Happy Memorial Day friends out in 311 nation! Before you head out to celebrate, take a moment to meet our latest fan spotlight – Sandra Dee Guillen!

It was Sandra’s fiancé who introduced her to the sounds of 311. It was the island vibes to rock vibes and everything in between that really sucked her in. “Was feeling the grooves and nodding my head to the beats. While getting groovy…I even found myself doing a little ballroom dance & break dancing.”

Sandra lost count at 21 of how many shows she has been to. “It’s not the number that should matter but what we do with the time … every second…every year…. we must make every moment count.” Some of her favorites that she attended include both the Jamaica and Cozumel cruises, Asbury park shows, the New York City Halloween show, and Atlantic City. Her first show ever was in Philadelphia at Festival Pier.

First favorite song for Sandra was “Sunset in July” because she loves dancing and having the time of her life with friends. A few of her other favorites are: Tranquility (because it helped her through a tough time of losing 3 parents and 2 fur boxer kids in a short period of time), “Beyond the Grey Sky,” “Face in the Wind” (because it makes her think of just putting yourself out there and facing your fears), “Inside Our Home,” and “Island Sun.” One of her favorite quotes comes from her first favorite – “Rockers by my side, time is flying by. Watching you dancing and having the time of your lives and it gets me high.”

Born and raised in the Rio Grand Valley, Sandra is from the southern tip of Texas. She has a degree in Graphic Design but stuck with her passion, which is dancing. Dance and teaching took her to Las Vegas for 4 years where she competed in a variety of ballroom and latin style dances. She then moved to Pennsylvania and has lived there for almost 12 years. “It was then when I was introduced to that scratched CD…. that got played so much it looks like it has burn circles from the songs I played over & over.” She is a professional ballroom instructor and her dream was to share her love of dance with others, which she does at Pivotballroom. She opened this studio with her partner almost a year ago. “A place where when we were renovating the walls heard Mosaic on repeat through many hours/days of tears, sweat, injuries & even helped us get past the days we were most tired & overwhelmed.  Yes… 311 stuff can be seen/found in and around the studio.”

Sandra has had a love of classic music from an early age. On Saturday mornings she would be woken up by the sounds of old school music being played on the record player. “Dad would play all kinds of vinyl and we had a dance party in the living room. Gosh I miss those days.” Her musical choices are pretty diverse, including everything from blues to ska, from country to old school hip hop. Other artists she enjoys besides 311 include Dirty Heads, Rdgldgrn, Full Service, Soja, Prince, Beastie Boys, Frank Sinatra and Metallica.

Fun facts about Sandra include that she is a paranormal investigator and her nickname is Cha Cha. As mentioned, she loves dancing and has a talent for it. She can even break dance! Guilty pleasure? “Mermaiding.”

Sandra was lucky enough to meet Nick one day and this was her interaction:

Sandra Dee to Nick: “May I have a hug?”

Nick: Yess…sure.

“He sort of looked a little thrown back.. my guess is cuz I asked for permission  instead of just going in for one :: shrug shoulders :: & I was frozen.. wanting to respect his space/energy…with a huge smile on my face. Did I mention he is so much taller than I expected too..his energy was great!!!”

Finally, here is Sandra’s message to all the other fans:

“Fin ups!! Get out there and whatever makes your soul happy do that!! Be what we see and hear so often from 311… be yourself. .. Remember you attract what you put out there. So let’s all be creatures for awhile… spirits on the run…. living and let live with love & kindness. 

And if you see me don’t hesitate to give me a high five but….

*** Warning** I’M A HUGGER!”

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That was the story of Sandra Dee Guillen! It was a pleasure to write and share her story. Much gratitude as always for those who read each week. Now go celebrate the day and keep on spreading that positivity!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome again friends out there in 311 nation! It’s that time again, we need to meet our next fan spotlight! Say hello to Heidi Weber!

Heidi’s best friend in high school had the Grassroots album and they would drive around listening to it. Then Heidi went and found the Music album and was hooked from there on. “When I was a kid I loved how different they sounded from everyone else. The lyrics were so uplifting to me and made me think about things in a different way and changed my perspective. Young and impressionable for sure.”

As far as show count, she’s pretty sure it’s somewhere around 25. Her first show was in Cleveland at the Agora Theater back in 1999. “I had just gotten my license and overestimated how cool my parents were when I bought the tickets. They definitely were not cool enough to let me drive an hour to Cleveland to see a band. But I already had the tickets so what was I going to do? I was going to lie and go anyway. Me and my friends ended up stealing one of their dads cars and driving up there and lying about where we were. It totally worked. It was the time of my life at 16. They started the encore with who’s got the herb and the whole place lit up. I had never seen anything like that in my 16 year old life, but I totally lit up with them.”

Favorite event for Heidi was her first 311 Day in 2016. “I had been wanting to go since they started doing it back in the day, but there was no way I had money to travel to see 311. The drummer in my band, David Elrod (some of you may know) shared an interest in 311 that we apparently had never talked about. It came up one day and we decided to go for it in 2016. We had such a blast meeting new people and seeing how much love for 311 was still out there. We hopped on the cruise the next year and Vegas this year. Safe to say we’re hooked.”

When it comes to favorite song, Heidi said that historically “Eons” has been her favorite if asked but with that being said, “Freak Out” hits her really hard. Then picking lyrics that mean a lot to here is difficult, but there is a funny story that comes with one set of lyrics in particular. “In high school someone was giving me a hard time about something. Just being an all around not cool person and instead of slapping back at them I just spouted these lyrics. They were definitely speechless after that.” The lyrics come from the song “Uncalm” – “Don’t even try it, you don’t want to disrespect me. If dealing with punks was school I’d have a Harvard degree. You can’t make hate you no matter how punk you act, whatever you do I don’t react. I’m the perfect example of not giving a fuck about catty rude people that just suck. What do you know, all of a sudden, uh, I usurp you. Look it up in the dictionary to find out what I do. I go back to the style I came from, it’s not something you can fake son. You’re a con man who’s run is done, you lead a world wide web of deception.”

A “super small town” in Ohio is where Heidi was raised. She said there wasn’t much to do in the summer and even less in winter. “Our main hangouts were driving around in someones car and listening to music. 311 was always in heavy rotation.” She lived in Ohio for 23 years and then moved to California. There she produces concerts and live events. She also hosts a radio show on Radio Valencia in San Francisco. As if that wasn’t enough, she DJ’s at her local dive bar. “I got super lucky and was able to turn my love of music into a career.”

Interesting fact about Heidi is that she played in a German brass band for most of the time she was in Ohio. She’s also super into karaoke. “On the cruise last year I went to the karaoke event right when it started and signed up for 4 songs at least. I was recognized as the karaoke girl after that.” Guilty pleasure? She’s been known to get down to some Taylor Swift! Other musical interests include Brian Jonestown Massacre, Sleater Kinney, Rilo Kiley, Alvvays, Belle & Sebastian, and King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard. She said she also really loves the 60’s pop that’s out there.

Her message to 311 is a simple yet beautiful one: “Thanks for all the memories.”

To all the fellow fans:

“It’s always a fun time hanging out with you guys. Can’t wait to catch you at the shows!”

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Thank you to Heidi Weber for sharing your story! Gratitude goes out to all who participate and who read every week. You are all amazing and I’m very proud to be a part of this community. Until we meet again!

Much love – The Runt

Oh hey there excitable nation! Welcome again to the fan spotlight. This week we meet the lovely Alexandra Collins!

During high school Alexandra listened to “Love Song” and “Amber” but didn’t fully become a 311 fan until 2016 when she started dating someone who was a huge fan. “The positivity of their lyrics originally drew me to the band, but once I saw them live it became about so much more than that. It felt like family.”

Show count for Alexandra is at 11. She went on the cruise in 2017 and attended this years 311 Day. First show for her was in San Francisco in 2016. Her favorite event so far was the cruise which she said was life changing. “Spending four days on a boat with a bunch of people who preach positivity and love the same band I do was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. You really can’t understand it until you experience it for yourself.”

There are a few songs that mean a lot to Alexandra, but “It’s Alright” is probably the one that means the most to her. “I found the Uplifter album during a difficult time for myself and my family and the lyrics in that song in particular helped me through it.” Some of her favorite lyrics though come from the song “Tranquility” – “No you can’t go around it, you have to walk right through it, my father told me that so long ago. Every time that you ignore it, it gets a little more, you just have to walk toward the fear to go.” She said these lyrics speak to her because of trials that her family has been through. “It reminds me that I need to face my problems head on and not let fear stop me from achieving the things I want in life. No matter where I am when I hear this song, I always take a minute to center myself and really listen to the words.”

The San Francisco Bay Area is where Alexandra grew up but she also spent a lot of time in Upstate New York, where her family is from. She went to Syracuse University for a year, but then transferred to Arizona State University where she earned her bachelors degree in Journalism. Besides the above mentioned states, she has also lived in Connecticut and Oregon where she worked for a couple of small baseball teams. She currently works for the San Francisco Chronicle as a full-time content producer. She also works part-time for MLB.com as a stats stringer and as if that wasn’t enough, she is the media relations assistant for the Oakland Raiders.

When not tied up with work, Alexandra likes to rock climb, hike and be outdoors in general. She also writes concert reviews and dabbles in live music photography. Something interesting about Alexandra, she has a matching tattoo with both her best friend and her mom! “My mom and I both have baseballs with wings and my best friend and I both have lyrics to an A Day to Remember song.”

Singing has been something Alexandra has been doing sing she was a child and she used to perform at state fairs and various events in California. She even sang the national anthem at some games. Now I get my fix doing karaoke at dingy dive bars. I get down to some “Lady Marmalade.” Guilty pleasure for her is bad reality T.V. shows. “I’m not ashamed to admit it.”

Her musical tastes are all over the map and she doesn’t just simply love one genre. She said her favorite artists often change. Lately she has been listening to Rebelution, The Beatles, Stick Figure, Halsey, Tom Petty, Dirty Heads, Nahko and Medicine for the People.

To 311, Alexandra’s message is: “Thank you for always leaving your heart and soul on the stage and for treating your fans more like family.”

To all the fellow fans in 311 nation:

“Remember, you don’t know what people are going through in their personal lives. Be kind, stay positive and love your life.”

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Many thanks to Alexandra for sharing her story of her love for 311. Much gratitude goes out to each of you that are in this family and read the spotlights. May your week be full of light and positivity!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again 311 fans! Time for the latest edition of the spotlight. This week, let’s meet Robert Solivan!

Robert was the age of 19, in the year 1997, when he first discovered 311. He knew the songs “Down” and “All Mixed Up,” but didn’t really pay too much attention to them at first. He then joined a CD club where he bought 10 CD’s for a penny. “The ones I remember are Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits, Grateful Dead Skeletons in the Closet, Music and Grassroots. I didn’t know that 311 had two other albums so I thought I’d give them a shot. When I put in Music I liked it right away, everything about it, I don’t have to preach to the choir here. And it continued with Grassroots. After these two albums became part of my rotation it was Tim’s Santana sounding guitar style part in Nutsymptom that impressed me the most. Another thing I liked was Nicks certainty about being here today, tomorrow, next week and, next year. He was right. I then borrowed forever The Blue Album from my friend. It rocked.”

Since 1997, Robert has been seeing 311 live consistently in the San Francisco Bay Area. It started on Halloween at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. He’s lost count of exactly how many times he has seen them. In 2008 he was at 22 shows and he said he remembers this because he briefly thought he had seen them enough. “Then I realized some things. First off, Uplifter had just come out and I loved it, It was their ninth album. There were no bands I liked at the time or even now that made that many albums that I liked so much. Specifically the Beatles who were life changing for me. And there are more 311 songs that I like than The Beatles. At that point I realized 311 was my favorite band and I wanted to see them every time they came around.”

Favorite show so far for Robert has been 311 Day 2014. “For that marathon show I heard more of my favorite songs than any other concert than I have been to.” First show he traveled across the country for was Pow Wow. “I took the bus because I had a bunch of stuff the plane wouldn’t let me have. It was an experience that I wouldn’t recommend. I fly now.” He also made it on the Jamaica cruise and plans on going on the 2019 cruise.

When asked if he has a favorite song, he said a less complex question would be favorite album. “I’ve bought every album during initial release since Transistor and listened to them religiously until the next one comes out and repeat. I Love every album and have twenty three years of positive stories for every one of them.” Currently Mosaic is his favorite. He said a start to some 311 magic was when Transistor was released and he bought it the week it came out. “There was a Tower Records commercial for it. Bought it after work, took it home, put it in the cd player pressed rewind to see if there was a secret track and there was. I always rewound or waited for a secret track after the last track because of various other albums at the time that did it. Mind Blown they had one. Mind blown again a couple months later when I see them live for the first time and they start the show with it dressed in their Halloween costumes. I have a story for every single album released since. Going to shows and swapping them are the best.”

Concord, California, is where Robert grew up. It’s about 30 miles east of San Francisco. His mother was born in Mexico and he was raised as pop-cultured as anyone else was in the 80’s. He and his family listened to R&B, Soul, Funk, Rap, & Salsa music as he grew. Then at 15 he was introduced to  AC/DC Live and his musical interests broadened. “From there Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power lyrics were memorized and Rock & Roll albums whether classic or modern started to rule my life.  Jimi, Marley, Zeppelin,The Beatles, RHCP, RATM, Sublime, 311 around here somewhere, System of a Down, Slipknot, Fear Factory, Machine Head, Mudvayne.”

Currently Robert has five favorite active bands that he has been listening to solidly for a few years. Obviously number one is 311. Second is Passafire. “Ten years of listening to these guys and seeing them live and they just keep getting better. They are catching up to 311 with six stellar albums.” Third band is Faith No More. He got into them in 1999 after they broke up but then in 2010 they reunited. He said if they had kept making music and hadn’t broken up they would probably be his favorite band right now. Number four for him is T.V. on the Radio. “They’ve been solid to me for a decade and I just saw them three nights in a row in Berkeley to be far from disappointed. I cancelled Back to the Beach for it and don’t regret it.” Then number five is The Cave Singers. “They’re like if Creedence Clearwater and Fleetwood Mac had a baby band with Joe Cocker singing, that would be them. Saw them open for a band called Calexico in 2007 and I never stopped listening. They ended up having a song in Sons of Anarchy season three which was random.”

For Robert’s interesting fact about himself that people may not know, I’m going to let him tell it to you in his own words. “One interesting thing about me that people don’t know is that I partied a little too hard being a creature for a little more than a while and became homeless for a couple days. Drugs messed my life up like sleeping behind a building for a couple nights with nowhere to go all bridges burned homeless. This was the From Chaos/Evolver era. The first day of homelessness I traded my electric guitar for an acoustic. Was going to spend half of my money on a 311 sticker at a smoke shop to put on my  guitar case but the guy gave it to me for free. I still have the guitar case. Stumbled upon some meeting ending while urinating in an alley one night and someone noticed my sticker on my guitar and we talked music. They ended up having a room for rent and I found two jobs the next day. I liked Rock & Roll and speed. The speed stopped in 2005. I like that Cannabis is legal now. Never stopped me from smoking it. It’s always felt legal here. It’s been medicinal 20 years now in California but now it’s recreational. Nice to have one less thing to be paranoid about after a sesh. I’m open about it now with my kids. They know the medicinal values of it and that it’s the delivery person at the door who has the herb. And we can grow it once we have more space. Totally legal.”

Right now Robert is just “a working class Brodel.” He is employed as a security guard for live events, mainly concerts in the San Francisco area. “I’ve meet a bunch of famous people worked epic shows and get to stand front of stage or work backstage for every genre of music and be that cool security guard that wants you to have a good time.” He and his love Hannah have 3 sons. “Nick is 11, Tim is 9, and Chad is 1 ½. Just kidding, that’s not their names.” They took the kids to their first show at Cali Roots in 2014. “They enjoyed the whole show and behaved so I bring them now. They are true fans and know the music so I have to bring them or I would miss them. It’s a whole new level of enjoyment watching them mesmerized just trying to imagine their point of view of what’s going on. I love it. My older son will be 13 next 311 Day and the two of us are going to go. So 311 Day 2018 was a send off to an era for me of 311 journeys being a sort of get away from my family. I missed my kids during the show because they were playing our favorite songs. And seeing Nick in Dad mode for his kids doing that Coco song really assured me that I am at the right place for my 311 fandom right now. Being myself and being a Dad . I have to say though that my kids favorite band is 21 pilots.”

Guilty pleasure for Robert right now he said is the song “Til the City’s on Fire.” He said its a classic scenario where he isn’t used to the sound of a song and isn’t sure if he likes it then it grows on him. “311 has made music through the the years that I wouldn’t normally listen to if I it wasn’t 311 along the lines of TTCOF. There’s angry and hard music I love but 311 was always there with positivity to keep me straight.”

To 311, Robert would like to say: “Thanks for helping me become a better person and I miss the Bay Area shows at the Warfield, Fillmore and Greek Theater.”

To all the other fans out there:

“It seems we have the unity down. There’s always room for tolerance.”

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Thanks Robert for sharing your story! I hope everyone enjoyed reading it. Now go start your week being the amazing, positive crew you are!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation to the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! This week let’s read the story of Billy “Boss” De Zenzo!

Late in the year 1996 was a crazy time for Billy. He was commuting in Bay area rush hour traffic over 3 hours every day and one day “Down” came on the radio. He was instantly floored and thought the song was amazing. He bought the CD and for an entire year only listened to the blue album during his commute. Then in 1997 he attended his first show on Halloween and he went alone. “Wow, what a show. It had never dawned on me that they might have other albums already, until having heard the show. The next day was like Xmas as I bought Music, and Grassroots. OMG, I instantly realized that 311was everything I had ever wanted in a band, before I knew what I wanted in a band. Hooked.”

Show count for Billy is 35. He’s seen 311 play in 6 different states. One of his favorite shows was 311 Day 2010. “It was a special experience for me, where I was serenaded with Boss Got the Herb.”

A favorite song for him is “You Wouldn’t Believe.” He said like Carly Simon says, “I think this song is about me.” Currently one of his favorite lyrics comes from the song “Wildfire” – “Someone told you that you have no chance, people told you it would never transpire. You could be defeated in advance, just let them all burn in the wildfire.” Billy said the song is fueling him as he tries to launch his new business.

Montclair, New Jersey, is where Billy was born and raised. Musical influence on him came from his older siblings and then it was in the 70’s that he discovered his hero Neil Young. Then in the 80’s it was The Police that he gravitated to out of the music of that decade. He also discovered Bob Marley at that time and was drawn to the reggae beats. “The 90’s grunge tip really hooked the energetic side of me, and it seemed like 311 filled all those gaps for me moving into the new millennium.”

In 1990 he moved to the west coast, he spent 2 1/2 years in Santa Cruz, California before  moving to Oakland/Berkeley to start his adult life. “I’m a serial tech entrepreneur with varying degrees of success, currently partnered in two very different, potentially big businesses (fingers crossed).” Billy also loves the outdoors and spends a lot of time hiking, biking or skiing. He also is an avid poker player and has spent a lot of time in casinos and card rooms for 15 years of his life. “I consider myself an Imagineer and dabble in writing screenplays and sitcoms (someday will finish and sell). Living in the Bay Area through the 90’s till now is perfect for a concert nut like myself. I’m now over 1000 concerts, slowing down only a little by not being as experimental as I used to, saving the experience now for my favorites. Having no children makes this lifestyle much easier.”

Billy’s interesting fact about himself is a great one. “I uncontrollably sing Barry Manilow’s “Copa Cabana” when cooking in the kitchen.” Special talent is that he has a knack for naming things. “I’ve bequeathed many friends their long term nicknames, named several businesses, and come up with many silly names that stick for all sorts of things. In ’94 my friends and I launched The Sheath File, one of the first 500 public static pages on the Internet, which is nothing but a list of synonyms for condom. Enjoy, as many are mine https://www.lmi.net/explore/sheath.html.”

Guilty pleasure for Billy is the song “Rio” by Duran Duran. “One of the best songs ever made.” Other musical artists he enjoys include The Police, Ween, Neil Young, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, and Rush.

Billy has something he’d like to say to 311: “I have a great idea about a 5 show summer festival tour, wanna hear it?”

His personal message to all the other fans:

“Stay positive, love your life, and respect others. Thanks for sharing the 311 experience with me.”

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Now you know the story of Billy De Zenzo! Thanks for sharing and thanks to all who read the spotlights. What an amazing community of fans and I’m so proud to be a part of it!

Until next time, keep being the beautiful souls you are.

Much love – The Runt

A new week is here friends in 311 nation which can only mean one thing – new fan spotlight time. Let’s meet Brian Lee!

MTV in the year 1995 played the video for “All Mixed Up” and that was Brian’s introduction to 311. His dad then bought him the album Music and since Brian didn’t recognize the songs he made him return it for the blue album, which he then played pretty much daily for the next couple of years. “Still my favorite album of all time!”

So far Brian has attended 72 shows. First show was in 2000 at the Berkeley Greek Theatre when they played with Incubus. “This show made me a fan for life, put them above the rest.” Favorites out of the 72 shows are from 2005 when he saw the band 4 nights in a row in San Francisco. It started with a private Live 105 radio show and then 3 nights in a row at the Fillmore with the band only repeating one song, “Applied Science.”

Songs that Brian loves include “Unity,” “Hive,” and “Homebrew.”  One of his favorite lyrics is from “Made in the Shade” – “You gotta keep on climbing the hill, ‘cause if you think you’ll make it you will.”

Brian is originally from the Big Island of Hawaii, so he grew up listening to Hawaiian and Reggae music. It was in the 6th grade that he moved to the San Francisco Bay area and got into Alternative Rock and Hip-Hop. “I really jumped into 311 intensely in college, the music and vibes just matched perfectly with SANTA BARBARA.  We saw 311 play back to back shows in Santa Cruz 2005 when they debuted some Don’t Tread On Me songs before they came out, it was magical, I was lucky to be there.”

Back in 2006 Brian had an amazing experience of seeing 311 live in Hawaii, in Kona. I’ll let his words tell his story of it. “It was the only time they have ever played there.  I went out fishing with friends the morning before the show. Unfortunately halfway through the trip our boat engine died so we were relying on a kicker engine that only went 3 mph.  Problem was we were 18 miles from the boat dock, about an hour drive to Kona and only 4 hours until 311s show with Natural Vibrations.  So I called my hero, my father and he told me to swim to the beach and hitch-hike to Kona.  That’s exactly what I did, and its been one of my all time favorite shows, they played all the reggae tunes and every pakalolo song, nothing like a show where you have to adventure your own way there!”

First 311 Day for Brian was in 2010 and it completely blew his mind, so much so that he got his first tattoo. “There is a unique thing about people who get music tattoos, we are a different breed.  Las Vegas is our favorite out of state place to see 311.” In 2013 he went on his first 311 cruise with friends and he said it was life changing. “I met Renee O’neal on that cruise, she was the very first random Familia person I ever met.  I actually joined her Norcal 311 group before the Familia and only because she was so kind and stoked!!  My wife got to meet her waiting in line at the SF Warfield show that Fall Tour.  That is also the night I scored my favorite 311 Poster, Munk One’s Purple Caterpillar.”

Brian is a father of two little excitables and works from home, as well as in his community, helping families and businesses protect themselves with Legalshield and IDShield. While he doesn’t see as many shows now as he did previously, he never misses one within driving distance. His 3 year old’s favorite song is “Perfect Mistake” and he makes sure to play it for him everyday.

Something you may not know about Brian is that he is always reading a Stephen King novel. Currently he is reading Christine. “I have read about 35 of his books now.  We even have a Stephen King-311 Facebook Group to discuss his fine work.” Guilty pleasures for Brian include Southpark, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Game of Thrones and chocolate chip cookies!

Brian’s second favorite live band is Rebelution. “I’ve been lucky to see them over 100 times, mostly since they have toured in California so much over the last 14 years.” Other band he enjoys include Nirvana, Green Day, and Rage Against the Machine.

Brian’s message to 311: “Keep growing 311, I dream of 20 albums before you retire.  Your best stuff could still be in the future.  You guys keep working hard in the studio and on tour and it really fuels your fans to keep working hard and providing for our families.  I ask for more but I am actually, very happy and grateful to have what you guys accomplished already.  Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!!”

His message to all the other kick-ass fans:

“Lets encourage our circle of friends and family to find that all out dedication in their favorite music. 311 is not for everybody and that’s how I like it.  MUSIC and Love are the 2 most powerful tools we have to uplift our spirits.  No T.V. shows or movies can provide what music provides, no sports or athletic hobbies, no drugs or alcohol, no amount of Facebook or Instagram likes, no reality shows or epic fail videos, no sugary or fried fatty foods, no game winning shot or home-run, no vacations or weekend getaways no no no nothing can provide and uplift your spirit like your favorite MUSIC.  So be happy, be amped on LIFE, Crank up the Volume!! #unity CHEEHOO”

That my friends is the tale of Brian Lee! Thank you Brian for sharing and much gratitude goes out to all the readers. Have a fantastic week and I’ll see you right back here next time!

Much Love – The Runt

We’re back at it again this week with the new 311 fan spotlight! It’s time to meet the other half of a dynamic duo – Danielle Schwartz!

Driving around with a friend in the year 1996, Danielle had the blue album on repeat in her CD player/tape adaptor contraption. Then Transistor and  Soundsystem came out and she purchased them instantly. Transistor quickly became a favorite for her. She said even though she spent years exploring other music genres, 311 was her constant during that time. “I think what drew me to them was that they were so unique and exciting.  I loved the heavy guitar sound, and the music seemed edgy but upbeat.  I could tell they had a lot to say but I knew I’d have to sit down with the liner notes to figure it all out!  I love that Josh & I share the same love for 311, which made for an instant connection when we met in 1997.   It wasn’t until we reconnected for good in 2005 that he showed me how awesome Music & Grassroots are.  How ridiculous to be missing out on those songs for all those years!”

Show count is right around 40, with the upcoming Red Rocks & Ogden show, plus Cali Roots ready to add to that number making it 44. It was in 2012 that they started to travel to see the band and were able to attend their first 311 Day in Vegas. “These days we’ll pretty much go anywhere they are playing two nights in a row!” She believes one of her first shows was at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California. “I’ll always regret missing the Santa Barbara Bowl show in maybe 2000 in college because I opted to go to Mexico.  That would have been such a fun show with their discography at that time.”

Favorite even so far was the first cruise she and Josh were able to attend, which was cruise 4 where they played Soundsystem. “The years around the Red White & Boom shows in Vegas along with the Jamaica cruise were when we really started developing friendships with so many amazing people! I’ll never forget getting on the boat and Josh and I were watching everyone hugging and screaming, and we were like how do these people all know each other?! It was just the jump-start I needed to get involved with our community on Facebook.”

“Rub-a-Dub” is a song that has always held a special place in Danielle’s heart. “It’s simple but the sound just transports me to a peaceful, happy place, no matter what my mood is.” Song that resonates on a deeper level with her is “Simplify.” “It makes me think about how I should appreciate being in the moment and not rush things because I can get wound up over the little things.  After the loss of a friend, I became much more aware of enjoying time with the people I love and appreciating all the little moments together.  This also inspired me to do all the things I want to do, like go to all the concerts and do other things that make me happy and not hold back because of time or money.  I work for my dad at his law office and I’m very lucky that I can take a few days off when I need to.” Picking a favorite lyric is too hard for her because she said that she’s learned so much through their lyrics and they all have had their time and place in her life.

San Jose, California and then Los Gatos is where Danielle grew up as an only child with her amazing mom and dad. “I feel lucky to have had a regular childhood full of love.” She attended UC Santa Barbara and said she still misses living by the beach everyday. “Something in the air just makes me happy and I feel like a better version of myself.” She studied Global Studies, her emphasis in the culture and ideology of Latin America, and also minored in Spanish. After college she briefly lived in Washington, D.C., which she said was a ton of fun. She worked for a radio station and even got hooked up with 311 tickets but had to leave during the opener to go work an event!

Interesting fact you may not know is that Danielle is actually super shy but another side of her comes out at 311 events. She also said she has a cat named Kiva and she’s obsessed with her. Talent comes in the form of dancing and she started it at the age of 3. She has done everything including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop & cheerleading. As if dancing didn’t keep her busy when she was younger she also was committed to water polo and swimming. “I’m still really drawn to water, especially the ocean.  It must be the Pisces in me haha!” Guilty, yet not so guilty pleasure for Danielle is the old T.V. show Psych. “It’s totally my thing- I love a detective show with a comedic edge.”

Musical guilty pleasure is more mellow music like Melody Gardot and similar artists. Aside from this and obviously listening to 311, she also likes Stick Figure and Fortunate Youth. “In the 90s it was all alternative, grunge, and classic rock.  Then in college I developed a taste for punk like Pennywise, Bad Religion, and The Offspring, and later I got into bands like System of a Down and Evanescence.  More recently Josh & I got pretty into blues like Buddy Guy for example.  All of these still have a special place in my heart.  I’m mostly stuck in the 90s besides 311 and reggae.”

Danielle’s message to 311 is: “At a time where I felt like I didn’t have “a thing” or a talent or a passion, 311 has filled the void and I am so thankful for all that they do and all that they’ve given me: a passion for their music, a passion for travel, and a passion for the amazing friends I’ve made.  I really do feel like I’ve found my tribe.”

To her fellow 311 fans:

“You all continually inspire me with your positivity and generosity with each other and the communities around you.  I am always counting down until the next time we can share a moment together rocking out to our favorite music!”

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That wraps up the story of Danielle Schwartz! Thank you for sharing it and to all of those who read each week. Now go be awesome and spread the positivity!

Much love – The Runt

Well hello again all of you out there in 311 nation! Welcome to the next edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet Josh Schwartz!

Hearing “Down” on the radio is how Josh was introduced to 311 and then his friend Chuck told him the band had two other albums. “Loved them instantly and when Beautiful Disaster hit the airwaves I remember thinking, Yes! I’m so happy I’ve already decided that these guys are my favorite band!”

It was only recently that Josh tried to figure out his show tally and he believes that the 311 Day shows this year put him at 46. He is attending the Colorado shows this month and then Cali Roots, so this summer on the Unity Tour he will hit the big 5-0. First show he attended was the Halloween show back in 97 at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California. Picking a favorite show was hard for him. “Cruise IV (our first) quite simply changed my life. Red, White & Boom that year was when we really started meeting people. This past New Year’s in Tempe is also a major highlight for me; there was something magical about that night. The Fresno County Fair show with the crazy lightning storm holds a special place in my heart for the group of people we met up with that night.”

Songs he loves are “Unity,” “Welcome,” “Let the Cards Fall,” “Use of Time,” “Strong All Along,” and he said many, many more. “Creatures kinda makes me Freak Out, as does One and the Same, Sick Tight, and Jackpot.” Some lyrics that resonate with Josh are: “It’s something one won’t understand, unless they’re in it with me hand and hand,” “Ooh you know we pepper you, with a sonic assault side step a you, I cannot think of a better way that we could celebrate freedom, than make up a set of goals and cold beat ‘em,” “But every time I turn the volume down, all I hear is the deafening sound, of your heart’s pound,” and “Bright mornings, days when I want so much, I want nothing, just this life and no more.I’ll come within this world there’s only one for me. She’s waiting, I’ll soon come.”

San Jose, California is where Josh lived his whole life until he went to college in Berkeley, which is about an hour away from there. He spent two years in San Diego getting his teaching credential, and then he moved to Campbell, right by San Jose. He said classroom teaching didn’t last long and he started working for a tutoring company but quit 4 years ago and started his own one person tutoring company. “Being my own boss is great, and is a huge reason why we are able to attend so many more events lately.”

Interesting fact about Josh? I’ll let you read it in his words. “Kama, a true excitable who seemingly knows everyone, grew up really good friends with my aunt Suzie. I actually remember an occasion when Suzie and Kama babysat me when they were in high school and I was like 10. So when Danielle and I started going to the big events, Suzie put me in touch with Kama. We became good friends and she’s introduced me to a lot of people and culture in the community.”

Something cool about Josh is that he and his wife Danielle are equally obsessed with 311! He said it has brought them closer together. “The only vacations that we take on our own are 311 vacations. Also, our super good friend James, who we started dragging to shows in the mid-2000’s, got big into the excitable crew, and it’s amazing to share that. I got to rock out this past 311 Day with my oldest 311 friend, Chuck.”

Other music that Josh enjoys includes the following: “I used to be big into grunge: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains. Went through a little nu-metal phase with System of a Down and Evanescence. Love the blues, new stuff like Black Keys and old stuff like Buddy Guy. I can’t leave out the importance classic rock, most notably The Beatles, had on me back in the day. I’ve more recently gotten into acts like Stick Figure, Fortunate Youth, and Tribal Seeds.” Guilty pleasure is also musical, it’s the sounds of Michael Jackson.

To the band, Josh would like to say: “I am so grateful that my favorite band for the last 20-something years appreciates their fans so much, and that’s what I find so special: the unending cycle of appreciation for each other.”

To all the other fans:

“I love participating in the fan merch culture, but what is really amazing is all the great friends I’ve made in just the last three years. It’s amazing how easy it is to make connections with other excitables, and it makes my heart happy.”

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Josh, thanks for sharing your story with your fellow fans! Per the usual, thanks to all who read and support this venture.

Much love – The Runt

Hello again all out there in 311 nation! Who’s ready for the new edition of the fan spotlight? I am! This week we meet Heidi Eytalis!

While Heidi was introduced to 311 courtesy of MTV, she was into other music at the time. It wasn’t until she met her husband and recent fan spotlight Timothy in 2000 that she really started listening. “I asked him, is that all you listen to is 311 and Eminem? It took a month and I was hooked as well.”

Vegas made Heidi’s show count turn to 34. Her first was Warped Tour at Tinley Park, Illinois in 2001. “It was a short set but still so awesome, it definitely solidified my love for them.” While there are many shows she loved, including the Grassroots Festival due to her and her family being able to stand side stage, she said Chillicothe, Illinois show in 2014 still stands out to her because it was beautiful, intimate, and there were so many friends there. “A very buggy show to say the least but so awesome because the boys were really in tune with the new album and just having fun. I know the boys got plenty of protein that night LOL. And my best friend came down from Rockford to see the show with me and her first 311 show. She said “So happy to see you so happy”. She got to see my bliss and understood it.”

Favorite song for Heidi is “Uncalm.” She’s only heard it live 3 times. “It means the most because when I started dating my husband, he said it reminded him of me and it just stuck.” One of her favorite lyrics is, “Gotta keep on climbing the hill, cause if you think you’ll make it, you will.”

Rockford, Illinois, is where Heidi grew up. She also spent a few years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which she said she loves and is a great place to raise kids. Heidi also said she was lucky because she had an awesome mom who supported her love for music and would take her to shows. “First concert was Mr. Kenny Rogers at the ripe ol’ age of 5 LOL.” She has now lived in St. Louis, Missouri, for 14 years and loves it. “Compared to where I grew up, there are lots of music acts that come through town so that’s a plus. As to how I fund my 311 habit, I’m a business analyst for an insurance company, which I’ve done this type of work for about 20 years (geez talk about aging yourself, yikes). Love my job and the people I work with.”

Craftiness is something Heidi is good at, she even had an interview at the Art Institute of Chicago, but said she chickened out. “Now instead of doing artistic stuff, I do crafty stuff for my kiddo.” Unique talent? She can do just about every dance to New Kids on the Block. “Not sure if that’s unique but me and my friend Toni had a crowd watching us at our 8th grade dance LOL.”

Guilty pleasure? Well she said NKOTB might be one lol. But for real, she doesn’t believe in them because she’s not ashamed of anything that makes her who she is. “Oooh, I do love Twilight! Anything vampires and I’m down, not sure why.” Other music Heidi listens to include The Urge. “Steve Ewing is the sweetest man and has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. He even sang acoustically in my back yard for my 40th birthday party. Best party ever, hands down! No one can top that.” She also can be found jamming out to Incubus, Shinedown, Bob Marley, Bruno Mars, The Gap Band, Dr. Dre, Chris Cornell, and Pantera.

To 311, this is Heidi’s message: “I just love you boys, you bring so much happiness to my family! Thanks for keeping true to yourself and fans. Keep it coming!”

To all the other fans:

“I’ve met some of my best friends from this little band called 311. I love you all! Keep livin’ and rockin’ y’all!”

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That was Heidi’s story! So glad you all got to read it and thank you for being here, connecting with other fans. What a fantastic community to be a part of! Until next time, go out and spread the positivity.

Much love – The Runt

Greetings everyone in 311 nation! Welcome to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. Without further ado, I give you the story of Maurice Kemp!

While Maurice a.k.a. Mo knew of 311 since the mid 90’s, but he was mostly into the industrial and house scene at that time. It wasn’t until the late 90’s when he started hanging around with some young, cool ladies who were really into the band that he started hearing more of their songs, specifically more of the blue album. He thought the energy was astounding and being a metaphysical being, their lyrics talking about energy being a color made him want to know more about them. He bought the 311 Day 2004 DVD and had it on repeat for an entire summer, then bought the greatest hits CD and Don’t Tread On Me. “They said Lift the roof off your Soul, Fuck the Naysayers and I’ll be here for Awhile. With all that they say Love your Life. I was hooked by the meaning of it all. Went live 2005 in Atlanta, GA and never looked back.”

That first show for Maurice was at the Hi Fi Pavilion in Atlanta in 2005. He’s been to 15 shows total so far and of those the cruise in 2017 was his favorite event. “I never ever thought I’d go on a cruise period! So that right there is a huge check mark off the bucket list. So many amenities, cool peeps and the buffet…lol. For a stoner it was perfect. The water, the beach , the sand, the ship, and of course the music.”

The song “I’ll Be Here Awhile” is Mo’s anthem. “The old skool 311 home version reggae beat with this meaning is a pledge for all of us that we will survive and deserve to be here for a while through rage, solace and healing. I dare not to say anymore otherwise I’ll start crying. I do have to say that this band has brought down some walls that hide my emotions.” One of his favorite lines from a song is, “Smoke the weed that come from Northern California, don’t do no cocaine that come from Columbia. That the thing that mash up your nature, mash up your body and mash up your culture.”

Washington, D.C., is where Maurice was born. “Not a city nor state so filling out certain paperwork was and is always interesting.” Then in his early years he was raised in Trenton, New Jersey by his mom and grandmother after his parents divorced. “These women were very interesting together and apart. Although they were on the same path of righteousness for the community, my mother went the Burning Bra, Black Panther, Military single woman route while my grandmother started a NonProfit for children and adults who needed a community center. As strong black women in the 70’s they also raised many eyebrows politically as well. This is my foundation.”

Mo’s mom remarried to a military man and he became an army brat, moving from place to place, which he said made him develop a social awkwardness because every time he made friends, he would then be moved away from them. Then there was some family drama that eventually forced his mother to uproot them and move them out to California. “My first earthquake was life shattering lol. My sister and I were in school and after it was done they were like, go back to class. LOL. Hell no. Our young behinds got on a bus and headed home crying to momma that we needed to go back to NJ. Til this day I never regret growing up there. Hollywood, concerts, the weather and me learning street smarts was awesome. Oh yes and especially the 420 and after hours house meet ups. PLUR!”

Maurice’s life went down a dark path for awhile, including jail and attempted suicide. He ended up in a hospital and then was kicked out due to lack of insurance. Eventually Mo ended up in San Francisco thanks to a friend, and he said that’s where his journey really begins. “With the foundation of community, the anger from society and the strength from not being afraid to die. San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Albuquerque, Hawaii, Texas, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Germany, Milwaukee are just a few places I, dubbed from one of my friends, the hippie nomad has lived.” Eventually Maurice ended up in Hawaii where he was able to obtain unemployment and work at a hostel for his room. “Room right by the beach and skydived 15000 feet with a bunch of Irish folk for my birthday. Maui Wowi 420 on my side. I moved to Germany to get away from the USA and learn about other cultures.” Mo is truly a unique individual, who can only be described using his words that he wrote: “What sets me apart from others is that I truly and with every bone in my body, follow my own path and rules. I go with feeling, a bit of logic and full on street. With that I take on the consequences and loneliness. I fund my 311 addiction and with most of the things in my life with pure energy. I put it out there and get it back. I’m a minimalist who doesn’t like material objects except for my skate shoe fetish and who has, even homeless, given his last dollar to someone else. In order to read and learn more about the Mo please contact him intimately. Thank you and have a good one. LOL.”

As if Mo wasn’t already interesting, his middle name is very unique. “CHARM. Acronym for Charles Harrison Alphonso Richard Marcellos. My uncles on my fathers side and his name Charles which his name before was actually Maurice. Before what? The adoption. My family is crazy. So when he was younger his mother had to go off to work. Deadbeat drunk daddy needed money and sold my dad. The buyee then adopted my dad. From Maurice Miller to Charles Kemp. Oh and being hippies that my parents were Charm comes also from the Lollipop. Freaks!”

Special talent for Mo is that he has a picture perfect memory. “I can learn things just by looking.” Guilty pleasure is that he sits down for at least an hour each day and listens to music through his headphones, pretending to be the artist that is playing. “From dance moves to live action shoots, my mind goes on a full adventure. Like literally somewhere else. I’ve practiced those moves live that when i hear the song live I am back in that video. I’ve knocked things off the counter doing those moves in my chair. It’s really ridiculous and animated. I surprise myself how far I actually go and get into it. I’ll make a video one day.” Some musicians Maurice loves are Earth, Wind, & Fire, Ministry, Journey, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Beastie Boys, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, and Madonna. “Music is my salvation.”

To 311, Mo would like to say: “Your constant impact on the community throughout the years through verse, melody, actions and sound minds give me hope!”

Now to all the other 311 fans:

“Thank you for showing me a way to live without so much anger. Unfortunately I never had the chance to get help and even though I can now, you guys helped pave that way. Helped me believe. These past 2 yrs of being the ‘311 fanatic’ has been an honor. So I leave you all with this: Hate is committing murder in your heart!”

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Maurice, thank you for sharing your story with us all! As usual thanks to everyone in the community that reads and learns about your fellow fans. This community is such a wonderful entity to be a part of. Until we meet again my friends, stay positive and love your life of course!

Much love – The Runt