Hello again those out in 311 nation! New week has arrived and so has the new fan spotlight. Let’s meet Timothy Eytalis!

The time was the mid 90’s and Timothy was in college when a friend of his that he was in a band with had a copy of the blue album. They decided to cover “Down” and once Timothy checked out the rest of the album, he was hooked.

Show count, he wasn’t really sure until he asked his wife. “She said 34 shows so far.” First show was on the Transistor tour in Madison, Wisconsin and the Dane County Expo Center with Jimmy’s Chicken Shack as the opener. Forced to pick a favorite of the 34, he chose The Grassroots Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. Why? “Because my daughter, my wife and I finally got to meet Chad and his mom and had the opportunity to be backstage for the last part of the show. And I had him sign my 1997 copy of Modern Drummer with Chad on the cover. Great experience.” As for favorite song, he chose “Brodels.” “Just cause of the groove.” One of his favorite lyrics is the live version of, “Take a moment to smoke a joint once in a while.”

Timothy grew up in a small town in Midwest Illinois. He’s lived in central Illinois and also St. Louis, Missouri. For work, he’s a union guy that builds cabinets, which helps fund his 311 habit. Timothy has been playing drums for 31 years and gave it a really good shot early on in his life, but he said he’s happy where he is now  with his beautiful family.

A fact you might not know about Timothy? “I have big thumbs! LOL.” He also has a unique love for music. “I can jam with almost anyone.” Other artists he loves include RUSH (one of his guilty pleasures that he calls Geek Rock), Zappa, and Method Man/Red Man. He loves tons of Reggae/Dub/Rocksteady, lots of Jazz and old school Hip Hop Rap. A guilty pleasure for Timothy is the movie “The Princess Bride.” “Best movie ever made! Some would argue but I would disagree.”

Timothy said if he ever gets to do a meet and greet with 311, he would tell them this: “What’s up guys, dig the joints, let’s get this done, there are a lot of people behind us in line” LOL.”

His message to the other fans out there is simple:

“Stay positive and love your life. Sums it up!”

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Now you’ve met Timothy Eytalis! Thanks for taking the time to read his tale. Now go be as awesome as I know you all can be!

Much Love – The Runt

Happy belated 311 Day to all! Let’s say hello to our next fan spotlight, Jennifer Keane!

The mid 90’s is when Jennifer became a fan. The blue album came out and she recorded “Down” and “All Mixed Up” on a cassette tape with her first stereo. “I was in high school and 311 was at the height of their popularity. All of my friends were fans back then, some of them still are. Hometown Excitables!”

Jennifer hasn’t kept track of her show count but she knows her very first show was the summer of 1997 at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York. “De La Soul was the opener. I need to sit down and figure out my show count one day lol. If I had to guess maybe 25-30.” Favorite show for her is a toss up between the second cruise and the March 2016 Indio show. The cruise was great for her because it was her first vacation with her brother and best friends, without her family. “The island beach show with the splash pit was so epic and unforgettable!” Then the Indio show she was lucky enough to be back stage. “I was standing next to Nick Hexum’s dad and stepmom. Deanna was dancing while Terry sang along to the songs. He was beaming from ear to ear. I’ll never forget that proud look on his face.”

So many songs are special to Jen for different reasons. “Don’t Stay Home” reminds her of getting ready to go on her first cruise ever. Then “Beyond the Gray Sky” she said “hits her with all the feels.” She also mentioned “Beautiful Disaster” and said, “What slinky girl can’t identify with that song.” As far as favorite lyrics, some of hers include, “It’s alright wherever you are right now. That’s where you’re supposed to be now,” and “Trust your instincts and let go of regret.” She loves the last lyric because she said that those are two things she struggles with and thinks a lot of people do.

Jennifer was born in New York on Long Island, but she’s lived many places including Germany, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, and upstate New York. She is the oldest of 5 siblings. Her brother, Wil Kilcommons, is a fellow excitable and her younger sister Alli just started to get into 311. “I’m hoping she will start joining us at events and shows.” Jennifer went back to school to finish her degree and is hoping to continue on to her Bachelor degree. She is also debating taking a semester off so she can go back to Mexico to teach English while exploring the country. “I’m also hoping I can improve my Spanish speaking abilities.”

Jennifer struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder, something she says makes relationships of any kind very difficult for her, and makes her family relationships VERY difficult. “There’s also such a negative stigma attached to having BPD. I struggle daily but I’ve learned to cope over the years.” Special talent for her is that she is really great at speaking other languages with the correct pronunciation and she can mimic foreign accents very well. “My friends and I spend hours and sometimes days doing different accents.”

Guilty pleasure for Jennifer is the show “Project Runway.” “I used to dream of being on the show. I would loveeeee to do an unconventional challenge. I just think it would be fun to take unexpected materials and create a wearable outfit. I’s like combining art, sculpture, crafting, and fashion. Those are just a few of my favorite things in life so it’s definitely in my wheelhouse.” Other music that Jennifer can be found listening to includes Ballyhoo!, Passafire, Bumpin Uglies, Dirty Heads, The Hip Abduction, and most recently The Joey Harkum Band. “Broken Thing really hits home.”

Jennifer has this to say to 311: “Thank you for all your hard work and for bringing such wonderful and inspiring people into my life.”

To the fans:

“It’s never too late to follow your dreams and become the person you want to be. Keep striving to be the best person you can. Pics and hugs are ALWAYS welcome.”

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That’s Jennifer’s story of her love for 311! Happy to share it with you all and thanks for your continued support.

Much love to you all! – The Runt

Hey all, we are back at it again with the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s read the story of Adam Palkowitsch!

The year was 1993 and Adam was really into Guns N’ Roses when a friend of his made him a mix tape that had the song “Visit” on it. “He brought it over and I listened to it once and was hooked. There was just no one making music that sounded like that. 25 years later and it’s still one of my favorite songs.”

Show count for Adam is 38. “This question always makes me laugh because people always ridiculously over estimate how many shows they’ve seen for some reason.  I remember in like 2010 someone asked me this.  I could have sworn it was easily like 50.  Then I looked, and it was like 20.” Adam does know a weird statistic about a show he saw. “The last show I saw, the 19th song played was the 1000th live song I saw 311 perform. It turned out to be Sick Tight which was pretty cool I guess.” First show he saw was May 16th, 1996 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.

There are many moments at shows and events that stand out to Adam, like in 1997 when they were doing the curtain drop into “Hive” as the opener. Then the sail away show during cruise one was amazing. “But I gotta say, nothing tops that beach show on cruise 2. Standing in the ocean listening to Strong All Along…I can picture it like it just happened.”

Song that means the most to Adam he says really depends on his mood, like so much of their music does. Some songs that really stand out to him are “Six,” “123,” “Strong All Along,” “Sweet,” “Uncalm,” “Jupiter,” and “Sun Come Through.” He said if he kept going he would end up naming all of Grassroots. “Can I go with that? Yeah…all of Grassroots.” Some lyrics that stand out to him as favorites are: “The jaded ones will wither while we optimistic grow,” “Savor the sun, but when the clouds come, make animals,” “Be sure that the dream’s alive, there are only short bursts in life, are you able to be satisfied? Do you expect fun all the time?” and “You can make a mean hand outta what you’ve been dealt.”

St. Paul, Minnesota, is where Adam grew up and still lives. He’s really only ever lived around the area. “I’m like a living version of that meme that says, Hey, it’s me, your friend from high school who never left our home town and still thinks Olive Garden is fancy.” Adam grew up playing hockey, he started at the age of 5, which he said is kinda like a given in St. Paul. “It’s kinda like Texas football or whatever.” He’s also been skiing and snowboarding since he was 3. His dad is ski patrol so he and his family always were able to go for free.

How does Adam fund his 311 habit? “Credit card debt. Massive, massive credit card debt.” In all seriousness though, Adam works for Wells Fargo in the mortgage side of the business. “Before you freak out about how my company steals from people, I do not work in retail banking; the mortgage side is a separate business.  I earned a BS in Biology with a focus on cellular bio and genetics, and I work for a mortgage company.  Neat right?  Basically what I do is data analytics within the property loss department.  I help people learn what they need to do to get their insurance proceeds to rebuild their homes in disaster events and act as a liaison between them and their insurance providers.  So, I’ve been pretty dang busy in the past few months.  I analyze our procedures and identify problem areas for our customers and then implement things to make it less painful for them.  That’s the short version, minus all the coding and systematic stuff I do as well.  So there’s that, and also I put 20 dollars in a drawer every single Friday.  That funds cruise cabins and it works awesome.”

Interesting fact about Adam…he beat Apollo in Rocky 2, haha. But he said for real, he can bend his second toe and keep all the others straight. “It’s banay cray.” Something that makes Adam unique? He’s a world class buffet line stander. “Like, I’m supes good at standing in line.  I’ll be all standing in line and people will be all, “dang, that guy knows what he’s doing.”  I’m so good at standing in line, that sometimes I stand in line when I don’t even need to be standing in line.  Ask Preston Pearson.  I thought about going pro last year.”

Other artists that Adam loves include Full Service, the Dead, Lagwagon, Sublime, LTJ, RBF, Wu Tang Clan, Dirty Heads (before sound of change), Zappa (kinda), Raffi, Yanni, Squidward, Nickelback, Johnny Karate, and Blood Dumpster. Adam said his hobbies and likes really aren’t guilty ones, but he used to play competitive fighting games and won some tournaments, so he thinks that counts. He also said he has unpopular opinions about bands that tons of people like and he doesn’t. “But I’m not sure that counts.”

Adam’s message to the band: “Like most people, it’s usually just “thank you.”  I’ve only had a couple times where I had the attention of the band members in a candid setting, like outside of a set meet and greet, and that’s usually about all I manage to say.  It was super awkward last time I talked to Nick.  I kinda looked at him and went, “woah.”  Then I just stood there like an idiot.  Thankfully my wife was actually able to say words.  It kinda helped to divert his attention from how uncomfortable I was.”

Now to all the other fans in 311 nation:

“In n Out is over rated – it’s just fast food.  Omelets are just egg tacos.  Put Doritos on your sandwiches.  Pineapple belongs on pizza.”

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Thanks Adam for sharing your story! I thoroughly enjoyed writing it and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Thanks to all who are a part of this blog, either being a spotlight or reading each week. I love knowing each and every one of you! Until we meet again.

Much Love – The Runt

Oh hey there friends in 311 nation! Thanks for coming back for the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let me introduce you to Don Sablosky!

The year was 1995 when Don first heard 311 on the radio, the songs being “Down,” and “All Mixed Up” of course. However it really wasn’t until the year 2000, when he heard the song, “I’ll Be Here A While” that he was truly drawn to their sound. “I ran out and bought From Chaos immediately. As they say, the rest is history.”

Show count is around 32 or 33. First show was  in 2003, at Eastern Michigan University. “I had to have a friend buy the tickets cause they were only on sale for college students and people who lived off campus.” The second cruise is Don’s favorite event so far, with Pow Wow coming in a close second. “Seeing them on the beach was always a dream I had. I’ll never forget the feeling I got as they opened with Outside, and of course, who can forget the Amber splash pit.”

Song that means the most to Don is a difficult question to answer, as it is for many fans. Right now his current favorite is “Made in the Shade.” “I love how it’s overcoming your challenges and accomplishing your goals, so then you’ve got it made in the shade.” Some of his favorite lyrics are, “The same force that flows through every circuit, the juice that’s spent every time you work it, every life form is based on this simplicity, the soul that you have is electricity. You can’t avoid that. Evolution is fact,We’re all from the same Lucy, Despite differences you see,” and “Ode to an alien, I know you’re out there, cosmic lonely heart, tell me if you care. I’m listening to your sound, here on the ground.”

Don grew up in a city about 10 miles south of Detroit called Lincoln Park. He’s lived his whole life in “down river” Michigan, except for a year when he lived in Texas with a friend. Currently he works for Amazon to fund anything he can afford regarding 311.

Something you may not know about Don, he said people can think he has a dark or “too soon” sense of humor. Other musicians he likes are The Deftones, August Burns Red, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The only music he really doesn’t listen to is country or modern hip-hop. Guilty pleasure for him is the band Kings of Leon. “Just something about their sound appeals to me.”

Don has been lucky to have met P-Nut and S.A. and both times he’s made sure to thank them for everything. So keeping in true form, that’s his message to the band now. “Thank you so much for everything you do. Thank you for being one of the harder working bands out there today. I don’t know what I would do without 311.”

Don’s message to all the other fans:

“Keep livin’ and rockin’. Love yourself and someone else. Be excellent to each other!”

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Thank you Don for telling your story of what 311 means to you! Much gratitude goes out to everyone who reads each week. Until we meet again….keep being awesome!

Much love – The Runt

We meet again 311 nation! New week means new fan spotlight time. So without further ado, let’s read the story of Lauren Menier!

The reason Lauren became a 311 fan is because her best friend who lived across the street from her bought the blue album and they would listen to it on repeat together. Lauren was determined to learn all of the lyrics because in her mind, she and her best friend were in a competition as to who could like the band more. “I apparently had something to prove, ha!.” It was the bands style that really attracted Lauren because it was so unique and interesting. “I quickly bought Music and Grassroots and would listen all the time. I didn’t come to really appreciate their musicianship until Transistor. That’s when my fanatic ways blossomed. It wasn’t until then that I really got the message. Their message really drew me in at that point.”

Show count will be at 91 after 311 Day this year. Back in 2002 Lauren went to 311 Day and then did a road trip for the next 7 shows ending up in Atlanta at the Tabernacle. Then she did a couple more road trips in October 2002 and August 2003 which contributed to the bulk of her show tally. First show was back in 1997 at what was then called the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona. “I’ll never forget that curtain drop and them busting out ‘Hive’ as the opener.”

Favorite event for her was 311 Day 2002. “My friend was able to get us working passes that let us into the venue to watch them soundcheck. I remember them sound-checking Mindspin which hadn’t been played in a looooooooong time at that point. We were on the floor for the show and remember freaking out when they played Nutsymptom as that was the one song I was hoping to hear.” Favorite regular show for her was the Rushmore Room in Rapid City, SD on October 19, 2003. “Saw Nick before the show and asked if they could play My Stoney Baby to which he replied ‘you haven’t heard that one live yet?’ and chuckled cause by this point he started to recognize me and my buddy Lori from all the shows we had gone to. He obliged and even gave me a shout out before they played the song ☺️ ‘By special request, here’s my Stoney baby.’  At the time I was big into bootlegging so I happened to be filming that show so I got that all on video to commemorate the moment! It’s a prized possession for sure!”

Song that means the most to Lauren is “Sun Come Through.” Some lyrics that she loves include, “On the scales of desire your absence weighs more than someone else’s presence,” “In the shadow of those looming battleships I love our canoe,” and “I’m finally at home. I don’t have to roam. I can see it all now. Out of nowhere came a clue. Truth I hid, the truth I hid from me. Hit the skids. I hit the skids only to find a light to light my way home.”

Ronkonkoma (Long Island), New York is where Lauren was born but she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 3 and has been there ever since. She said she had an awesome child and was very active including rollerblading, softball, and kick the can every night with the neighborhood kids. It was in middle school where she started to realize that she was different than everyone else. “It took me a LONG time to admit to myself and everyone else who I was. I was so depressed and sad a lot of the time. I finally came out at 25 after meeting someone who changed the course of my life and that’s when my life really started. Up until then I was a lost soul trying to figure out what I wanted in my life.” After this she went to culinary school because she thought that’s what she wanted to do but then realized it wasn’t for her although she does still enjoy cooking. She also tried the rock start thing and was in a band for a bit. She finally fell into medical coding, which is what she does now, because her dad suggested it and she could do it from home. “Started my life over and went to school for it and graduated in 2016. It’s been a great career so far and I recently just got a fantastic new job working for Honor Health in Scottsdale. 33 years later and my life is finally coming together. :)”

Lauren mentioned she had been in a band and her musical talent there was as a drummer. “Been playing on and off since I was 12. Was in a cover band with my sister called Dave, Dave and the Double Ds. Hehe 😜  Played out for a few years until we broke up. Joined another cover band for a bit. I don’t really drum anymore cause I don’t have the time or energy though.” Guilty pleasure for Lauren is the TV show “The Bachelor/Bachelorette.” “It’s such a train wreck that I can’t look away.” Other musicians she loves besides 311 are  Coheed and Cambria, Jason Mraz, The Donnas, Incubus, No Doubt, Radiohead, Muse, Alien Ant Farm,  and Sheryl Crow.  She was also turned onto a lot of bands thanks to 311 such as 2 Skinnee Js, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, Dredg. 

Lauren’s message to 311: “Thank you for never fading out any of your songs. Not one. Ever.  And thank you for always helping me see the good in everything.”

Her message to all the other fans:

“It could always be worse. ‘You’ve got it good, it’s not hard to be what you are.  Thank your lucky stars!”

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That wraps up this week’s 311 fan spotlight! Thank you Lauren for sharing your tale of your love for 311 and your life. Many thanks to all the readers out there. You are all awesome! Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Back again my friends in 311 nation for another week and another fan spotlight! Take a moment to meet Mr. Michael Frye!

Michael was just a regular fan of 311’s hits from the 90’s until he met his now wife Tonya, who was a HUGE fan. He said it was a slow progression of his appreciation for their music and live performances. “But now I’m all in. So many songs have such positive and deep meanings for me.”

Show count is at 25 for him which includes four 311 Day events and one cruise. “My first show was in 2003 at the Boathouse in Norfolk, Virginia.” Of those 25 he said that the 2017 cruise takes the cake for favorite event so far, with 311 Day 2008 coming in as a close second. “Hearing ‘Too Late’ for the first time on last years cruise, what an epic moment out on the ocean. Its not too often that the first time you hear a song it blows you away. Every time I hear it live now it takes me back to that moment with Tonya and our friends Dave and Brooke.”

“Creatures (For A While)” is a song that Michael absolutely loves and he doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of hearing Nick say, “Let’s just be creatures for a while” live in concert. Song that is most meaningful for him though is “Beyond the Grey Sky” and he can directly relate to the lyrics. “It hits home. Nick put words to emotions and thoughts in a way I never could. When they play it live its bittersweet for me, its always an emotional experience and sometimes I don’t wanna feel that way and somewhat hope it doesn’t get played.” Lyrics that he says continue to describe his life are, “It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

Maryland is where Michael grew up and he joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18. He spent 22 years in the Marines and retired in 2011 after serving in Desert Storm and in Iraq from 2004-2005. North Carolina, California, and Japan are some of the places he’s called home. “I traveled all over the world during that time, and saw some amazing places, Australia, Hawaii, Singapore, Hong Kong are on the top of my list.” Michael has a total of 6 kids and his two oldest daughters have given he and Tonya 3 grandchildren so far. “Yup, 311 has grandparents as fans.”

Posters have become something Michael and Tonya have started to collect and they have at least one poster in every room of the house. “We didn’t always collect but the artwork and memories are amazing, its hard to imagine not having them now.” The love he has for 311 has also brought him something he never really thought it would. “Sometimes its hard to believe the friends and relationships I’ve built because of this band. I have met some amazing people through this community, and hope to continue to do so.”

Something you may not know about Michael is that he leads a sober life and is part of a group for fellow 311 fans like him. He said many people are surprised that a 311 fan can be sober which is why they have the group. “It’s a Facebook group, 311 Sobrodels, and we are just a group of sober fans or fans that want to support those of us that choose to be sober, we don’t push any agenda we are just there for anyone that wants some support from like minded excitables.” –  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesober311community/

Something Michael has a talent for is solving Rubik’s cube puzzles. “I know that sounds strange but I’ve been doing it since I was a kid in the 80’s. I have dozens of different size cubes and similar puzzles lying around.” Guilty pleasure for him is 80’s hair bands. “I love that stuff I did back then and I still do now. I have a playlist for when I’m alone in the car and feel the need to rock out to a power ballad. Lol.” Aside from that, Michael also loves artists like Dropkick Murphys, RDGLDGRN, Stone Sour, Ballyhoo, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Guns n Roses, Led Zeppelin,  and BB King. “I am literally all over the place and really depends on my mood.”

To 311 Michael would like to say, “Just keep writing songs that mean something and I’m sure we will all still be here listening.”

To all the fellow 311 fans his message is this:

“We are what makes this community great and I hope to meet even more of all the amazing fans out there.”

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That was the story of Michael Frye! Thank you Michael for being part of the fan spotlight and sharing your story. As usual, thanks to all the readers! This community is such a wonderful entity to be a part of. Stay awesome my friends!

Much love – The Runt

We are back again my excitable friends, new week, new 311 fan spotlight! This week we meet and greet Nathan Ross!

Nathan can remember the first time that he heard Chad’s OC snare hit on “Evolution.” He was instantly addicted to their eclectic reggae/rock/hip-hop style. “Growing up in high school, I was an avid fan of the hip-hop/rock blend and was easily drawn to it, but I never knew how much the lyrics related to me until I dove into the lyrics of Soundsystem and From Chaos. I instantly knew 311 was the outlet I needed in my life.”

Nathan said for all bands and performers he has seen, he’s probably attended around 200 different shows from small local places to stadiums. His first 311 show wasn’t until 2005. Favorite 311 show/event so far was the 2015 cruise to Jamaica for a variety of reasons. “The idea that I had no responsibilities of getting a ride home was very nice, and I met most of the people from the community on that vacation.  Runner up was the 2010 Vegas 311 Day.”

Nathan said there is no way to pick just one song that means the most to him because there are many that have helped him through hard times. Currently “Made in the Shade” means the most to him and “Strong All Along” is a close second because of his insecurities getting out of high school. “The track literally made me break out of my shell and ‘flaunt my personality’ with no fear of being judged.” As far as favorite lyrics, again, it’s hard to choose just one. However a few that describe him are, “The kid is smart, the kid is clever,” “I am a cool and mellow man, Always got a plan. Copin’ out problems every time I can,” and the entire hook of “You Wouldn’t Believe.” He also loves, “I’ve one conclusion, it’s not illusion. But it’s creativity.”

In a middle class family in Santa Rosa, California is where Nathan was born, raised, and has lived his entire life. “I grew up with the biggest imagination and, at a young age of 5 or 6, had a passion for writing stories and drawing.  I loved computer games and only played those until I got my first Game Boy (the original brick).  I also played a lot of sports, but soccer was by far my favorite.  Between playing video games, a summer soccer league, hiking, swimming, and drawing Nickelodeon characters, that’s what most of my summers consisted of.”

Nathan said to fund his 311 habit, he simply keeps a category of things he “wants” and things he “needs.” “I am one of those fans who would rather spend my money at their shows and expensive events than buying all their merch.  I am definitely a fan of inside joke related items where only true 311 fans will get the references.”

Besides his love for 311, Nathan is also passionate about sound design and scoring for film and video games. “I am currently working on voice acting, map music, and ALL of the sound effects for an upcoming app game.  My dream would to work for Nintendo full time, but I am excited for any job!” He was also in a rock/reggae/funk/blues band called Propensity as the front man for about 2-3 years and is now currently an experimental hip hop artist working on a new album. As if that doesn’t keep him busy, he also is planning a YouTube channel for sound design tutorials and motivational speeches.

Something cool Nathan used to do was enter juggling contests! He even won first place at one. “Though rusty, I can still juggle and do special tricks too. I also used the devil stick.” Guilty pleasure? Nathan said he is a “crazy cat lady.” “Would love to own a handful in my own place someday.  I also thoroughly enjoy playing Pokemon Go when I have the time.”

When not enjoying the sounds of 311, Nathan can be found listening to everything from metal and progressive rock to hip-hop, dub-step, electronica, and much more. Some of his other favorite artists include Tool, Dream Theater, Rush, Rancid, Run The Jewels, System of A Down, and P.O.D.

Nathan’s message to 311 is this – “Dear 311, it goes without saying that you have changed many lives through you lyrics and community that you’ve built.  Music is so powerful and with the right intention, you can change people’s lives for the better.  You are the band that has helped me through depression, anxiety, and finding my ‘place’ in this world.  You guys have shown me that bands are not all stuck-up egomaniacs that think they are better than everyone else.  You are genuine, REAL dudes with gratitude to the community.  You have showed me that it’s okay to be unique and openminded.  That it’s not a weakness, but a strength.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

To all the other 311 fans worldwide:

“I know that we all have our own opinions on things, and our own reasons for those opinions, but what makes this a great community is our own understanding of ‘agreeing to disagree’.  To share our side while understanding another’s.  My request is that we all hold onto that mindset for the many years to come, and to always remember that, if the intention is good, we have all the reason to ‘reevaluate our personal style’.  We all grow from one-another and in these volatile times, we need more than ever to spread love and be openminded.  Much love from Northern Cali!””

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There you have the story of Nathan Ross! Another fan spotlight is in the books and as always I thank you all for your continued support in this venture. Until we meet again my friends, “Stay positive and love your life.”

Much love – The Runt

Good day to you all out there in the excitable 311 nation! Welcome again to the next fan spotlight. Let us not waste anymore time – here is the story of David Goldenberg!

What drew David to the sounds of 311? Well it was the blue album of course! “I remember sitting home watching MTV (when it was all about the music) and on comes Down. The beat drew me in and SA’s rapping. Didn’t have a clue what he was saying, still don’t sometimes, but I just knew that I loved it. I immediately went out and bought the cassette and didn’t take it out for months. I was 14 at the time and never really had that band that got me excited quite like how this album hit me.”

Show count is at 36 for David and he’s seen the band in 10 different states. Very first show for him was October 6, 2001 at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey. “There was a small window where I stopped listening to 311 and was a big fan of rap music instead. A girl in my dorm asked if I wanted to go see 311 and I immediately said YES. The show blew my mind and brought me right back into being a huge fan. The night started with Omaha Stylee, got some you Got Worked in the setlist and ended with Fuck the Bullshit. What an amazing night and show.”

Asked what was David’s favorite event, the medal goes to Pow Wow. “I have attended 4 311 Days and zero Cruises. The 311 Days have all been a freaking blast, but the one event that will always stand out was the 2011 311 Pow Wow. If I could have a Groundhog Day type of experience in life, that Saturday show would be it. The Transistor set, OMG, what a magical moment. From the time that the Transistor intro hit until the end, I was just in awe. My favorite album being played live from beginning to end just gave me goosebumps. It made sitting through the entire Universal Pulse album earlier well worth it. The whole weekend was amazing too. From being picked up at the airport by Charleen and Curtis Elliot, to causing a ruckus with Sean Campbell and Gabe Guerra in our RV for the weekend. RIP first golf cart that we had. The tea colored water of the lake and all the other amazing bands that played that weekend. The Deftones REALLY kicked that weekend of right.”

Song that means the most to David is “Strong All Along.” He said it ties him to his mother in a very positive way. “My mother developed cancer and was given 6 months to a year to live. I was blessed to have her by my side for another 8 years after her diagnosis. Through her fight, she remained Strong All Along and was the inspiration to the tattoo that I recently got.” Besides the lyric “Strong All Along,” another favorite of David’s is “Stay positive and love your life.” “We all go through hard times, I’m no different, this quote has always inspired me to keep on going. Look for the good things and enjoy life all the time no matter what happens.”

Where did David grow up? “I grew up at the ripe age of 0 in Manalapan, NJ. A half hour from the Jersey Shore and about an hour from NYC. Nothing like being a kid growing up in the 80s. Staying out till dark playing manhunt with friends, riding bikes everywhere.” David said his unfortunate claim to fame is that he grew up as a classmate of The Situation from the T.V. show Jersey Shore, but don’t judge him from that. He said he’s really not your typical Jersey shore person! “While I have never lived outside of Jersey, I have moved around plenty in the state. Now I currently reside in Vernon, NJ, which is the exact opposite of what you would expect from Jersey. We have mountains, hiking trails, lakes and the scenery is beautiful! Oh, and I sell mortgages so this was also a marketing ploy if anyone is looking to buy a house in Jersey! Lol.” He uses his money to fund his 311 habits, but he did say he might be able to have retired by now if he had just been a fan of Nickelback. “Thanks 311! 60 more years of work for me!” David also has an 8 year old son named Jacob who he said is his life. “And also a great wingman. He is also single, so if any ladies are interested and have a daughter for him, hit us up!”

While David loves 311, he said his first musical love was the Beastie Boys. “The first time that I heard Fight For Your Right, I was instantly in love. How a couple good Jewish boys from Brooklyn were able to jump into the rap scene amazed me!” Other artists that have peaked his interest are Rebelution, Jurassic 5, Deftones, Dropkick Murphys, and Slightly Stoopid. “Going to start a petition for Jurassic 5 to be on the 2018 Unity Tour. That is a tour that NEEDS to happen.”

Growing up David played baseball and hockey. “You couldn’t get me off of the field or out of the rink.” Favorite sports teams for him are the Mets, Giants, and the Devils. When asked what makes him unique, this was his answer: “I have been known to be a little sarcastic. Not sure if anyone in the 311 pages have noticed that. Got to keep the humor in life or life becomes stale. So if anyone has ever been offended by anything I have said in the 311 groups, sorry but not sorry. None of it is meant in a bad way, all just in fun!” Guilty pleasure for David he said is that Stranger Things is his favorite T.V. show, but musical guilty pleasure is Katy Perry. “My son LOVES her so I have no choice.” Movie guilty pleasure is called Goon. When not partaking in these pleasures he loves hiking and can spend a whole day in the woods if he has the time.

David has two things he would like to say to 311: “First would be thank you for everything. The shows and the people that I have met through 311 have been sooo amazing. My favorite meet and greet with the band was with Tim. I met him a few hours before a show in Vegas. Such an excitable and humble guy. After the show, he saw me, ran over and gave me the best hug ever. He thanked me for attending the show. Nothing can top that. Secondly, ‘Stop making new music’. I loved the last two albums a ton. But, they have such a huge catalog of music now. Would love to be able to hear more of the older music. Then again, my son has really loved our first listens to the new albums and has become just as big a fan of me. Raising the kid right.”

Now David’s message to all the other fans:

“Be humble. There is too much chest bumping of who the biggest 311 fans are. As well as putting down of people who say that “Amber” is their favorite song. Don’t be a 311 snob, accept everyone who embraces the music. And it’s OK if people don’t like everything 311 does. I personally hate Universal Pulse, and that is OK. I’ll Amber bomb each and every one of you and you will have to deal with it! Besides that, Love Your Life. Signing off. 36/M/NJ if any females are in the area LOL.”

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That was the entertaining story of David Goldenberg my friends! Thanks for sharing you tale David and of course, thanks to all for reading! Now go out there and turn up the volume of whatever you are listening to. Rock out and start this week off strong!

Much love – The Runt

Welcome back 311 nation! A new week begins and that means new fan spotlight time. This week let’s meet Josh O’Saile!

The year was 1995 and Josh was just ten years old. He had some major things going on in his life at the time, and while riding the bus to school one day he heard an upper class-man singing while listening to his discman, “You’ve got to trust your instinct and let go of regret.” He was instantly hooked just from hearing that line. “Without knowing the words, music, nothing.  What I knew was that was legit, and my awkward kid heart desired that…  genuine mentality.  As a hesitant kid, I timidly asked him “hey man, hate to bug you, but, what is that?” His response was simply “The only good song on the cd.” Took it out, put it in its case, and so easily handed it to me.  Just like that, my life was changed.”

First show for Josh was at the Starwood Amphitheatre outside of Nashville in 1997. “ I won tickets on the radio.  Typical 90’s stylee.  My God the hours spent making sure that it would happen.  I can close my eyes and still see the stage.” Show count is around 20 and he said the number climbed fast early on but then stalled out after awhile. Prior to 2017, his favorite show was 311 Day 2006. “Memphis model.  Oh man, the stories I could tell.  I was like the 7th person in line, we brought a small grill, gave away food away to folks we don’t and won’t know, partied, sang, danced, while simultaneously adding and taking away years from our lives.  As the song goes, perfect strangers, sharing a groove.” In 2017 Josh attended the shows at the Tabernacle, and his favorite show changed at that point. “At a major low point for me, a weekend trip to Atlanta fell into my lap and I got the whole experience.  Put names with faces, saw a hella’ show, and even got my first signed artwork.  I could go on, but, just know God was smiling on me that day.”

Song that means the most to Josh is “Omaha Stylee” because he says it tells you to “know your roots and refuse to let circumstance cause deviation from your course.” As far as favorite lyrics, pretty much the whole song of “Tune In” strike a chord with him. “It’s good for the heart, and helps hold your head high…to know your worth.” http://www.311.com/lyrics_transistor/#TI

The town of Greenbrier, Tennessee – a one stop light town as Josh called it – is where he was raised. His parents divorced very early in his life. “We seemed to live on each side of that light for a while until I moved in high school…  Thats when I moved to south Alabama.  Yes, Bayou la Batre’ IS a real place. A weird place… I’ve lived and worked there, and oddly enough, a great part of adult me still calls it home.  There hasn’t been much by way of funding the habit as of late due to the funding of my deteriorating health.  Some awesome people send me stuff from time to time, and their works fill my cup enough.  Circumstance has lead me away from sand dollars.”

What makes Josh unique is his “pursuit of the Nazz.” “I want to be the poet, the carpenter, and everything in between.  Not that I have had insurmountable success, but, folks notice the can do.”  Fun fact about Josh – he has nine 311 tattoos. “All but one is symbolic.  Only one actual logo.  Because, come original, y’all.”

Guilty pleasure for Josh is what he calls sappy girl music. “Ingrid Michaelson, Norah Jones, Yael Naim, blah blah blah.  I am going to regret that one…” While 311 is the only band he knows the whole discography of, he is also a pretty big fan of Van Morrison. “Then after that, I like my punk and anarchy.”

Josh’s message to 311 – “Thank you.  You will never know how many kids found your message wandering down the straight and narrow path that chose not to deviate.  Your message made people like me a good daddy.  And, that in and of itself bridges the generational gap.  In music.  Your music.  Your message, our homes.”

Finally these are his words to all his fellow fans:

“Thank you as well.  People like me see your steadfast mentality and it helps us move forward.  We are more like a family.  There are outsiders that think they understand, and there are even those on the brink of it.  Then, there’s you guys.  Knowing people like you are out there makes me feel safer with my daughter in this world.  Knowing that other people preach love to their kids.  Preach understanding.  Preach respect.  Y’all are the real heroes.  The day in and day out models.  Without you guys being the conduit, this whole thing we love would cease to exist.  Of many, one.  We are the mosaic.”

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That is the story of Josh O’Saile! Much thanks to him for sharing and to everyone for reading. Now go seize the day and be amazing!

Much love – The Runt

Happy New Year 311 nation! Let’s kick off 2018 properly with the first fan spotlight of the year. Meet Lisa Wilson!

The year was 2008 and the month was March. Lisa was in the process of getting divorced which she said is the single scariest thing she has gone through. She was about to pack up and move home to Vermont when her friend Linda introduced her to a social club called PortSports, owned by Morgan and Dave Surkin, who are huge 311 fans. “Because PortSports had become such a big part of my life, in November of 2009, when 311 was due to play in Portland, Morgan was out of the world excited and I wanted to see what it was all about.  So Linda, myself and her daughter Vera went and the rest is history.”

Lisa just attended her 50th show in Montclair, New Jersey this past fall. Her first show was November 22, 2009, in Portland, Maine. Favorite experience so far was of course tough to answer.  “The most recent one would have been this past Unity Tour, the day of the Hampton Beach NH show.  Trying to plan a meet up at the beach during the day, but mother nature had different ideas and she rained on our beach party.  And so the ppppaaaarrrrrtttttyyyyy pppppaaaaattttiiiiioooo was born!  We took over the back deck of the Moulton Hotel and made the best of the day, rain and all, which included stalking the buses (in the rain) and a killer setlist!”

Favorite song for Lisa is “Strong All Along.” “During the 2013 unity tour when Nick said “Boston this one’s for you” in Mansfield and busted out this song, that was it!!” The first lyric that really, truly struck Lisa was, “Music, you’re my constant companion.” “Which is so true because music can turn your frown upside down.  Whether it be by the lyrics themselves or a blast from the past memory!!”

Fair Haven, a very small town in Vermont, is where Lisa grew up. It’s just west of the Rutland/Killington area. She is the youngest of 6 kids and her oldest brother is 17 years older than she is. She has 11 nieces and nephews and just as many great nieces and nephews. “Given all this, family is very important to me.” Supporting the 311 habit comes from working as a HR Generalist for the Portland Public School system, as well as driving for Uber and Lyft at night. “To really support the habit.” Aside from Maine and Vermont, Lisa also lived in a small town in Northern California called Susanville. “I worked as an HR Specialist for an Indian Rancheria and spent A LOT of time in Reno, we there wasn’t much going on in Susanville.”

A fun fact people may not know about Lisa is that she is a certified SCUBA diver! “While most of my diving has been done in the frigid waters of Maine, I’ve also been 60 feet under water in Monterey CA in front of Pebble Beach Golf Course.  I actually got engaged there, 60 feet underwater.  What a different coastal diving experience that was.  The kelp there was like a forest.  There’s really nothing like breathing underwater, so peaceful, and I being an animal person, I love seeing the sea life.   I really enjoy diving and wish I could do more often.”

Something that makes Lisa unique, that was thought of with help from her friend Adam, is her friendliness! “If I see someone alone, or not with a group,  wearing 311 gear on I will invite them to join our crowd, as Adam has witnessed this on several occasions 🙂  I guess it’s just because I want others to have as much fun as I do and meet the amazing people I have!” She also has an amazing and one of a kind whistle, you’ll know it when you hear it! 

Guilty pleasure for Lisa is sports, sports, and more sports! “Although most might know this already, because of the 4-311 jerseys I owns.  I’m a sports-a-holic. It’s so funny because everyone is always talking about all these series on, and I’m like yea no, I watch sport!! Like right now switching between the Bruins and Manchester United (no judging!!)”

When not jamming out to 311 Lisa can be found listening to bands she has met through 311 such as Ballyhoo!, RDGLDGRN (#teamsnaxx), Dirty Heads, The Urge, and Stick Figure. She most recently has gotten into Bumpin Uglies. “We need them on the boat and check them out if you haven’t.”

To 311, Lisa would like to say: “Thank you for all you do, the energy you bring to EVERY damn show and please don’t ever stop!!”

To all the other fans:

“Always keep an attitude of gratitude!! For life, this band and all the amazing people you’ve met and now call family, cause I certainly do!!”

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That my friends is Lisa Wilson’s story! I’m happy to call her a personal friend and hope you all get to meet her one day. Now go kickstart your year on a happy note – I wish you all the best in 2018! And as always, thank you for reading!

Much love – The Runt