Welcome back my friends out there in 311 nation! It’s that time…we are about to learn all about another awesome fan! And today is his birthday! So give him a big shout out as it’s time to meet Ryan Boozer!

It was summer of 1996 and Ryan was on a church youth trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A friend of his saw his Rage Against the Machine shirt and said he had a band for him to listen to. “He then proceeded to let me borrow a copy of the blue album. Popped it in, miT starts the opening riff of Down and by the time the whole band drops in, I was hooked & finally had found my all-time favorite band.” Ryan then went home and got his own copy of the album, and shortly thereafter picked up Grassroots and Music, as well as some live bootlegs. He wanted to listen to everything he could get his hands on.

The music of 311 was so unique to Ryan and different than most everything else he heard, which is what attracted him to it. “I really liked the hybrid sound/blending of different musical styles. It immediately grabbed me like nothing else to that point, and only a handful of other groups/acts have come close since then.”

Number of shows is at 92 for Ryan. His first show was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 8/31/97 during the Transistor tour. “De La Soul opened up for them & I was 9 rows dead center behind the pit.” Out of the 92 shows, the cruises are the shows that stand out to him as favorites. “It’s very magical to me to have that many other hardcore fans from all around the globe to come together & see the music we love on a boat for a few days. I feel lucky that 311 does them.”  A close second for him would be 311 Day events or Pow Wow.

Favorite song for Ryan is “Time is Precious” and he has a good reason – he proposed to his wife during it at 311 Day 2018! “I was able to ask a close source to the band if they had plans on playing it and got confirmation the day before we left that it was going to be played and when I needed to be ready. 311 means a lot to me and my wife (she has been to 41 shows with me & saw them a few times before we were together) so it was amazing to have that special moment to hold onto. Nick also says ‘These memories will last forever because time is precious’ before they play it. To most that’s just another line of the show but warms my heart to have that as part of MY 311 history.” A favorite lyric of his is from “Offbeat Bare Ass” – “Do what thou wilt.”

Ryan has spent most of his life in Charlotte, N.C, at least 34 out of his 36 years. He was born in Tampa, Florida, and also lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Dallas, Texas, for short periods of time. Over the years he’s been employed at a video game store, a few pizza places, a mail/packaging store, and a head shop. He currently owns his own business with his wife called GB Unique Creations. “We help other people/bands/companies make merchandise & sell our own products online. We also set up merchandise booths at different EDM shows. We are lucky enough to be able to work in town as well as other cities in the Southeast. Anything within a 4-hour radius of us we try & hit if we can. It’s a lot more work than we both thought but we love it. I’m going to do it as long as I can.”

A hobby for Ryan is that he’s an avid CD collector. “I have over 500 CD’s total. For 311 alone, I have 47.” Fun fact about Ryan is that he’s had the opportunity two times to make merchandise for 311. “The first time I helped them make the 311 Day 2016 wings pins (1^st official lapel pins). The 2^nd time I helped them make the official pin & patch for 311 Day 2018 (2^nd ever official lapel pins).  I feel very honored to be able to say this. When I started my company, I said I wanted to help them make their 1^st ever official pin so to turn that into a reality was pretty surreal.”

As far as uniqueness for Ryan, he has an interesting story. “So, it’s well known that the guys are into aliens (especially SA). I had a session with a sound/energy healer a little while back where she told me that she had never felt a vibration like mine & then proceeded to tell me that this was my 1st time in a human body. According to her I had several other life’s & have been to several different galaxies beyond our own. It was a very cool experience. My wife Grace wasn’t surprised at all when she heard this.”

As far as guilty pleasures, Ryan is a die-hard sports fan. “Love me some Carolina Panthers football & Charlotte Hornets/UNC Tar Heels basketball. Was able to see the Tar Heels win a Championship LIVE in 2009 in Detroit, MI.” Other music he loves includes Story Of The Year, Bassnectar, Pendulum, Funeral For A Friend, Tauk, Atmosphere, Grieves, Adair, Disturbing The Peace, STS9, and The Police (just to name a few).

To 311, these are Ryan’s words: “You guys are my version of The Beatles/Kiss/James Brown/Grateful Dead (that’s what you mean to me compared to other legendary artists thru time).  You will always be my favorite band, thanks for affecting my life the way you have. I know I’d be on a very different path without it.”

To Ryan’s fellow 311 fans:

“Go see as much live events (whatever you are into-music, comedy, sports, theater, etc.) as you can. 311 is my favorite so they get the most of my time/$/energy, but I also go see other music (as well as comedians & sporting events) on a regular basis. At this point I have been to a bunch of very special shows (some 311 some not) & some of those if I hadn’t gone, I might not have ever been able to see that act/band/performer ever (or at least that line up/version of the band). A lot of these shows were out of town, but had I not made the effort then I would have missed out. I’ve also been able to meet a bunch of these artists because of going to the show & even hung out with a few. It’s pretty cool when you get to tell any performer (musician, comedian, athlete) what they mean to you. Life is short, buy the tickets!”

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That my friends is Ryan Boozer’s story! I hope you enjoyed the read this week and thanks Ryan for being a part of this project. Of course, all who keep reading, you absolutely rock! Go have an amazing week, stay positive & love your life!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome again to all the peeps out in 311 nation! New week means we get to meet a new fan! Let’s all give a big warm welcome to the one & only Steve Faust!

It was thanks to the Hoax 2 skate video that Steve first heard the sweet sounds of 311 and it was the song “All Mixed Up.” It was back in 1995 or 1996. Then he attended his first show in September 1996. “That show is not in their archives. The Urge opened and 311 opened with what they now call the transistor intro into Homebrew but it was just a kick ass intro way before that album. Hex and Chad rocking the blonde hair and I had the ball chain necklace like Nick rocked.”

Total show count for Steve is at 133. He’s attended all the 311 Day events since 2002. He’s also been on all of the cruises. Two of his favorites are the second cruise and 311 Day 2004, because himself and two of his friends got to watch the show from the side of the stage. Another one he loved was the Atlantic City show when they performed two sets. And finally, there was the very first cruise. “Oh but the feeling of that first cruise set one was right up there also when the boys walked out was electric!!”

Songs Steve loves include “Summer of Love” and “Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm.” “Jacks in 04 311 day the lights panned up towards the end of the song just when kicks back in the rock and I remember looking up at all the fans and thinking to myself wow this is amazing everyone here for love and unity of the band.  Almost a feeling of reaching nirvana, got a little emotional to be honest.”

The northern suburbs of Chicago is where Steve grew up. He now lives in Baltimore and has been there for the last 10 years. Steve got to see 311 about 40 or so times for free because he knew a guy that did the lighting, who would hook him up with tickets and backstage passes. This is how he ended up on the side stage for 311 Day in 2004. “Funny story about that 311 day, we had tickets then sold them cause my friend got us on the list and we walked up and were directed to go around the venue and we walked through the back of the venue where the buses are.  So we were running late and inside the arena not knowing where to go.  Finally ran into a guy who asked us what are you guys doing back here and showed him the pass and he then directed us to the side of the stage Pnuts side.  2 minutes later 311 comes on stage imagine if we had been just a little later we would’ve run into the guys. Oh and Nicole Scherzinger was there also rocking lol.  On the dvd at the end of freeze time and Nick is asking the how is everyone doing out there people in back and then how you over here meaning left side crowd and at the right time as the camera pans up if you hit pause you can see me and my friends holding our hands up.”

Fun fact about Steve, you can actually look him up on IMDB. “I was in my friends movie back in 07.” Steve can be found constantly quoting movies. He’ll be hanging out with friends and someone will say something or do something and he can instantly relate it to a movie scene or quote. 

Guilty pleasure for Steve is that he loves watching movies or T.V. shows like Ozark, Shameless, Suits or Sons of Anarchy. He said he’s even been known to get sucked into Vanderpump Rules sometimes! He also enjoys playing video games.

Other musicians that he loves include Ballyhoo!, Passafire, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Stick Figure, Phish, and Umphrey’s McGee.

Steve’s words to 311 are as follows: “Thank you for the music and all the great friends I’ve met because of your music and “good talk Russ and don’t let your mom smell that beer on your breath”🤣😂 ‘national lampoons vacation’.”

Now his message to all the other fans out there:

“Well it’s been a wild ride especially since social media! Been able to keep in touch and grow so many friendships.  “I mean just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on grandest ship in the world smoking pot and doing shots with you fine people” 🤣🍾 Titanic.”

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See, Steve really does remember a lot of movie quotes! Thanks Steve for being a part of the fan spotlight. Much gratitude to all the readers out there as well! Now go have a rocking week!

Much Love – The Runt

Oh hey there 311 nation! Who’s ready to read the next fan spotlight? Ok then, without further ado, let’s meet Ashley Thomas!

Ashley’s 311 journey began when her best friend in high school became a huge 311 fan, and Ashley was really into AFI. It wasn’t until she saw 311 live that she really fell in love. “We went to the Vans Warped Tour on 6/29/2001 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. AFI came on first and I waited for AFI to start for the 30 minutes while Alien Ant Farm performed in a crowd of so many people I could barely move. As soon as AFI started I thought I was going to die and I had to crowd surf out of there for the first time. As soon as 311 came on stage I was in love. The vibe of the crowd was 1000 times better and I immediately started jumping up and down. I probably crowd surfed at least 5 times during their set. The people around me were amazing and kept helping me up to crowd surf. I had a blast and I was hooked.”

The next show Ashley attended was the Halloween show at Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood. “My best friend and I were on the floor right in front and this show definitely sealed the deal for me as being a major fan. I bought every CD that came out after that and saw them for a total of 5 times from 2001-2003. Unfortunately, when I went away to college I no longer had my bestie to go to shows with and did not see them again live until I finally found some people to go with on the 2017 Caribbean Cruise. The cruise was completely life changing for me. I fell back in love with 311 even more and discovered the 311 community aka familia. I met so many amazing friends which have now become family. I realized how close everyone was and loved how everyone I met on the ship was family from the beginning.”

After the cruise, Ashley decided to travel to Chicago to see 311, and she ended up at a barbecue that some fellow excitables were throwing, even though she didn’t know the couple throwing the BBQ! “Family and friends did not understand how I was going to someone’s house that I did not know. I said their family and sure enough everyone at the BBQ was family. I met so many more amazing people and that show was definitely one of my favorites. I was on the rail and there were about 30 of us familia all together loving the show together.” Total show count for Ashley is now at 24.

Favorite events for Ashley have been the cruises in 2017 and 2019. “I would have to say that although the 2017 Caribbean Cruise got me back into 311 and was super live changing the 2019 Caribbean Cruise would definitely have to my favorite for sure because of my amazing roommates and how many of my favorite people were on it.” One of her favorite memories comes from another event, and is as follows: “I went to the Manhattan Beach DirectTV taping while I was still recuperating from ankle surgery. I went on my Knee scooter and I had a crutch. I danced the entire show on one foot right up front with a crutch. After the show Pnut saw me and realized that I was there still rocking out with a crutch. His face was classic I wish I could have taken a picture. He looked at me with the biggest sad puppy dog look, jumped off the stage and gave me the biggest hug.  I will never forget that day. I saw so frustrated that my ankle was still a mess, but I went to the show anyways and I made the best of it. Pnut made it completely worth it.”

A song that is a favorite of Ashley’s is “All Mixed Up.” But then after her life changing 311 cruise experience, “Island Sun” is now one that means the most to her. Some lyrics she loves include, “Every day there are mountains, and some times the ocean,” “You’ve got to trust your instincts, and let go of regret,” and “Cuz there’s a better place to be and it’s one you need to see in this lifetime, so get on board and be on your way.”

Van Nuys, California, is where Ashley was born. Her parents divorced when she was just 1 and she moved to Culver City to live with her grandparents. In the summer before she went into first grade she moved to Manhattan Beach. “I grew up with a single mom who sacrificed everything for me to be in a good school district. In third grade I suffered from a brain aneurysm that burst and I was paralyzed on my whole right side. I was hospitalized for the first month of third grade and had to learn how to do everything again learning to walk to learning to read and write again. When I returned to school I had to transfer schools in order to placed in all day special education class, because my school that I had attended since 1st grade did not offer the class until 4th grade. I attended this new school for the rest of the school year and then we able to return to my home school with all of my friends the following year which I was back in general education classes with just pull-out special education support.  Although I still struggle with reading and writing I was able to go off to college and get all A’s and B’s with a lot of work. I would never be where I am today if it was not for all of the help from my resources specialist teacher; therefore, I decided to a resources specialist myself.”

Ashley attended Fresno State where she got her bachelors degree and teaching credentials. She had chosen Fresno State because of the small class sizes and there was snowboarding. “There was a mountain that was only an hour and a half away. While I was in school I was able to go snowboarding like every weekend during the winter.” When she graduated she moved back home and started teaching. She continued snowboarding but had to drive 6 hours to Mammoth to do it. She is currently a middle school special education teacher but has also taught kindergarten through 12th grade.

Every summer, Ashley volunteers for a week at a YMCA resident camp. “I have been going to camp since I was in the 5th grade.” We’ve already learned that she loves snowboarding, but Ashley said that she gets in about 30 plus snowboarding days each season. Guilty pleasure for her is that she watches all episodes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

For other bands, Ashley said she really enjoys all music except country. “Punk has definitely always been one of my top music genres, but I also really like Ska, Reggae and Alternative.” Musicians that she loves include  NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, The Vandals, Reel Big Fish, Too Rude, Rebelution, Stick Figure, and Slightly Stoopid.

To 311, Ashley has these words: “ Thank you for always putting on amazing shows and bringing us fans together. The positive energy you guys put out is what keeps us fans together.”

And to all the other fans out there:

“Thank you to all of the family I have met. I love spending time with all of you and sharing our love for 311. Thank you for always being there for me. I can always count on you guys to be there. Stay positive and love your life!”

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That is the story of Ashley Thomas! Thanks for sharing your tale and as always, much gratitude goes out to all the readers. Have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello out there my friends in 311 nation! The time has arrived to learn all about another fan. This week we meet Andrea McIrvin!

For Andrea, 311 came into her life when she was working at a rock radio station KRRO in Sioux  Falls, South Dakota. “All Mixed Up” and “Down” were in rotation at the time. “  Our salesman brought some tickets in to giveaway for a show in Sioux City (an hour down the road on I29), for 311 and Shootyz Groove. It was 1996.  (I think!? Hazy on this.) I gave a bunch of tickets away on air, and kept a pair for myself, and I had the best time!  I bought the Blue CD, and then started listening to the entire album on repeat. And put my first 311 sticker on my car in 1997.”

Count for shows she never really tracked until she met people in the Familia who kept tabs on their shows. She believes it’s somewhere around 25 shows, over 23 years. Her favorite event was 311 Day 2018, which was her first. “It was a dream-come true, after being a fan for so long and never getting a chance to attend.  I went by myself, and stayed in Las Vegas for 4 days.  Made new friends on the 311 Facebook pages before I went, so I had people to connect with once I got there.  And the person sitting next to me both nights of the shows was a total stranger, but totally cool and we are still friends to this day!”

One of her favorite songs is “I’ll Be Here Awhile” and has been the one she turns to when she needs to remind herself “living is a worthwhile thing.” She loves the harmonies and upbeat vibe, the lyrics, and when Andrea sings it out loud in her car, she knows she can make it another day. She also really loves the song “Get Down.” “I made an effort to get in shape after one particular 311 show (and I was dying from exhaustion.)  I listen to that song to begin every walk I take, and I have logged thousands of miles now, with 311 as my soundtrack.” She loves the line, “It’s time to get down, boots to the ground, you know I won’t stop until I hear the bell sound.”

Andrea, who’s radio name is Audrey and to her friends she goes by Aud, grew up in northwest Iowa. She said she’s just as old as the guys in 311. She attended college in Maryville, Missouri, which is just south of Omaha. After graduation she went into the radio field. “I’ve been moving up and down the dial for 27 years now.” She’s been lucky to have worked at several alternative radio stations in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, so she had lots of access to the new stuff from 311. “The Live Album, and then Soundsystem, and all the goodies that went with it from the record company.  Tickets, backstage passes, headshots signed, etc… I ways considered 311 to be my happy pill….. I can listen to many different artists, but when I wanted to be feel GOOD, I put on 311.”

Now working in her hometown of Cherokee, Iowa, she continues to he in the radio industry. She moved back there when her son turned 3 so she could raise him in a safe environment. Her son Jack is now 13. Andrea said she’s and optimist who is “annoyingly” positive and looks for the good in people.” “I go to concerts as a religion, hobby, escape…. I have seen hundreds, and hundreds of shows of just about every artist in rock or pop.”

With her profession in radio and loving to go to concerts, there are many artists that Andrea loves. She loves Butch Walker, his solo stuff and his bands Floyds Funk Revival, The Floyds, and Marvelous 3. “I have seen Butch in some form over 40 times, since 1994.” Other musicians she loves include Toadies, Madonna, Morphine, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Janet Jackson, Prince, and Deee-Lite.

Interesting fact about Andrea is that she lost 45 pounds in preparation for 311 Day! She did it walking and to be healthier in general. “I  started walking 6-7 miles a day, from August 2017 to March 2018.  Headphones, 311, and good shoes. It helped having a purpose to be in good shape for that long weekend in Vegas.” Guilty pleasure for her? “PBS Masterpiece is my jam!”

To 311, Andrea has these words: “ I would just thank them for taking their fans seriously… for not overlooking the devotion we have.  I appreciate how much they practice, and the attention to details…. the planning they put into everything they do does not go unnoticed by me.  From marketing, to stage design, to light shows/visuals, album covers, interviews, merchandise and special appearances, in-store meet n greets.. they can literally do it all and always with class, humor, and goodness.”

Her message to all her fellow fans:

“I went to a show in Lincoln Nebraska in June 2017, after taking several years off from concerts to raise my son.  After that show, I googled anything 311, and that’s when I discovered The Familia.  I had NO IDEA there was an entire community of weirdos like me.  I literally thought I was the only one!  I engaged with a lot of different people in the Familia, and eventually got invited to join other 311-inspired groups… I have made SO many new friends, and learned so much more about positivity.  The only message I would want other fans to know is to keep on truckin’.”

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Thanks Andrea for sharing your fun story of how you became a 311 fan! Much gratitude for participating and to everyone else for reading. Hope you all have the best week you can have, go spread the good feeling!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back friends and fans of 311! It’s about that time that we meet a brand new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Jeffry Chambers!

Jeffry’s story starts when he was living in his brothers basement, recovering from his divorce, and his four kids stayed with him every other week. After some time he got his own place again and as he said, “the world began to turn more perfectly on its axis.” Since Jeffry felt a little more secure he began to self medicate but only when the kids weren’t around. “They busted me anyway and let me know by introducing me to this band that openly sang about weed.  It was interesting but not quite like my favorite Steely Dan style.  Christmas they gave me “From Chaos” and my musical world changed forever.  I listened to it every Sunday during what I called “kitchen church”.  Head nodding and solo kitchen mosh pit became a religious experience.”

Jeffry was happy with just that CD for some time until a friend of his, Tim Zinkan, whom he calls the “true master of ceremonies,” told him that there was so much more to 311. “Learned  about iTunes and downloaded 9 of their other albums to my computer in one setting.  I had found my bible.  Was given Stereolithic long cd by my people who went to 311 day 2014.  I have had 311on shuffle exclusively for three trips to Florida and back as well as for my own listening pleasure at home.  The number of plays is amazing as well as the fact they are still fresh and enjoyable.    Would have to say the fact that my kids were so into them was the first draw and then “Champagne” and “I’ll Be Here Awhile” filled me with lyrical and musical joy.”

Show count for Jeffry isn’t the highest but he’s loved every one he’s been to. First show for him was in 2005 in Indianapolis and The Roots opened. “Drove an old motorhome to it.  My youngest son was a senior and wanted to know if he and his friends could go back in the back and burn one on the way?  Youngest daughter was with us so it was kinda uncomfortable.  She said “don’t worry about it Dad it’s all good”.  And it was and is.  Even as a straight designated  driver who was fretting about his kids taking on one of the habits that their mother disapproved of 311 (The Guys) made me want to bounce.  Got bad knees so had to fake bounce.  Sure felt the music.” Jeffry also attended a show in Cincinnati and went on the 2015 cruise, which he said was his absolute favorite. “A highlight of my life.”

Some songs that Jeffry loves are “Beyond the Gray Sky” and “Made In The Shade.” Some lyrics he loves are: ““I got a mind full of weapons in the battle of me versus myself,” “Can you get with a melding of two minds?  What’s the worst thing you could find?  A paper trail that prevails in demystification.  People want to believe in mysteries.  Is the truth so bad?”

About Jeffry, he said like the song “Trouble” again, he’s just a kid from the middle. He had horses growing up so shoveling “natures best” and wanting to be a cowboy is how he spent his formative years. He left town after high school for 10 years to try and be a cowboy. “ Colorado, Wyoming, Lake Tahoe, San Jose, realized the limitations of wrangling came back to Indiana got married had four kids wanted to and still want to be a singer songwriter musician.  Didn’t help my marriage but remain signed on to musical aspirations for life.  My songs are a little too country to fit the 311 but I bet “the guys” would do them proud.”

An interesting fact about Jeffry? “Other than being Dad to some awesome people, I’m just ‘tall that’s all’.” As far as what makes him unique, he said he may be the oldest 311 fan. “I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want some of that”!  (From an In Living Color episode.)  Some of you may remember it.”

Some other musicians that Jeffry loves include Steely Dan, Here Come The Mummies, The Green, Frank Zappa, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Guilty pleasure for him is playing bass and pretending he’s a non-jumping Pnut to some of the songs on “Don’t Tread On Me.” He also has a Thursday night board meeting with some classmates and has only missed 8 of them. “ All the problems in the world are continually solved and opinions are tolerated while beer remains the binding elixir.  Females and sports are replaced somewhat, by blood pressure, prostate, blood sugar, etc.  Tolerance of our differences and the love for one another make the pleasure stronger than the hangover that grows as the number of barley pops decline.”

To 311, these are Jeffry’s words: “ “I’m not saying you’re greater than Jesus” but your songs help guide my life!”

To all of Jeffry’s fellow fans:

“Just be a good person, follow the “Golden Rule” whether it is reciprocated or not!”

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What an awesome story! Thank you so much Jeffry for sharing your tale of your love for 311. As always, many thanks to everyone for reading. Have an amazing 4th of July week! Summer is here!

Much love – The Runt

Hello friends! Welcome back for the new 311 fan spotlight! This week we meet the other half of last weeks fan spotlight. Let me introduce you to Chris Wood!

It was thanks to Erika that Chris became a fan of the band. They started dating in early 2002 and she had made it very clear to him how much music meant to her, in particular 311. “She used to have lyrics from her favorite songs all over her room and so I made a point to get more familiar with their albums.  Erika ended up buying me a couple of their albums, Music and From Chaos.  I remember jamming out in my car to those CD’s and just enjoying the fusion of the rap and rock.”

Show count is at 43 for Chris. His first show was August 12, 2002 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. “It was one of our first getaways as a couple and I was definitely not quite sure what to expect show wise.  But it was made memorable by the fact that we managed to meet the entire band after sound check, which I didn’t think would be possible being that it was Vegas and I was expecting more security for some reason.  We stood out in the blazing sun for close to 4 hours with no water along with a couple other fans.  At one point, Erika was starting to feel a little light headed, so I went inside to get some water from one of the shops inside the Mandalay Bay.  Once we guzzled down our $8 bottled water, the band began coming out one by one and started chatting with us.  Erika had never actually met the band before, so it was fun to see her dream come true.  We managed to get a few pictures and a couple of cd liners signed.  The show itself was fun, we were sitting in the upper level of the House of Blues.  I remember at one point, they played Champagne and there was a bubble machine that was supposed to go on.  But it never did during the song.  It ended up kicking on during Wake Your Mind Up instead and I remember Nick just looking up and laughing.  That was one of the few shows that I’ve been to where Nick did his stage dive during Feels So Good at the end of the set.”

Chris & Erika have been to every 311 Day since 2010, on the cruises in 2013, 2017, and 2019, as well as Red, White, & Boom in 2015 and 2016. If he had to pick one of these as his favorite, he’d go with Red, White & Boom from 2015. “It was just a fun weekend of music and actually meeting a lot of people that Erika and I had seen at other events like 311 Day.  We both came away with a lot of new friendships and appreciation of the 311 experience as a whole.”

There are many songs that mean a lot to Chris and have resonated with him over the years.  A few of those include “Use of Time”, “Stealing Happy Hours”, “Creature Feature”, “Uncalm”, “Sun Come Through”, and “Speak Easy”. However it’s the song “Boom Shanka” that he’s become particularly attached to. “It actually came at a very dark time for me. In the beginning of 2014, I was going through a rough stretch in my life personally and professionally, so I was feeling very lost, angry and depressed.  We were close to cancelling our trip out to New Orleans for 311 Day, but in the end we did go since we were going to meeting up with some friends of ours.  Shortly before our trip out to NOLA, I had managed to find a leak download for the new Stereolithic album and put it on our phones to listen to on our way there.  The track list wasn’t quite in order, but once I got to Boom Shanka on my playlist, it literally made stop what I was doing at the time and I just remember listening very carefully to lyrics in particular.  Once I had a chance to really let it sink in, I started to rethink a lot of things and not let my emotions get the best of me.  Since then, things have been great and I’ve been a little more appreciated of what life has thrown my way.”

Some lyrics from songs that he love include: “Be positive with love, just see the good in everybody,” and “Now I’m ready to turn the page on yesterdays and forgive them. Now I’m willing to disengage, to seize the day and move on.”

There are two places that Chris grew up: Lake Tahoe and Santa Cruz. His parents divorced when he was just 3 years old, so he spent the first 7 years of his life in the Lake Tahoe area until his mother moved them to Santa Cruz. “I split time with my parents, spending time with my dad during the winter breaks, major holidays and summers in Tahoe.  The rest of the school year was spent in Santa Cruz, so it wasn’t a bad way to grow up all things considered.  I was there for the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, which was a more than a little scary as we were close to epicenter of the quake.” Once Chris graduated high school in 1999, he stayed for one more year attending college before deciding to move back to Tahoe to live with his dad. “I spent the next two years working and going to school full time at the local community college in Tahoe, where I met Erika.  We ended up moving to Reno in the fall of 2002 and we’ve been here ever since.  I work for a local family owned paper company in nearby Sparks, which helps to fund our various 311 adventures. And yes, it’s a lot like the tv show, the Office. It’s a little scary just how accurate that show is with my workplace. Recently in the last couple of years we adopted two little shelter dogs appropriately named after 311 songs, Cali Soca and Unity, so they have brought Erika and I a lot of fun and mayhem.”

Interesting fact about Chris is that he has a half brother whom he didn’t know about until he was around the age of 15. “We’ve kept in touch over the years and we actually met up recently in Vegas during the Unity Tour 2017.  I got the chance to meet my nephew for the first time and he’s just the coolest little kid.  Fun fact, he was actually born on 311 Day 2015, so Erika and I make sure to wish him a very Happy 311 Day each year.” Unique element for Chris is that when he drives somewhere new, he tends to memorize the whole route in his head by looking at landmarks, etc. “So the next time I’m heading to the same place, I don’t have to rely on a map or GPS for directions.  It can be something as simple as just going into a new neighbor or just a new city in general.  But it’s like a weird muscle memory thing or something like that.”

Guilty pleasure for Chris is comic book collecting. “It’s been something very meaningful to me since I was a kid and it’s been interesting to see how mainstream it’s become over the years with all of the various movies and tv shows.  I’ve literally got thousands of books of various superheroes, but mostly Spider-Man books.”

Other music that Chris loves includes The Dirty Heads, Queen, the Skints, No Doubt, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughn, just to name a few.

To 311, Chris would like to simply say: “Thank you for all that you do for the fans, no matter how big or small the gesture is.”

To the fans:

“Stay true to yourselves and enjoy this wild ride we call life.”

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Thanks Chris for sharing your story! As usual, thanks to all the readers out there. Be strong, be beautiful, and have a kick ass week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again 311 nation! It’s a new week and time we learn about another awesome fan. Let’s meet Erika Wood!

It was a complete accident that Erika became a 311 fan. It was during her sophomore year and she was getting ready for school when she turned on MTV the video for “Down” just happened to be on. “That was that, I was hooked and picked up the blue album that weekend, which was difficult to do in Tahoe because all we had at the time was a Kmart and they were very selective about what albums they carried. Then the following weekend I ordered the rest of 311’s albums through BMG (totally dating myself).”

Show count for Erika is 47 and she has a spreadsheet. She’s been to every 311 Day since 2010 and went on the cruise in 2013, 2017, and 2019. Her first show was on October 9, 2000, at the Warfield in San Francisco. “I bawled like a baby at the end because I thought it was so amazing and that this one show was the only one I’d make it to. Little did I know what it would turn into.”

Favorite event for Erika is 311 Day 2012 and she said she’s not sure how she survived that second set list. “It was opened  with  Down, Rock On, Grassroots, Hive and my favorite Sever.” Another one of her faves is the first concert she went to with her husband which was in Vegas on August 12, 2002, at the House of Blues. “I had noticed a tour bus pull into the Mandalay Bay from our room at the Luxor and I was positive it was them, of course Chris thought I was insane but we booked it outside and low and behold Tim was there just chatting with fans, it took about 4 long HOT hours, but we met the entire band, needless to say that’s a day I’ll never forget.” She also said that this years cruise was epic and they had so much fun every day of it. “The best part was meeting Harlow and Nick in our reindeer costumes and for the rest of the cruise every time we ran into Nick he said there are my bad ass bitches.”

The song “Speak Easy” now has a special place in her heart because of the loss of the beautiful Renee. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to get through that song without tearing up.” She also will always love “Down” as it’s the reason she found 311. The lyrics “Stay positive and love your life” are ones that have gotten her through some really tough times. “I just repeat and repeat it to myself until I eventually talk myself out of being sad or depressed.” She also said that “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world” really resonates with her. “There’s been so many times when I’ve, let’s say, expected more from people and have been disappointed in the end, so I’ve learned what ever happens happens and not to expect too much from people.”

Erika grew up in South Lake Tahoe, California. She hasn’t moved very far as she now lives in Reno, Nevada, which is only an hour away. She said it’s sad but there really isn’t an alternative music scene in that area. “Last year when 311 came here the billboard was down before the show even started.” She says she has no idea how she hasn’t gone into serious debt during all of their 311 adventures over the past 17 years, but she works hard and saves money so they can do it and even managed to squeeze in a trip to Hawaii in 2012. “Music has just become such an outlet for me, it makes me happy to be in a pit among my excitables, however any other concert I’m so anxious and on guard the entire time it’s ridiculous.”

In 2002, Erika and Chris had been living together for only a month when they lost everything in a house fire. They were devastated. “Poor Chris was only worried about finding any of my 311 collection in the rubble. In the mist of our grieving my dad decided to reach out to Joan and about two week later I got a package from the HIVE, I carefully opened it ( I still have the manila envelope) and there was a hand written letter, some guitar picks, cds and an autographed picture. From that moment that was it I was an excitable through and through, funny thing is I brought the letter to the Fresno show in 2003 in the hope I could thank the guys in person, and once again we met them (again it was super hot) and I was bawling poor Nick was like yeah I remember doing that in the moment I believed him, but who knows if he truly remembered but after losing everything that meant the world to both of us.”

Erika said that in her normal, everyday life, she’s a really shy and anxious person, which is a side that no one sees when she’s around the 311 community. She said being shy, she tends to like animals more than people – they have 4 cats and 2 dogs. Another interesting fact about Erika is that she has 17 tattoos and 6 of them are 311 related. “the others are all related to meaningful events in my life and family members I have lost. I have the Renee flower on my shoulder which make me feel like she is always with me.” Another interesting fact about Erika is that she has zero interest in skiing, for good reason. “In 5th grade during the ski week on the second day, I fell just right and tore my ACL, another ligament and fractured my tibia. So no more skiing for this girl.”

Something interesting about Erika and Chris – at least one point every day, they both have the same exact song in their heads at the exact same lyric. “I guess that’s what happens after being together for 17 years sharing so many concerts together. I must admit though it’s been a wild ride.” Guilty pleasure for Erika is that she’s a reality T.V. junkie. “It’s so bad that when we are in an area where a reality show is filmed I have to go, we’ve been to Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, NJ we have also visited the bakeries in Time Square and Las Vegas. I’ve dragged Chris to every ATM fish tank we are in the vicinity of and we went to Gold and Silver pawn shop from Pawn Stars when we were heading out of Vegas in December.”

Other musicians that Erika loves include No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, P!NK, Dirty Heads, Garbage,  and Sublime, just to name a few.

Erika has these words for 311: “I would just like to just thank them for their music and the beautiful people they have brought into my life and for helping me through rough times.”

To all the other fans, her message is this:

“I truly care about everyone in the 311 community, when I see some of you at these events I really really want to go up and say hi but my shyness stops me in my tracks every time. I’m truly grateful for all of you and I’m privileged to be part of such a positive community.

Stay positive and love your life ❤️”

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Much thanks Erika for sharing your story with everyone! Thanks to everyone for coming back and reading each week. I truly hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Why hello there 311 fans! Welcome back for the latest edition of the fan spotlight. Kick this week off properly and read all about Christine Dantonio!

When the song “Down” was released, Christine remembers hearing it on the radio in Philadelphia and she instantly loved the energy, originality, and mix of the musical styles. “I love music with feeling and 311 has a lot of that!” It wasn’t until college when she made a friend from the west coast who introduced her to the albums Music and Grassroots that her love for them expanded. “The addiction grew from there.”

Christine has been to 19 shows and she has shows 20 and 21 planned for this summer. Her first show was November 20, 1997, at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University. “I was a senior in college at the time. This is the only show I’ve been to that I still don’t know the setlist!”

She chose this years cruise as her favorite event, it was her first time going on the cruise. “  It was so awesome being with friends I met because of 311, meeting new friends, and experiencing something so special with other fans who “get it”.  For those who were OTMFB with us, I was the one handing out the 311 temporary tattoos!” The photo above was taken at the port just before they boarded the ship. The back of her Eagles jersey says “Stony Baby” and her husbands says “Homebrew.”

Speaking of “Homebrew,” that is one of Christines favorite songs. “My husband and I walked into our wedding reception with it playing!!  The lyrics describe some very fond memories of when we were young and super crazy.  “It was Independence Day, I’ve seen the other side and I say, Oh, I’ve been insane.”  We still jam to this song whenever it comes on now.  If only we could turn back time and be young again.” A few of her favorite lyrics include, “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity,” “The fish who keep on swimming are the first to chill upstream,” “I’m a perfect example of not giving a fuck about the catty rude people that just suck,” and “I was 19, I’d do anything. Shit like that now scares me, but I’d like to do it again.”

Coatesville, Pennsylvania, is where Christine grew up. It’s a small steel city just about 35 miles west of Philadelphia. She attended Penn State and obtained a bachelors degree in Labor Studies & Industrial Relations. After graduation and working for a year, she then put herself through law school. She attended Roger Williams University in Rhode Island for one year and then moved back to Pennsylvania to attend Villanova. “I have been in the Philly area since then, currently living in Norristown, PA for the past 13 years.  I work at a wonderful law firm where my practice focus on defending local physicians, nurses, and hospitals.  I am constantly learning new things about medicine which keeps it interesting.  If I had the money, I would go back to medical school.”

Christine met her husband when they were in high school. They dated on and off for about 5 years, separated for 1 year, and then gravitated back to each other in 2000. In 2001 they got engaged and then they married in 2003 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “We bought our first home in 2005 and our only son, Taylor, was born in 2006.  Some thought Chris and I would never last (he’s the bad boy, I’m the good girl) and now we laugh in their faces.  Strong All Along!!!”

Her husband Chris has been to every single 311 show with her and they just took their son to his first show last year at Festival Pier in Philly. “I had been trying to meet one of the band members for 20 years and Taylor got to meet Nick Hexum at his first show!!!  I also caught one of the drumsticks used during the band’s Applied Science drum solo at that show.  Now Taylor is hooked and trying to get his middle school friends to join the 311 family.” Going to live shows means so much to Christine and makes her the happiest person she can be. “I try to go to a show every chance I get.  There is nowhere that I have more self esteem and feel more accepted than at a 311 show.”

Christine’s love of music has inspired her to learn the guitar. She just got her first one at Christmas and is teaching herself using YouTube and internet lessons. “It’s not a fast learning process, but I have the rest of my life to learn.  The first song I learned was Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.  Hoping that some day I can play like miT.” When not learning guitar she also likes to go road cycling. “I got into it about 4 years ago when I decided to get active and realized running was not for me.  I ride for fun and do charity rides.  The longest ride I have done is about 70 miles from the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia to Atlantic City, NJ to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  I will be doing my third ACS Bike-a-Thon on June 9 (the day before this spotlight posts).  Someday, I hope to do my first century ride (100 miles).  I have actually designed some 311-inspired cycling jerseys and may get one or two of them made.”

Something cool about Christine is that she is a true Libra, born right in the middle of that Zodiac sign. “As everyone knows, the sign for Libras is the scales.   The scales are also prominent in my work – law.  Ironically, I have the worst physical balance (working on that by doing yoga), but my spiritual balance is unwavering. It is in my nature to see both sides of every story and promote peace and compromise.”

Christine is stonybaby311 on Instagram, but she said she needs to do a better job posting. “I enjoy living in the moment too much to worry about snapping pics all the time.” Guilty pleasure for her is that she loves binge watching TV shows. “I always feel guilty for being lazy, but I just get so caught up in them!  I tend to push myself to the limit, and then want to do nothing at all.  So, I watch shows.  I gravitate toward dramas, with my favs being Breaking Bad, Weeds, Sons of Anarchy, West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones.” Some other musicians that Christine loves include Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Tropidelic, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Jane’s Addiction, and Sublime.  “I am really a product of the 90’s grunge era.”

Christine has this message to 311: “Thank you for giving all of us great music, positive energy, and please never stop doing what you do!!!!”

Here are her words to all her fellow fans:

“I am so grateful to be a part of the 311 family!!  You are my brothers and sisters!!  Respect and love each other’s differences, be kind to each other, speak positively, and rock on!!”

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Thanks everyone for reading all about Christine Dantonio! I hope you all have a magical week. Keep it positive always!

Much Love – The Runt

Greetings friends out there in 311 nation. A new week has arrived which means it’s time for the next edition of the fan spotlight! Let’s meet Joe Solomon!

When 311 released the blue album Joe was young, but his brother was listening to the band and Joe really liked their sounds.  Flash forward to the 2000’s and Joe made some friends that all they listened to was 311. “I’m like really digging their music. In 2002 I went to my first show, 311 Day. It was my 21st birthday, and I’ll never forget.”

Show count since that wonderful first show is at 89 for Joe. His favorite even so far though has been the cruise this year. “It’s a different experience all together.”

Song that Joe loves is “Galaxy.” “SA’s rap and lyrics are on point!!” While he loves their music there are no particular lyrics that come to mind as favorites, he just loves it all.

Joe grew up on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born and raised there but left for about 10 years to work as a traveling nurse. He then returned because it was where he has his biggest support network. “I’ve lived in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, all while working on the Navajo Reservations as a nurse. Now I serve the local neighborhood as an Americorp Volunteer. I work with at risk kids. I live my life in service be it professional or personally.”

While Joe’s 311 habit makes him poor in the summer months, he tries to to squeeze in a few local shows because it brings him together with the great friends he’s made thanks to this band. “Because of 311 I have built some really solid relationships. I feel blessed because of that!! I’m also blessed to be alive.”

In 2012 Joe became disabled and fell into a coma. “Basically if the brain senses trauma, it shuts down. I had a reaction to anesthesia, and my life drastically changed at that moment. I’ve been on the mend since, but sometimes it’s a real struggle. If I didn’t have family or friends that have carried me along, I wouldn’t be where I am. I appreciate each and every one of them!! I’ve overcome a lot, and refuse to let it kill those positive vibes!!”

What Joe is most excited about right now is that he is going to embark on a kayaking adventure, traveling the entire Ohio River in August and September. “I’m doing an awareness paddle to raise awareness about mental health in America and am all about sharing my story. I feel blessed to be able to do this and create a buzz around it! It’s been a real positive experience, and is only getting better. Being a volunteer, we have a month off between assignments, so I decided to do an awareness paddle this year. Last year I traveled through the New England states, and met some really amazing people in my travels. You only live life once, so I try to make the best of it!!”

Since you now know about Joe’s kayaking adventure, it’s no surprise to know he’s an endurance distance kayaker. You can follow along on his adventure at Kayaking 4 a Cause (https://www.facebook.com/goingthedistance2019/). Something you may not know though is that Joe once lived in a hotel for 4 years in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. Guilty pleasure for him is watching the National Geographic channel. When not listening to the sounds of 311 you can find him jamming out to bands like Rebelution, Dirty Heads, The Green, Iration, Tribal Seeds, The Movement, and Ballyhoo!.

His message to the guys in 311 is pure & simple: “Thank you for all the great memories of my life!!”

To all his fellow fans:

“Don’t give up the fight to stay alive!! I’m living breathing proof that fighting pays off in many ways. I will fight to be an advocate for mental health, because if we have support we have a chance! Bless up to all the fighters out there. Just don’t give up!!”

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Thanks for that awesome story Joe! Of course, thank you to all who keep reading also! Have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Hey my friends in 311 nation! It’s a new week & Happy Memorial Day! Let’s get it started and meet Brian Sweeney!

Brian was in elementary school when he first started listening to 311. It was about the time that the blue album came out. He heard the singles – “Down” and “All Mixed Up” – he was hooked. “I was a big fan of alternative rock, and they had such a unique sound that I gravitated towards.  When I heard the full album for the first time I was blown away by the amazing guitar, the interesting rap / rock vocals, and then I started diving into their older stuff, and have been a huge fan ever since.  I think one of the things I really liked is that they were riff driven, and not simply playing 4 chord songs, they have a lot of changes and phrasing that make every song interesting to hear.”

As far as show count, Brian never really kept count. However, he thinks he is somewhere between 50-60. “I’d see them 2 times a year or more, and over the years and especially with their bigger events have been able to see multiple sets (cruise, 311 days, etc.).  I think my first show was at PNC in NJ, a large outdoor amphitheater.  They always packed the house!”

Cool story about Brian…he met his wife playing an unofficial 311 pre-party at the Cheeba Hut in Denver with Kevin Labella, who urged him to come see 311 at Red Rocks. “That was one of the first iterations of what would become the Unity All Stars.  I then spent the RR show ditching my friends and hangin with this beautiful woman Lauren Richerson, and we instantly formed a connection.  After that my favorite events have been the cruises..  Becoming part of the 311 family I have gained so many new friends, and it’s not just the music I look forward to but seeing all those happy faces and feeling the love.  Each cruise is different, on Cruise 1 I didn’t know many people, but when I came back for Cruise 4 (and have been on each since) my friends group grew to the hundreds!”

As for song that means the most to Brian, it was a hard choice. It depends on the day and what musical sounds are soothing him. “But as a guitarist, generally my favorite songs are Tim heavy on solos, and Stealing Happy Hours is probably my #1 go to when I want to chill out.” Favorite lyric for Brian is this – “The world revolves around your mind in a golden spiral, the natural way that things organize, you can’t stop entropy so why even try. Observe the conscious flow and don’t mystify, life’s not a race.”

Northern New Jersey is where Brian grew up. From the age of 6 until he was 18 he played competitive soccer. That and playing guitar were his outlets. He then attended SUNY Albany where he met 2 of his current band mates – Kevin Labella and Aaron Zuckerman. They started a cover band that also played a lot of 311 music. “We kept in touch over the years and I consider them 2 of my best friends.”

Post college Brian lived in New Jersey for awhile and then when he met his wife they moved out to L.A. Then at the end of last year they relocated to Kansas City. “Happy to be in a home in a cool city but having the burbs life.” Brian started playing guitar when he was in elementary school and he said it’s become an extension of him. “I almost always have music and ideas for songs or riffs in my head, and it’s a great outlet for emotions and the drive for creativity. I love seeing live music, and I love a lot of different kinds of music genres and seeing musicianship up close.  But I’ve definitely seen 311 more than any other band, it’s not even close.” Other musicians that Brian loves include progressive rock bands like Tool and Propagandhi, as well as artists like Jimi Hendrix, NoFX, Strung Out, Clapton, Deftones, and Snarky. “Variety is the spice of life.”

Unique attribute for Brian is that he he has a bit of synesthesia with sounds, colors, and shapes. “It’s basically like having certain sounds, notes, tones, giving off unique colors or shapes that I can feel.   And the brightness, tone, distortion, phrasing, etc. all give it sort of a unique signature to me, and each note, an E or a C or an F# minor or whatever are generally in certain parts of the color spectrum.  Like a bright sounding happy G chord can be a lighter shade of green with gold and silvery flecks, or a heavy distorted palm muted G chord takes on a dark hunter green.  It can apply to any sound but I feel it most with music.   I can’t read music and don’t really know how to speak music theory, a lot of it is self-taught, intuitive, and using relationships of sounds, chords, notes, etc. that I’ve sort of learned over the years.  To me every song is almost like a painting, with different colors, shapes, and textures that are unique to them.”

Interesting tidbit about Brian is that he once won a state-wide drawing contest to design the mascot for a recycling PSA. He was in the 4th or 5th grade when it happened. “Drawing, writing, and making music are all creative outlets for me.” Guilty pleasure for him is that he watches Dragon Ball, an anime that has been around for about 30 years. “I dig it as much now as a 35 year old as I did as a 12 year old.”

Words Brian has for 311: “Thank you.  More than any other band, 311 has really changed my life.  From bringing me into contact with people like my wife or my bandmates, to giving me endless hours of musical bliss, and always keeping me feeling positive with their messages, 311 is really close to my heart.”

Words for all the other fans out there:

“Just to love each other.  We’re on this golf ball called earth, and every day we have the power to be positive, and to try and be the change we want to see in the world.  Life goes by too fast to be swallowed by negativity.  Enjoy every day, every song, enjoy each other, and try to lift yourself and others up at every chance.”

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That’s the story of Mr. Brian Sweeney! Great story and thank you for sharing. Much gratitude to all the readers as well. Now go have a great Memorial Day and be the positive, loving people you are!

Much love – The Runt