blew me away. They were my favorite band after that.”

Over the past 24 years John has seen 311 live 37 times. His first show was the Soundsystem tour in the fall of 1999. He saw them in Portland for his first theater concert and it was three days before Soundsystem was released. “After that I was addicted to the live shows.” As for favorite of the 37 shows, it’s a tie between 311 Day 2006, the first cruise and 311 Day 2010.

The song that means the most to John is “I’ll Be Here Awhile.” “I like the symbolic nature of the song. It has a new meaning for me after a traumatic medical event 10 years ago. I think I’ve proven that I will be here awhile!”

Some of the lyrics that really resonate with John include the following: “The method that makes sense is patience.” “You can make a mean hand out of what you’re being dealt,” and “Someone told you that you had no chance, people told us it would never transpire, you could be defeated in advance, just let them all burn in the wildfire.”

John was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and he loved growing up in the Pacific northwest. “Our family would take our dog on walks in Mt. Hood National Forest, I went camping once a month for several years in Boy Scouts.” John is also a huge Disneyland fan and has been there about 30 times.

John’s parents were also super into music and die hard Moody Blues fans for 52 years. His sister was also a big influence on his musical taste. He lived in Eugene for four years while going to college. “Graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Digital Arts. I lost 100 pounds over 2 years in college, put it back on over 5 years, took the weight off again during the pandemic with 70lbs down.” Now for work, he’s been in the IT field since 2004. ” I’ve been working at an IT data center in Portland that supports local county government services.”

Other things that interest John include conventions like Portland Retro Gaming Expo and PAX West, films, filmmaking, photography and video editing, collecting vinyl, playing board games and Halloween haunted mazes. He enjoys conversation and listening, hanging out with friends and family, going to pub trivia, and he’s been running a regular music event for 14 years.

Fun fact about John is that he likes to challenge himself by singing random songs at Karaoke! “At Rock Band Night at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade we would fill each instrument for each song. Sometimes I would end up on vocals singing a song I’d never heard before but I’d do it to help the event keep moving. I think it’s fun!” Keeping with the same theme, John likes to make custom karaoke videos and sing them with his other music loving friends. “We’ve been singing for 15 years. Lots of fun!”

Other musicians that John loves include Bad Religion, They Might Be Giants, Self, The Moody Blues, Rebelution, NOFX, Foo Fighters, Weezer, The Offspring, Descendents, Nerf Herder, The Explorers Club, Millencolin, XTC, Sparks, Freezepop, and Blondie. 

Guilty pleasures for John include ska music, video game conventions, the movie Freddy Got Fingered and sometimes pop music stations. “As a rock fan I still feel guilty but I do enjoy it.”

To 311, John would like to send this message: “I already tweeted it at P-Nut around 311 Day. Thank you for making the fans feel like friends. I think Nick got that idea from Joe Strummer.”

Now here is his message to all the other fans out there:

“Never give up! Be yourself! If you have a positive attitude, self discipline, and self determination you can set a goal and attain it! Be creative! Don’t be afraid to live your life!”

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Many thanks to John for sharing his story of his love for 311! Per the usual, I send so much gratitude to all the readers and supporters of this each week. Sending so much positivity and strength to you all. Until next time!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back friends! It’s a new week and time for the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. Let’s meet Crystal Fisher!

The first time Crystal heard 311 she was with her best friend growing up. They were chilling at her house and her brother had 311 playing in his room. “We had no idea who they were but soon after I remember waiting to hear Come Original on the radio, so I could record it on one of my mix tapes (which I still have oddly enough even though I have no tape player).   That was my first memory of the music but it wasn’t until later when my parents allowed me to go to concerts that I really got into them.  Seeing them live was a completely new experience. The music hits in a completely different zone when it’s live.  The albums can’t record the energy that vibrates from the band and all through the crowd at the live shows. After seeing them for the first time, I was hooked and it’s been an addiction ever since.”

For show count, Crystal believes she is at 44 after 311 Day this year. First show for her was in 2003. “I was a big fan of the band Something Corporate, and I liked G love as well, so a couple friends and I got tickets and went to the show. We stood at the back for the show, but the energy from the band and the crowd was so ecstatic that before we knew it we were sucked in towards the middle, surrounded by all these people rocking out to the music.  I remember I could feel the floor moving slightly from everyone jumping up and down that we thought the floor was going to drop out beneath us!  It was wild but loved every minute of it!”

As for favorite event, it was a tough choice for Crystal. She loves the cruises and she has great memories at all the shows, but for sentimental reasons she chose 311 Day 2016. “I got married to my husband Tim on Bourbon Street that afternoon, and then attended the concert afterwards!   It was so great getting to spend the first hours being married to the love of my life, seeing our favorite band together surrounded by our closest friends and thousands of 311 fans from around the world! I was also really excited my cat Larry made the 311 day video on the big screen at the beginning of the concert.”

For favorite song, Crystal said that over the years there is always a song or two that stick with her because of whatever is going on in her life. One that she always goes back to is “Flowing.” “I have a bad habit of playing scenarios and events over and over in my head, and the song is a good reminder that when you go down a wormhole of bad thoughts the good are still there even if you don’t think you have any.”

Lyrics that Crystal loves include “Always try to keep your feet on the ground and love yourself” and “Go away sun I’m not prepared for you today, it seems you are, it seems you are.”

Crystal was born and raised on the northeast side of Houston, Texas. She is a first generation Texan and has lived there her whole life. “My parents live in Florida so I try to make it out there a couple times a year and I have family in other parts of the country but I really can’t see myself living anywhere else!”

While Crystal has worked a number of jobs over the years, she has spent most of her professional life working at Bush Intercontinental Airport for a retail company. ”  After working in the Human Resources office for a number of years, it opened up the door to working for a TPA that did benefits administration for school districts around the country. 2020 was a big year for us, as we expanded it for the first time and we had a little girl join our excitable family!  After her birth I quit my job to become a full time clowder and youngling herder (aka Stay at Home Mom) and For the first time in over 23 years I’m not working for money and instead get paid in cuddles and smiles. It’s been a big change but it’s really great getting to see Leia grow up and be there every part of the way! I’m a huge animal lover and we have 2 dogs and 2 cats, one of which has made his appearance on a number of cruise buttons  (@sirlarrymeow)!”

Fun fact about Crystal is that she collected Pez dispensers before and has a collection of over 100 in a box. “They used to be on display but my cat Larry had a habit of knocking them down and it was too much of a pain to reposition 100+ dispensers in a specified order. ” Something that makes her unique is that she likes to be crafty and creative in numerous ways. “Sometimes I paint things, make creatures out of felt, and do a lot of doodles when the creative bug hits. I made a Star Wars mural for my daughter’s nursery and even made my own Star Wars themed Mobile for her crib! I downloaded the Rockabye Baby 311 album to it, to introduce some great tunes to her right away!”

Guilty pleasure for Crystal is watching really bad sci-fi movies, especially shark themed ones. “Jaws is one of my all time favorite movies, so watching a really bad shark movie while having a couple drinks is one of my favorite ways to get a laugh.  There are some especially bad ones, so my best friend and I started watching them and then blogging about them when we get the chance.”

For other musicians that Crystal likes, she has quite a few including  Mae, Cruiserweight, Passafire, Broadway Showtunes, Dashboard Confessional, Rebelution, Tropidelic, RdGldGrn, Dirty Heads, and Taylor Swift. She also listens to a lot of podcasts including  Sword and Scale, Fangasm, How did this get made, Office Ladies, Your own backyard, Bright Sessions, Wolf 359, and The real Jaws.

To 311, Crystal would like to say these words: “Thank you for touring every year and bringing joy to thousands with your energy and awesome tunes! You’ve helped me stay positive in some really tough times, and I’m really thankful for all the events y’all put on each year, and I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for your hard work and dedication. THANK YOU!”

Now here is her message to all the other fans out there:

“Hey Everyone!  If it wasn’t for the awesome positivity and energy of the fans, I don’t know who I’d be today!  I love all of you, and can’t wait to meet more of y’all at all the future shows, cruises, and events to come! If you see me at a show, please feel free to come up and give a high five or a hug!  Do as you will, do as you wish, follow your bliss!”

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Thank you Crystal for sharing your story! As always, so much gratitude to the readers each week. Have an amazing week! Sending you all so many good vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again all of you excitable peeps! The latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight is here. Let’s meet Joshua Newton!

Initially Joshua was a fan when the blue album came out. However after that he didn’t really listen to 311 for about 20 years. ” In 2017 my ex-girlfriend introduced me to 311 again and I went to 2018 311 day…been hooked since.”

First time Joshua saw 311 live was in a bar in Atlanta before the blue album became a huge hit. Then since 2018 he’s seen them about 10 times. Favorite event for him was the 2019 cruise. “Specifically the sail away show. Stealing happy hours.”

One of Joshua’s favorite songs is “Golden Sunlight.” “I was going through a breakup and it reached me.” As for lyrics, he loves anytime 311 says down with the unity. He also loves “Stay positive and love your life.”

Joshua is originally from Wisconsin, but he’s lived in New Jersey since 1998. Currently he works for Verizon Wireless data centers. He goes to every show that 311 plays in the area. “I have familia that are down in the Philly area and then I have familia that are closer to North Jersey…. They’re an amazing group people to watch shows with including quite a few other bands in the same 311 genre.”

Some fun facts about Joshua are that he was a non-roster invitee to the Pittsburg Pirates spring training camp. “Unfortunately I got cut.” He was also an airborne air assault in the U.S. Army.

Talent for Joshua is that he can be good at almost any task or activity really fast. “When I’m interested, I’m a natural jack of all trades.” His guilty pleasure is sports. “I love watching just about any sport on TV and going to live sporting events. I coached quite a few sports and I’m a huge fan of all Wisconsin teams and the Rangers.”

Other music that Joshua can be found jamming out to include The Movement, Stick Figure, Rebelution, Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies, and Little Stranger, just to name a few.

To 311, Joshua has this message: “I appreciate how hard you all have worked to throw down music for all of us to jam to over the years.”

Now here is his message to all the fellow 311 fans out there:

“Everyone just remember that life and the world is a better place when we all get together as a familia and rock it!! All we want is just beyond.”

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Thank you Joshua Newton for sharing your story and love for this amazing band. As always, a heartfelt thank you to those who read each week. I hope you all have an amazing week. Keep on spreading the positivity and love.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back to the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight? Are you ready to meet another awesome person? Let’s learn the story of Nikki Harrison!

It was Nikki’s ex-boyfriend that introduced her to the magic of 311. They went to 311 Day together twice, then one of the cruises. It was 311 Day 2010 that sparked her interest in the band but it was the 2013 cruise that made her a true fan. “That ex and I had a very messy break up and I found that I gravitated toward 311’s music to help me through that time. 311 Day 2014 was my first 311 Day after my ex and I broke up. I had decided not to go when the break up happened. But I stayed active on Facebook and “met” a bunch of people. I met Jennifer (Williams) Tucker in person for the first time when she came to my home 12 hours before we embarked on a road trip to NOLA. I met so many people on that trip that I now call my 311 family. That trip was a turning point in my life. It was 6 months after my break up and the point where I decided to push forward and not look back. I actually call the time before 311 Day 2014 my old life and the time since, my new life.”

As for show tally, Nikki lost count somewhere in her mid 30’s. She believes she is well over 50 at this point. First show for her she believes was during the summer tour of 2009 in St. Louis. “I was a casual fan then, so I’m not 100% sure which show was my first.” As for her favorite events, it was the four cruises she went on. “Especially the 2015 Jamaica cruise.”

The song that Nikki said means the most to her is “Golden Sunlight.” “I am a creature of habit and don’t like change. I’m hesitant to take chances. I’m a very guarded person. I have to remind myself sometimes to “go beyond in the great unknown.”

Some of her favorite lyrics also come from her favorite song: “What if I could just let my guard down, what if I could live wide open, yeah. What if I could just let my guard down, and go beyond into the great unknown.” Another one of Nikki’s favorite lyrics comes from “Beyond the Grey Sky:” “Don’t give up the fight to stay alive and even if you have to, find the reason of another’s pain if they lose you. If not for yourself then those around who care like I do, one day you’ll see the clear blue.”

Nikki grew up less than an hour outside of St. Louis, Missouri, in a small community. When it was time for college she moved to St. Louis where she stayed until about 3 years ago, when she moved into her grandmother’s house a little closer to her hometown. “I’ve been renovating for the past 7 years. At 30 years old I decided working in advertising wasn’t fulfilling. I was part of a massive layoff when the company I worked for went bankrupt. Two months later I started my pre-reqs for nursing school. I’ve been a nurse for over 7 years now and I love it. I am a critical care cardiac surgery and pulmonary nurse. Cardiac surgery is definitely my calling. I’ve been an intermediate level COVID nurse for the better part of the past 2 years. My unit is cross trained for the ICU so we got a lot of ICU overflow. It has definitely changed who I am as a nurse. I’ve seen things no one should ever see, more death and sadness than one lifetime should experience. But it gave me a new appreciation of family, life. It taught me a lot about myself. I’m a healer, a problem solver. The hardest thing for me to accept is when I can no longer find the answer, when I can’t fix the problem. It also made me realize unhealthy habits, like how I channel stress, anxiety, and sadness.”

Fun fact you may not know about Nikki is that she was named after a cartoon character! “My real name is Nichol and my dad got the name and unique spelling from a comic strip.” Unique attribute for her is that she has an empathetic and caring nature. “According to a close knit group of girlfriends, I have a “willingness to go the extra mile for others.”

Guilty pleasure for Nikki is that she loves the oldies. “I was raised on music out of the 50s and 60s. The Beach Boys are my favorite band.” When not listening to 311 or The Beach Boys, she can be found listening to  Disturbed, Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, Halestorm, he Urge, Stick Figure, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, The Offspring, and Real Big Fish, just to name a few.

To 311, Nikki would like to send this meaningful message: “Thank you for helping me put my life back together.”

For her message to all the other 311 fans out there, Nikki chose to quote 311:

“It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute. I can’t slow down inside, guess that’s why I live it!”

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Many thanks to Nikki for sharing her story! As always, so much gratitude going out to all who read each week. Until next time, go be awesome!

Much Love – The Runt

It’s been a minute 311 nation – I apologize for the lull in activity. I hope it was worth the wait – let’s meet the fabulous Tisha Morgan!

It was 1996 when Tisha became a fan of 311, after her first show in the same year. That show was in Dayton, Ohio. Since then she has seen them 25 times (number 24 and 25 were 311 Day 2022 in Vegas).

As for favorite show, it was hard for Tisha to pick one. “My 2nd show in Dallas, TX (1997), was the one and only time I’ve been “on the rail”, but that was before it was even a thing. I was 19, Incubus was one of the openers. My friend and I must have been rocking out and the guys from incubus were sitting side stage and noticed us. After the show, we were walking to our car and Mike Eisenberg saw us and brought us back stage. We spent hours just hanging out with him and talked to Tim, Chad and PNUT. It was long before cell phones, so the only proof I have is their autographs on my first 311 shirt.”

Honorable mention Tisha said goes to 311 Day this year. “Just the overall experience was really something special.  There are members of a fb group that told my “story” and I was gifted VIP passes by Peter Raspler (manager).  This is something I would have never been able to do on my own.  I went solo, roomed with a fellow cancer survivor but met so many amazing people/friends.  Even though I’ve been a fan for over 26 years, I truly felt like I was welcomed into the 311 “family.”

Favorite song for Tisha is “Hydroponic” and her favorite album is Music. “Not because of any special meaning or anything, but because it signifies a time in my life when everything was so simple.  I was fresh out of High School and my biggest worry was having gas money and what to wear to their shows.”

Some of her favorite lyrics include ““Nothing good comes easily, sometimes you gotta fight”,  “From chaos comes clarity”, and “F**k the bullsh*t, it’s time to throw down”.

For Tisha, she said her story plays out like a Lifetime movie, for real. I will let her tell it in her own words. “I grew up in a small town in Ohio, my mom passed away when I was 13, so my dad took over. Not much guidance after that, pretty much took care of myself from 16 on. I have worked hard my entire life. After 9/11, I became a flight attendant and traveled the US for about 6 years, then settle down and got married. My first daughter (London) was born in 2011, my 2nd daughter (Lily) was born in 2012. I got divorced in 2018. A few days after my divorce was final, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I went through a double mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation and then breast reconstruction. I was a newly single mom, so I worked full time through all of my treatments and was also attending college. I made it through all the treatments/surgeries and was “cancer free” for about 18 months or so. I found out in February of 2021 that my cancer had come back and had metastasized, so I was diagnosed (again) with breast cancer, but this time I was stage 4. I have never given up the fight. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in December 2021, bought a house and recently accepted a new position at the company I’ve been with for 7 years. Currently, I am in active treatment. I take oral chemo and hormone blockers since my cancer is Estrogen driven. I have been on this treatment for over a year now and doing really well. My scans continue to improve. I am still working full time and just enjoying my girls and life. Even though stage 4 is “not curable” I have hope that someday I can say that there is “no evidence of disease”. I will continue to fight and kick cancer’s ass because I am a f*cking warrior!”

While Tisha is pretty much an open book, something people may not know is that she is adopted. “I found some of my family because of Ancestry DNA.” She is also heavily tattooed. Talent for her is that she played a mean clarinet in High School. Guilty pleasure she said is her love for all things relating to “Friends.” “I am a hard core fan and I get shit from my friends all the time.”

For other artists she loves, her taste is very broad. “The bands at the top of my list (aside from 311) is Beastie Boys, Incubus, Justin Timberlake and mostly 80’s pop/rock and 90’s hip hop and grunge.”

For the message to 311, Tisha said she would like to get super cheesy and just say Thank You. “Just for being such a constant source of positivity in my life over the last 28 years.  Thanks for continuing to make music and appreciate your fans in the way that you do.”

To all the other 311 fans out there:

“F*CK the BULLSHIT!  And……Check your boobies!”

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Tisha, words cannot express my gratitude for you being a part of the 311 Fan Spotlight. I wish we had met in person at 311 Day. You are a rockstar. I wish you nothing but many more positive times and 311 Day’s in your future. Thanks as always to all the readers out there.

Stay Positive. Love Your Life. Please, keep spreading the love & good karma.

Much Love – The Runt