Hello again Excitable nation! Welcome to another edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week let’s meet Jerad Davis!

It was when Jerad first got his drivers permit and he drove to Best Buy with a friend who proceeded to tell him to buy the blue album. “Their unique sound and live shows are what really turned me on to them.”

For show count, Jerad went back and added them up and surprised himself by finding out he’s only been to 41. However 22 of them have been since 2020 when he really started to travel to shows. “My first show was 2/24/1996 at Roy Wikins Hall in St. Paul, MN.  Had gone to see Cypress Hill.  The Pharcyde and 311 opened for them.  311 opened with Homebrew and the crowd rushed the stage.  I lost a shoe and ended up going up to the balcony as I was just blown away by the energy.  Watching the crowd bounce up and down as one organism was absolutely amazing! This is when I fell in love with 311!”

Jerad said it’s too tough to pick just one favorite show or event. He obviously loved his first show…but he also mentioned 311 Day 2020 being incredible for so many reasons. “I met in person for the first time some of my best friends to this day and the fact the band played half of their catalogue over 3 days and 6 sets.  So eerie leaving Vegas because the world had just shut down from COVID.  Then Red Rocks 2021 was a blast! I was there with so many close friends and made new ones.  The venue alone is worth it.  The Halloween show at The Stanley Hotel in 2021 where they filmed parts of The Shining was memorable.  Dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland that night! The album shows in Chicago and L.A. were epic as well.  Watching the Transistor set with my friends and the energy of the Blue album show is something I’ll never forget! Lastly, my first 311 Cruise this year was incredible. The sail away show was probably my favorite! Hearing Visit on the boat was magical!”

One of Jerad’s favorite songs is “Born to Live” because it has a very personal meaning to him. “It’s a miracle that I’m alive. I was diagnosed with liver and kidney failure.   I was in the ICU for 60 days and was told I probably wouldn’t make it out.  I have since had both transplants.”

Some lyrics that resonate with Jerad include: “About time to give up on the same old stuff I’m stuck on. And just say that it went wrong and move along,” “You got to keep on climbing the hill. Cause if you think you’ll make it you will’,’ and “It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute.”

Jerad grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota, about 15 minutes south of Minneapolis. He has lived in and around this area his entire life and attended the University of Minnesota. He first really started getting into music by listening to what his father was listening to. “Started out with The Doors, Led Zepplin, and Pink Floyd.  What can I say, my dad has great taste in music.  My first concert was Tom Petty with one of my sisters the summer of 1995 when I was 15.  It was the start of my concert addiction.  In high school my friends and I went to many shows.  Some memorable ones were Rage against the Machine, Beastie Boys, Tribe Called Quest, Fugees, Cypress Hill, and of course 311! My favorite part of going to shows (especially traveling) is all the friends I get to meet up with.  It’s become more about the friendships and hanging out then the shows themselves.  They are just an added bonus.”

Fun fact about Jerad is that he checked himself out of the ICU to go see 311 one time. “It was against doctors orders.  I went back to the hospital after the show.  I was told that I might not have much longer to live and if I was going to die, I wanted to see my favorite band one last time.”

Jerad has a very unique relationship with his dad and it’s more of a friendship rather than a father/son bond. “He is one of my best friends.  We spend a lot of time together and I am able to share anything with him.  We go to a lot of sporting events together and watch a lot of movies and shows.  All my friends get along with my dad.  He can talk to them for hours while I don’t say too much.  Lol.  He understands my love for 311 and traveling to shows.”

Guilty pleasure for Jerad is custom framing artwork. “I have over 40 custom framed concert posters and art prints.  I think the frames are art into and of themselves.  I feel they greatly add the overall aesthetic of the piece of art. Most of them are concert attended posters. I’ve definitely slowed down on collecting over the last year as it’s not a cheap hobby and I only have so much wall space!”

Another band that is at the top of Jerad’s playlist right now is Slightly Stoopid. “They are so much fun to see live!  I’ll be seeing them in August at Red Rocks where they’re playing two nights in a row.  Also, a big Stick Figure and Dirty Heads fan.  I’ll be seeing them at Fiddlers Green in Denver next month.”

To 311, Jerad would like to send this message: ” Thank you for all the music, live shows, and the friendships I’ve made because of you guys”

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

“Slow down, life’s not a race.  Don’t take everything so seriously. Quality over quantity.”

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Thank you Jerad for sharing your 311 story with us all! And of course, my sincere gratitude to all the readers of this little blog. Now go have an amazing week. Sending good vibes to you all!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends in 311 nation! Welcome to the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. Let’s meet Matthew Wissman!

Matthew grew up in the middle of nowhere in Kansas, without access to cable and MTV. However his best friend in middle school circa 1996 saw the video for “Down” and bought the blue album on CD. “He was always hearing stuff before I could so I should really thank him for introducing me to this incredible band (and Sublime, RHCP, 2Pac, so much more). I bought the Blue Album shortly after and bumped it for a few years.”

Matthew said he stopped listening to 311 as he got into heavier music. Then in 2005-2006 he started again while trying to earn the affections of a girl who was super into 311. “She let me borrow her 311 Day 2004 DVD and I was automatically hooked all over again. I owned their Greatest Hits album and always enjoyed 311, but I was totally blown away by that live DVD and the rest of their catalog. I got kinda played by the girl, but it’s okay, because she re-introduced me to the greatest band in the land and I’ve got zero regrets about that!  I think we’ve all heard somebody say, “oh wow!  311 is way more metal than I ever thought!” and I am definitely one of those metal heads who got hooked on 311 and their infectious grooves, and they’ve been my favorite band in the world ever since. I listen to everything now, but 311 is and always will have the music and the lyrics that speak to me beyond anything else.”

Show count for Matthew just hit 30 on this years 311 Cruise. His first show was June 29, 2007, on a day that he said would change his life forever. It was in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Westport Block Party. “Matisyahu was the opener that tour and it was an AWESOME SHOW!!  They played What Was I Thinking?, Random, Wake Your Mind Up, Purpose, Silver, Freeze Time, Tribute, Nix Hex, Omaha Stylee, Who’s Got the Herb?, and Feels So Good at my first show!!  Wish I could go back and do it again! Now I kick myself for all those years where I said “311 isn’t metal enough for me.”  What a dumb ass!!”

As for favorite event, Matt chose the 311 cruise of 2019 as one of the highlights of his entire life. “I got on with the help of fellow Kansan and current Vegas resident, Chris Binder.  I met him at a Wichita show in 2018, mentioned how badly I wanted to get on the boat, and he set me up with a few others who were looking for a third roomie. I roomed with my now spirit brother and sister, Maurice Kemp and Gretchen Brock, and it truly was one of the most magical, spiritual, emotional weeks of my entire life. I love those two with every bit of my being and we are forever friends for life. This last cruise was special as I got to be the one to bring a 1^st Timer on the boat, and my week with roomie Joshua Zeck and friends was awesome. Being able to see others experience the boat magic as I have is an unforgettable experience. Nothing beats Costume Night!! Finally, 311 Day 2020 Night 2 was unforgettable. It was my only night on the floor, and I completely lost my mind. Everything from the stage to the lights to the Freeze Time alien was just incredible. I remember walking out to the casino floor wondering WTF just happened. I was in awe.”

As for song that means the most to him, Matthew said it’s hard to really choose just one. However “Golden Sunlight” is one that came to mind. “Lyrically, I always thought it was the best song on Uplifter, but now that I have my own 18-month old daughter it really, really hits home.  I can remember seeing it at 311 Day 2020 on the floor and just bawling my eyes out because my wife and I had just found out we were pregnant after trying for a long time.  It’s a special song for sure.”

Of course, some of his favorite lyrics also come from that song: “Sweetheart, I’ve been bothered, A golden sun lit path I’ve been after, Grass hills, wild flowers, Sharp road trails for a daughter, I want to be her father, I want to hear her laughter, Under meteor showers the dogs will howl at the midnight hour.” He also love these lyrics: “Don’t you know that the devil he’s in me and God she is too. My yin hates my yang but what the hell ya gonna do? I choose a rocky ass path but that’s how I like it. Life’s a bowl of punch go ahead and spike it!”

Matthew was born and has lived most of his life in Topeka, Kansas. He grew up in a musical household and while his mom grew up in a very religious household, she never pushed religion on them. “She was a choir singer through college and loved to sing with us kiddos in the car. My dad was an old-school hippie who got drafted in ’69 and held a deep hatred for the government and authoritative peoples thereafter (HA!). Music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s were very popular in my home. I can recall my dad blasting psychedelic rock like Country Joe & the Fish and just wondering who this crazy man was that I called ‘Dad’. My mom was into bands like Fleetwood Mac, the Carpenters, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, folk music, stuff like that.”

Matt had an uncle who passed away when he was hitting a pivotal point in his life where music was becoming very important, and he inherited his CD collection of over 300 albums, spanning every decade and music genre. “He was the kind of guy who would go to Hastings and just buy ten random cds at a time because he loved music.  That was the first time I ever listened to bands like Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. But he also had an incredible collection of 90’s alternative albums and that just expanded my mind even further.”

When Matthew was just 14, his parents split up and he lived with his dad. “Rebellion and teenage angst were major themes in my household, so it was only natural that I would do my best to find that kind of music.  Ska, punk, metal, thrash, death — if it was heavy enough to let me blow off some steam, I was listening. By the time I was 16, a great friend of mine was working for Pipeline Productions out of Lawrence, KS, and we were going to all the free shows we wanted.  System of a Down & Clutch on the Toxicity tour.  FREE.  Slayer & Hatebreed.  FREE.  Robert Plant and .moe.  FREE.  We were going to a show every week and it was truly the beginning of my musical adventures. To be 16 and have that kind of access to music is something I’ll always appreciate. I was living the young, wild, and free lifestyle and it was fantastic.”

As an adult, Matthew said he funds his 311 habit through a government job. “It pays the bills and allows me to travel enough to make it worth it. I train judges, clerks, and other court staff how to use their case management system and work Help Desk.  Nothing too exciting, but I’ve received an excellent view of how the entire court system in Kansas works, so I guess that’s cool. Not as cool as talking about 311 though.  Back to that!”

Guilty pleasure for Matt is 80’s synth-pop. “I love it.  It’s fun to dance and sing to with lots of catchy licks and rhythms.  Bands like Erasure, ABBA, Flock of Seagulls, etc.” As for other music, Matthew said he tries to give everything a chance and expand his musical horizons as much as possible. “With that said, the bands/artists I’m into change with the wind. Right now, I’m really into triphop and lowfi hip hop music.  Bands or artists that have been around for quite awhile that I’m only now discovering, like Thievery Corporation, Zero 6, Dope Lemon, Massive Attack, Groove Armada, Lemon Jelly, Nightmares on Wax, etc. I am really enjoying music without lyrics. I also like to tap into the roots of other popular bands that I enjoy.  Nick Hexum was greatly inspired by the Clash, and I realized one day that outside of their popular songs, I really didn’t know much from the Clash’s catalog.  I dove in and can now say the Clash is one of my all-time favorite bands. My favorite album is Sandinista! They are incredible!  The English Beat is another band I never checked out and now I’m a huge fan. Other bands I’ve thoroughly enjoyed lately include Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Spoon, Khruangbin, Father John Misty, the Olympians, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Leon Bridges, Chris Stapleton, Thundercat, Lake Street Dive, Trip the Witch, Little Feat, Perpetual Groove, the Wood Brothers, North Mississippi Allstars, FKJ….the list goes on and on and on.  I LOVE MUSIC!!”

Matthew said every time he gets in front of 311 he tends to freeze up and the only words he really can ever get out are “Thank you for everything.” “That’s good enough for me.”

Now here are his words to all his fellow 311 fans out there:

“I’ve met the best friends in the world through this band and their music. I truly appreciate anybody and everybody who’s given me the time of day at a show or online. Your friendships are near and dear to my heart.  Thank you for reading about me!”

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Big thanks to Matthew for sharing his 311 story! Of course, kudos as always to the supporters of this blog each week. Have an amazing week and sending you all positive vibes.

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back my friends in 311 nation! A new week is upon us and that means it’s time for the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. This week, let’s get introduced to Joshua Zeck!

According to Joshua, the nineties were the best time for live music and in Lawrence, Kansas, they had a radio station called The Lazer (105.9 KLZR) that broke a ton of bands from that decade. “The live music scene in Lawrence, back then was absolutely insane, everyone from that era, big and small, came through. 311 used to travel to all the college towns all over the Midwest, repeatedly in the early 90’s, and had a lot of love for Lawrence and KC. At the Lawrence NHQ show at the Granada in January of 2014, Nick told us that if it were not for KU, that 311 would have never happened, as his parents met in Lawrence in the 1960’s. Nicks dad Terry earned his Ph.D in from KU in 1968. After my first two live shows, I was hooked! I was astonished at how many people, mainly girls, knew all the lyrics! The energy, the style of music, how fucking cool they all looked on stage rocking out!”

The next time Joshua sees 311 live, he will be at show number 50. His first was in Lawrence, Kansas, in August of 1995. “

Jayhawk Music Festival at Clinton Lake. It was so damn hot and humid. The Urge opened, Tripping Daisy and Rev Horton Heat were there with some local bands as well. 311 was the headliner as Blue had just been released a little of a month before, and KLZR had been playing Down, Don’t Stay Home, and All Mixed Up for months. By the time 311 came on the sun had gone down, and I can remember Nick climbing up a giant lighting truss and doing a Nestea plunge into the crowd! When I did the meet & great at the KC show in 2014, I brought my ticket stub from that show, and they all signed it. A few of them remembered it well; Chad says “Wasn’t that in a big field and hot as fuck?” I mentioned Nick’s Nestea plunge, and Nick replies,” I was so high that day!” Mama Joan, P-Nut’s Mom, has as story about this day. She says she showed up with a lawn chair, to which they were not going to let her in as they were not allowed. She tells them, “If this chair doesn’t come with me, 311 doesn’t play.” We all know how that ended up! After a few more years, The Jayhawk Music Festival turned into the Wakarusa Festival, and was eventually moved to Arkansas.  My second show was the last show of the 95’ tour in Kansas City, Kansas at Memorial Hall, an absolutely insane set-list. The 3^rd show was June 6^th, 1996, at Sandstone Amphitheatre where parts of ETSD were filmed. 4^th was the 1997 “Transistour” at Sandstone.”

In 2015 Joshua started traveling outside of Lawrence and Kansas City to see 311. Of all the shows he has seen, it was tough to pick a favorite. Some that really stood out to him were the 25th anniversary show at Sokul in Omaha, Ogden onm 4/20/18, Red Rocks 2021, and his first cruise in March of this year. However as for the one that took the top spot, it was his first 311 Day in Vegas 2020. “I embarked on this journey with by close friends Cory Johnson and Nathan Araujo. It is a whole other story on how we even decided to go as none of us were supposed to have made the trip.  Cory met his eventual bride-to-be, Laura, the first night in Vegas, and I had the privilege of being a groomsman in their wedding in November 2022 in Long Beach. I also got to meet some very close virtual friends in person for the first time and put faces with FB names! Watching Vegas shut down day by day was interesting as well.”

There are many songs that mean a great deal to Joshua. While not his favorite song of all time, “Too Much Too Fast” means the most to him. “Uplifter was released at a time in my life where so many of the tracks resonated with my current situation. Another reason to rate 311 Day 2020 as #1 since this was the only time I have heard it live.”

As with most fans, there are many lyrics that resonate with Joshua. Some of these are: “Fending off the foes that try to shut us down, Like the warrior souls we are we never give in. We spend our lives learning, if you like learning, life is large,” “Always know that you gotta grow, so honestly, it’s best that you know, Who you are as you go rolling through,” and “Now I’m ready to turn the page on yesterdays and forgive them now I’m willing to disengage to seize the day and move on.”

Dodge City, Kansas, is where Joshua was born in 1976 and then in 1982 he moved to Greensburg. He graduated high school in 1994 and moved to Lawrence the day after graduation. Aside from a few years in Missouri while working for Wal-Mart, he has lived in Wellsville, Kansas, just south of Lawrence for 23 years. “I have four daughters, my oldest is 25, and my youngest is about to turn 17. I have a grandson, Emmett, who is almost a year and a half, and I cannot wait to watch and help him grow. I have been with my wife Jessica for 21 years. I have 5 indoor cats, 3 girls and 2 brothers, they are my loves! For just over three years, I have been working for the State of Kansas as a Food Safety Inspector for all kinds of food establishments. I get to work in Lawrence, my favorite city in the world! Prior to this, I spent 30 years working in retail, food service and restaurants.”

Something people may not know about Joshua is that he was raised solely by his mother and didn’t grow up in a musical household. “Music other than religious or some Roy Orbison, it was literally considered the devil! I can remember hiding in my closet with a small transistor radio, trying to find something, anything to listen to! My house was a super strict religious one, and when I became a teenager and got beyond what crappy songs were on the radio in SW Kansas, my life changed immensely. I was introduced to all sorts of albums, artists, songs, and ways of thinking from many sources. My first real musical love was gangster rap, particularly NWA and Eazy (I was giving a copy of a copy of Eazy-Duz-It on cassette in 7^th grade) and others like Too Short. I then fell into KRS-One and BDP, Public Enemy, Tribe Called Quest. I believe that this early love for rap, hip-hop and hard rock (the first cassette I ever bought was Whitesnake S/T) is what primed me for my love of 311. Our saving grace in the small town of 1800 was Randall’s Electronics. They had catalogues of any types of music you could dream of, and they would order us whatever we wanted. As you can imagine, I never put any musical restrictions on any of my daughters.”

Something that makes Joshua unique is that he’s a great storyteller, both written and verbally. “I also have an amazing memory. I am very good with names, faces, and events.” Guilty pleasure for him is collecting 311 memorabilia, focusing mostly on 90’s items and also 90’s platinum and gold records. “I love finding things others need for their collections, like first show posters/flyers, or other things that are special for all sorts of reasons.”

Joshua also has a guilty pleasure band called Carolina Liar. Aside from them and 311, he can be found cranking tunes from Magic City Hippies, Stick Figure, and Alific. “I have also been listening to a lot of heavy 90’s stuff as of late.”

To 311, Joshua would like to say: “When do we get to hear all the music Tim and Chad have stashed somewhere????? I envision vaults of free-style jams somewhere!”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans in the universe:

“I encourage everyone to Read the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It was recommended by a high school friend and then gifted to me by Destiny Delgado last September. It has been a life changer for me, chilled me out and has been very enlightening. I have gotten over myself a bit, and that has been a wonderful thing. 

It’s been a wild ride…I have found some of my closest friends thru this band and community. 

Much love to my boys Cory J, Nathan A, Matt W, Maurice K, Jason R, Jerad D.

Much love to all my 311 friends all over Michael & Levi S, Michael S, Jared H, Mars, Brandon S, Ryan S, Brian E, Patrick H, Matt K, Gerald, Mark L, Ryan B, Darin S, Greg R, Todd S, The Aarons, John G, John M, Lauren M, Terri S, Destiny D, Anne E, Emily R, Carolyn U, Selena C, Laura S, Gretchen B., Matt A., and Andrea L.

Peace to all the rest of you! I’m not gonna waste life being hateful!”

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Thank you so much to Joshua for sharing his story with the world! As always, my eternal gratitude for the supporters of this blog each post. Hope you all have an amazing week!

Much Love – The Runt

Well hello again my Excitable friends! Welcome back to the latest edition of the fan spotlight. This week let’s meet Marissa Menditto!

It was during her middle school years that Marissa became a fan of 311 by hearing their music on the radio and she immediately started to love it. “The beats and just how the their music flowed. Also the way they are for unity and positivity.”

Show count for Marissa is at 58. Her first show was during her high school years. While she doesn’t remember exactly where it was, she knows it was awesome! As for favorite show/event, she loves the cruises. “The last one I just went on had to be the most favorite so far.”

The song “Tranquility” means a lot to Marissa. “It reminds me of people I knew that have passed on in life.” As for favorite lyric, Marissa loves “Spirit on the run, I’m an alien.”

Central New Jersey is where Marissa was born and raised, and she has stayed in that area most of her life. For work, she’s an administrative assistant at a construction company. She loves going to shows, traveling and going to the beach in the summer.

Fun fact about Marissa is that she took dance lessons for 12 years. She is also very flexible and can still do cartwheels! Guilty pleasure for her is watching the T.V. show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” “I also love to color in my free time.”

When not jamming the tunes of 311, Marissa can be found listening to The Elovators, Rebelution, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, and The Movement (just to name a few).

Marissa would like to send this message to 311: “Thank you for everything you do for all of us and bringing such great music to our community.”

Now her words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“Always live in the moment.”

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Many thanks to Marissa for sharing her story with us all! Of course, my sincere thanks to the readers each time. Hope you all have an amazing week my friends.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my dear friends out there in 311 nation! Let’s start this new week properly and say hello to a new fan spotlight. This week we meet Ryan Reali!

An older student was listening to 311 during Italian class when Ryan was a freshman in high school. That’s the first time he heard their magical sounds. “I was intrigued, picked up Transistor, and have been hooked ever since. The heavier sound of their earlier albums hooked me at first.”

As for show count, Ryan lost count years ago. “Being an hour from NYC and Philly I catch em at least twice year on top of 311 Day/the cruise. My first show was somewhere in the tri-state area, senior year of high school or sometime in college. So sometime between 2000 and 2005.”

As for favorite show, Ryan said it was almost 311 Day at sea on this past cruise, but instead he chose when they played on his birthday in December at a small venue in Atlantic City. “Pretty sure that casino doesn’t exist anymore though.”

For song that means the most to him, Ryan said it’s “8:16AM.” “Had an emotional moment on the boat wishing dad could of been there to hear it, looked up and saw the Orion constellation, the hunter, which was dad to a T.” A lyric that Ryan loves is , “And fuck the naysayers cause they don’t mean a thing. Cause this is what style we bring.”

Ryan hasn’t gone far from where he grew up in New Jersey – there is only one neighbor in between the home he lives in now and the house he grew up in. The house he has now he said was a 3 bedroom, but he turned it into 2 bedrooms and a library. He heads down the shore on weekdays because his weekends, thanks to mom, are reserved for hunting at yard sales, estate sales, and flea markets. “Winter thanks to dad is for hunting for meat in the woods. Also a lil spring fishing. And thanks to both I do it all from woods, to freezer, to steaming hot and delicious on a plate. The only people from high school I still talk to went through Boy Scouts with me. A bunch of us got Eagle Scout.”

Civil engineering on highway projects is what pays for Ryan’s 311 addiction. Fun fact about Ryan is that he’s had sideburns since 7th grade. “And have progressed to full on civil war mutton chops.” Another fun fact – Ryan caught a pair of deer horns with his forehead!

Something unique about Ryan is that he collects the old, odd and unusual. “Such as an entire 5 drawer filing cabinet full of license plates. The oldest being a 1910 Ohio plate.” Guilty pleasure for him is watching the show “Big Brother” every summer. When not listening to 311, Ryan can be found jamming the tunes of Frank Zappa, Monster Magnet, Metallica, Halestorm, Alestorm, No Doubt, Black Sabbath, and The Urge.

To 311, Ryan has this message: “Thank you for creating this amazing community of people with your musical message of unity.”

Now here is his message to all the other 311 fans:

“Be kind, let each groove as they groove, and see y’all back OTMFB!!!”

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Many thanks to Ryan for sharing his 311 story! Per the usual, my love & gratitude to all the supporters/readers of this little project. Hope you all have the best week possible! Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Hope everyone has been well since it’s been a few weeks since the last spotlight. Don’t worry, this one won’t disappoint! Let’s meet Matt Roads from the amazing Tropidelic!

The first memory that Roads has of 311 is around his time in middle school, when he saw the video for “Down” on T.V. He said he was immediately struck by it. “Even at that age, thinking this was something different.”

Roads attended a handful of 311 shows in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Columbus before Tropidelic really started up. “I do remember during the
early onset of the band, we drove down to see them in Columbus and
waited by their tour bus til the bitter end and ended up meeting
Ballyhoo! instead. I’ve been a touring musician almost all my adult
life and when you tour at the pace we do, you really don’t get a lot
of time to go see shows (or do anything else). That being said, I’ve
seen a ton of their shows now since opening for them, including 20 or
so last year.” As for favorite show, he said it’s definitely one of the cruises. “Always a blast.”

As for song that means the most to him, I’ll let Roads tell you in his words. “I spent many hours during my college years running Transistor,
Evolver, From Chaos, The Blue Album front to back. Those records take
me to a place. Maybe..Jacks?”

Roads grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a blue collar household. “I think from a young age I was seeking some sort of alternate route or outlet. I found that in music and even more so, in music that diverged from the beaten path. I think that is why I gravitated to 311’s music.”

Fun fact about Roads is that can juggle and walk on stilts. “I think I can still walk on stilts at least.” Guilty pleasure for him is that he loves true crime and gangster movies. “As lame as it sounds, I also enjoy things as simple as cutting the grass at my home. It helps keep me grounded.” Some other musicians that Roads can be found listening to include Tyler Childers and Mac Miller.

As for what Roads would say to 311, these are the words he wrote: “I’ve said a lot of things, mostly all revolve around just having the
utmost appreciation and respect for them. They definitely have helped
form not just my musical path but my whole human path with their
music. In recent years, the 311 community has been incredibly
supportive and embracing of Tropidelic and that has been very
significant for us. So many thanks are due from us to the whole 311
sphere of influence.”

Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:

“It’s been an amazing experience to meet and form friendships with so
many of you. Hope to meet more of you in the years to come!”

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There you have the story of Matthew Roads! I cannot thank him enough for being a part of this. I hope everyone enjoyed reading all about his 311 story. Now if you haven’t listened to Tropidelic yet, do me a favor and check them out NOW! Have an amazing week friends. Until next time.

Much Love – The Runt

Hello my friends out there in Excitable nation! Happy 311 Day Week! Let’s kick it off properly with the story of Laura Robinson!

It was due to Laura’s older brothers that she found the music of 311. She said they pretty much set the foundation for most of her musical interests. “To be truthful to our community, I must admit that I jumped on the ’95 Blue Album train. But when I love something, I love it all the way, so I dug through my brother’s CDs and found Music and Grassroots and made cassette tapes from them with my amazing 3 disc-changer stereo. Those mixed tapes of Music and Grassroots ended up being quite the soundtrack to my junior and senior years of high school. Ask any of my friends, and they’d tell you whether they learned to love (or hate) 311 due to my incessant playing of those tapes. From there I haven’t missed an album release, and likely memorized every song since. What drew me to them were the messages they delivered. I just never had lyrics and music feel like it was personalized to me before that, or that taught me something. Music before that was just humming along.”

Show count for Laura is at 41, which includes five 311 Day events. “I have yet to experience a cruise and having serious FOMO right now. My first show was at the Rosemont Horizon in 1997 on the Transistor tour. I can’t really tell you much about that show, except I learned that night I don’t really want to sit in seats along the side anymore. GA all the way!”

Laura said she’s not sure she can pick just one favorite show or event, so instead she listed some cool moments that have forever touched her as a fan. “When they played Champagne for the first time after 9/11/01 and released bubbles into the crowd, I cried.  The gospel choir at 311 Day 2016 gave me chills. In 2000 or 2001, they played the Riv in Chicago, and I drove up from Bloomington, IL to see them with some college pals. After the show, my bestie and I climbed through a construction site behind the Riv because we saw Nick. He and SA had freshly showered before getting back on the bus or heading out for the night, and we met them for the first time. It was magical and I can still smell SA’s cologne.  Going to see them in 2011 at the Northerly Island being 8 months pregnant and still smashing through GA to get a good view. Taking my daughter to her first show this fall in Iowa. Those were just a sprinkling of my fabulous 311 voyage.”

As for a favorite song, Laura said it changes as she grows. Her instinct told her to say either “Unity” or “Do You Right” since they are in her top tier of ones she loves. “In addition, “Don’t Dwell,” “Make it Rough,” and “Let the Cards Fall,” are all songs that I come back to for advice. I tend to look ahead at what’s coming in anticipation, sometimes to a detriment. Those 3 songs really bring in the reminders to not dwell on things, be present in the moment, and you’re not in control.”

Lyrics that resonate with Laura are as follows:

• If there’s a shadow in your life, then there’s sunshine. 
• Take your frozen heartache, lay it in the island sun. 
• Can’t nobody do it like 311. 
• Violence is for those who can’t handle diction. 
• Try not to think too far ahead, the pendulum swings soon enough. 
• It’s been a wild ride, I wouldn’t change a minute. 

Dundee, Illinois is where Laura is from. It’s about 40 miles west of Chicago and she said she is pretty much a townie. “My brothers and I were the 5th generation to live in my parents’ house, and my parents are still there. I haven’t really lived far from FUNdee, minus college dorms and my student-teaching stint in Cave Springs, GA for 3 months. I love my hometown. I’m really pumped for my kids to go to my high school. I’m so cliche like that! Hahahaha! Someday I’ll venture to a more scenic and serene place. Dare I say bucolic??? But for now, I’m happy where I am.”

Laura said she is 43 and climbing, and married to her fantastic non-Excitable husband. They have an 11 year old daughter and 8 year old son. For her career, she teaches 8th grade ELA and just celebrated her 20th anniversary of teaching! “20 down, 15 to go (but who’s counting?).  I love to read, ride my bike, hang out with friends and family, and plan events and vacations. I overdo everything, I don’t pack lightly, and you will never be thirsty or hungry at my house. I love the Cubs, am a not-talented golfer, and enjoy cooking/baking. My best friends from middle school and high school are still by my side! I have an amazing family- and I’m not just talking in my house. My parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws are all great people and we do a lot together. My 311 partner is my bestie Christy whom I’ve seen the majority of my shows with. We travel well together and have the best time laughing together.  I have the cutest black lab pup named Reggie.  Lastly, anyone who knows me knows that I love 311. It’s one of my most identifiable characteristics.”

Interesting fact about Laura is that she has odd food fears. “I am literally afraid to eat shrimp. I will not put an oyster in my mouth. Those shows with Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain make me ill.  I will eat brussels sprouts, cottage cheese, beets and other things picky eaters won’t eat, but I have strong aversions to certain foods. I am completely aware of how childish it is, and I know I’m making my children terrible eaters in the process, but I will starve before I have to eat meatloaf.”

Something else Laura said that makes her stand out is that she is a 311 fan who doesn’t smoke weed. “It started by being a total prude and rule follower in my teens, to totally supporting others who enjoy it and just not liking it myself.  It’s not for me.  I don’t think if Nick himself put weed in my hands, that I’d partake. Guess that just leaves more for the rest of you.” Guilty pleasure for Laura? “Sometimes I don’t pick up my kids after school when I’m done and I just drive around listening to a book or album. If it’s nice out, I just drive with the windows down and take in the breeze. They’re safe at grandma’s. I get some me time = win-win!  Also, I still love Grey’s Anatomy (I’m not a quitter) and I’m secretly in love with John B and JJ from Outerbanks.”

Other music that Laura can be found jamming out to include many that she found because of 311. “I love Incubus, Hoobastank, Tropidelic, Iration, etc. Being a Chicago girl (kinda), I love Alkaline Trio. I have always loved Sound Garden, Chris Cornell in general, and the Foo Fighters.   I have a little country in me still, but I’m an old-school country fan: Garth, Travis, etc.  A few other randoms I’m into are Pete Yorn, Jimmy Eat World, and Third Eye Blind, and I’m digging Little Stranger a lot too! Mainly, I’m a 90’s girl at heart.”

To 311, Laura would like to say these words: “Can we be friends? I just want to hang out with them and take in their essence. Back in the day, I’d say I want to make out with Nick, but my love for them is beyond that. I just want to go to family picnics and drink some beers in my backyard with them.  I feel like we’d be good pals if they’d just give me a shot. :0)”

Now here is her message to her fellow 311 fans:

“Hey fellow Excitables! Thanks for reading the craziness that is my life and fanhood. I love that there are so many of you out there, who like me, love this band incessantly and obsessively! I hope to meet and make friends with many more of you over time. Even though I’m super jealous, I hope all of you cruisers have the best time! While you’re with the band, convince them to release ESTD3 already, and put out some new tunes for us!  SP&LYL!  👌🤘”

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Thank you Laura for sharing your 311 story! It was so great to learn all about you! Many thanks to the readers of this little blog. Now go have an amazing 311 Day week and see many of you OTMFB!

Much Love – The Runt

Hello again friends out there in the Excitable 311 nation! Welcome back to the next edition of the 311 fan spotlight. Let’s meet Zach McConnell!

It was during the holiday season in 2017 that Zach was going through an awful heartbreak. He had just graduated high school and was hanging out with a friend who confided in music like he did and still does. ” I played drums my whole life, and marched quads in the drumline for a couple years. And music of that nature (DCI) was all that I listened to. So naturally he showed me beautiful disaster, knowing it would get my attention and lift my spirits. As soon as I heard that snare, I was a fan. The rest was a bonus that I wasn’t ready for. All I listened to for a while was the greatest hits album. And then mosaic after that and that’s still a top 3 album for me I love essentially everything on that album. But because I was also into instrumental bands like snarky puppy, I got recommended the Nick Hexum Quintet album and that made me respect Nick as an artist so much more. So many years in the game, and still looking for new ways to jam. Love it.”

For show count, Zach is at 15 and it’s about to be 16 at Reggae Rise Up. “One of them spiritually and all the rest physically lol, a friend of mine who we will name sal for privacy purposes, gave me a nibble of some shrooms at the hob Orlando and I Left earth completely lol. Missed most of that one.” First show for Zach was at Red Rocks in 2018 and then he saw them the next night at the Ogden Theater. “Which is also the show that got me into collecting posters! Soon after I discovered the band they announced the 420 red rocks weekend of stoner glory I bought tickets for me and my dad and decided we’ll figure out the rest later. My dad being the absolute champion that he is, DROVE ME FROM FL TO COLORADO TO SEE A BAND HE BARLEY KNEW! the car broke down mid way and we had plenty of reasons to turn around but we kept goin! Also his birthday is 420 so that made it even more special. It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. I was bullied my whole life growing up for being overweight and to go that far away from home and get welcomed into a whole family was life changing and from then on I’ve wanted to make music/ join a band to give someone else that second family too.”

As for favorite experience so far, Zach chose the 420 show at the Aggie Theater in 2019. “The plan was for me to fly to Maryland to see a friend and then we were gonna fly together to the shows. But there wasn’t any available out of Maryland, so we rented a Uhaul van put a mattress in it and drove all the way to Colorado last minute. That 3 show weekend started at the Ogden theater so we drove literally from his parking lot in Maryland to the gas station across the street from the Ogden all in one shot. And my stoney self was dressed in full winter gear because In 2018 ON THESE SAME EXACT DAYS OF THE YEAR it snowed and now it was hot! 311 fans being the gems that they are let me scoot around the line to follow the shade. And when the doors finally opened people kept telling me to go ahead of them in line just so I could secure the Miles Tsang foil that night. We luckily found a hotel with an open room night of, and headed to red rocks the next day. Got to meet a bunch of friends I made online in the 311 FB groups. The next day we realized Ft collins isint necessarily around the corner from red rocks and I needed a new ride. Someone I met on FB that day was kind enough to pick me up and take me to the show and even drop me off at the airport afterwards. That night was first/only time I got a signed print from the booth, but they literally played all ten of my top 10 songs I wanted to hear that night. And then some! It felt like a musical adventure from a movie!”

For favorite songs, it varies for Zach. Some he relates to heavily and some have influenced him to make changes in his life that have brought him positive changes. “And for that reason, I gotta go with come original. That song is why I picked up a bass in the first place, let alone get to where I’m at touring with some of my favorite bands playing my favorite venues now!”

There are many lyrics that are meaningful to Zach. “I love how in Welcome, they talk about how money isn’t t the only thing they’re after because it just fixes material things. In Silver they talk about how some people just love to disagree for the sake of disagreeing. And that even if you don’t like the music it’s a waste of your time to hate on it. I also love in Offbeat Bareass how they talk about people getting arrested for marijuana, and how in some cases people with far far worse crimes would get paroled to make room for a stoner. Another one I love is in Boom Shanka. I have had anger issues my whole life and I have issues letting things go. ‘Every time I think I got it figured something bigger always jumps in the frame, something gets in the way. Now I’m ready to turn the page on yesterdays and forgive them, now I’m willing to disengage to seize the day and move on.’ That song helped me a lot . Places where the mind goes too. It was comforting to know when my idols can have vulnerable moments or sad thoughts.”

Pembroke Pines, Florida is where Zach was born. Then his dad got a job offer in New York and they moved up there during his elementary school years, then they ended up back in Florida later on. “In between those big moves was plenty of smaller moves. Never really had many friends, never met anyone personable in any of the sports I tried to play. So I just confided in games and food. One year for Christmas my dad bought me a drum set and I fell in love with it and just played and played till it fell apart.I really loved it. So since it was much cheaper and we could rent one through the school I picked up trumpet and played in the band at school All the way through high school. I didn’t make too many friends there but all my teachers could see I had a real passion for it and they would all go above and beyond to help me further it. I had a knack to learn by ear and picked up marching drums fast. In high school I marched bass drum and quads, performed at Tropicana stadium and we won the best drum line in our state!”

Being a 311 fan in high school, it made Zach want to play drums even more but they are really expensive. So after seeing Pnut perform in Jacksonville, Florida in 2018, he decided he wanted to learn how to play bass. “Because if I could have as much fun as him for a living I won! So a friend of mine loaned me his bass just to get a feel for it and I totally fell in love with it because it was so different. Marching drums are very uniform and bass is very open ended. You can play it however you want. Everyone plays a little differently. So with the first stimulus check we got, I bought my Warwick streamer bass, and I decided that day I have no idea how I’d do it. But I WILL make this dream work and I WILL play bass and spread the love and positivity like Pnut and 311. I just didn’t have any friends with the same dreams or aspirations so I was on my own. As time went on, I went to more shows , looked up more and more tabs online teaching myself countless 311 songs, collected more and more merch and joined more and more FB groups. And kind of accumulated my own audience of online friends so my cover videos grew and grew, and bands I look up that I found through 311 like ballyhoo!, Fortunate Youth and The Elovaters started reaching out and commenting on my covers telling me both online and in person at the shows that I have what it takes to make my dreams a reality. So I kept at it and finally June of 2022, literally the DAY AFTER I had a 1 on 1 Jammcard talk with Pnut who reassured me the light at the end of the tunnel was near, a 311 tribute band reached out and asked me to play, and the band I’m in now, Cloud9 Vibes, who tours all around Florida, they’ve played reggae rise up and 311 cruise pre parties and they’ve played most to the venues in FL with all of the bands I love. Asked me to learn their music and was willing to give me a shot. And here we are now gearing up for a tour with ballyhoo named the sleepin on the couch tour from 2/28 -3/5. Here’s some key points in my journey just to kind of map it out how fast this all happened: Pnuts birthday 2018 I tweeted him telling him I wanted to bring people together and play music like him for a lifetime and he said “channel your thoughts and actions for exactly that” from then to March of 2020 I played a Ibanez 4 string that my friend loaned to me. No amp either just playing to myself. Then I got my first amp as a birthday present from my brother in 2019 and I bought my Warwick in March of 2020. Then from 2020-2022 I just networked as much as possible put myself out there as much as possible posted a ton of covers and started to build a name for myself even if it was just the kid who can slap bass pretty good on Facebook. Mid 2022 I joined Cloud9 Vibes and September of 2022 I was playing cafe davinci on my first tour supporting shwayze for hundreds and hundreds of people. And now we’ve played a handful of festivals and are gearing up for our 2nd FL tour with a stop in Baton Rouge LA too! Literally went from the crowd to the stage in a matter of months. Lots of my idols are now friends and it still blows my mind that I’m in the position I’m in. This last October for the blue/transistor shows me and my musical brother Jacob somehow got the blessing to set up and jam an after party after the blue album show AT the hob!! To play the same venue as 311 on the same day is just insane. Energy started low but by the end of the night we had that place hype!! And by the end of the night I mean 3am haha. 311 has given me new perspective on life and how I view myself and the opportunities I’m given. 311 has given me a second family that has made most of the shows I’ve attended possible by helping me get rides or even plane tickets sometimes . I was just a kid working at a little Caesar’s selling pins and posters to get concert money hoping one day I’d be on the other Side and here I am now. Actually looking foward to the future and playing shows I never thought I would. But it’s only the beginning! Being 23 I missed most of 311s whole career but the handful of years I’ve been around it’s totally changed the course of my life and how I go about life.”

Something that Zach is really in to that most don’t know about is collecting Nike/Jordan’s. As for something that makes him unique, Zach said he’s living proof that you can make your dreams come true. “I’ve had countless reasons to give up but I never did thanks to to reassurance of my friends family and the people I look up to. And I’m lucky enough to have had that musical ambition from my earliest memories. Anyone can do it if you’re ready for the opportunity when it comes!”

Other bands that Zach loves include Ballyhoo!, Polyphia, Tech N9ne, and of course, his band Cloud9 Vibes. “I can get into anything that’s not edm country or rap honestly.” As for guilty pleasure, that comes in food form. “I could scarf down 311 bags of lays baked barbecue chips if given the chance.”

To 311, Zach would like to share these words: “Thank you for believing in me when you had no reason to, and thank you for pushing through every setback you’ve had your whole career to make it long enough to inspire someone my age to such a great extent.”

Now here are his words to all the other fans in the universe:

“I want to say thank you to everyone I’ve met through 311. Both in person and online, both through music and through merch or even mutual friends. Not only have you given me new hope in the world but your positive influence has lead me to a place I didn’t think I’d be at for a long time. The ball is in my court now and it’s my turn to bring people together and spread the love through slap bass.”

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Many thanks to Zach for sharing your story! Everyone make a point to check out Cloud9 Vibes if you get the chance. As always, all my gratitude to the supporters of this little blog each week. Sending you all tons of positivity!

Much Love – The Runt

Welcome back my friends in 311 nation! It’s that time again, we have the newest edition of the 311 fan spotlight. So let’s not delay and meet the lovely Lydia Sleeper!

Lydia had heard 311 songs here and there, but it wasn’t until 2020 when she met a certain someone who would literally “rock” her world. “Alexis Fllow (featured just earlier this month) and his passion for 311’s message has made our relationship strong all along, so to speak. Our first date went longer than expected, as he played me at least 10 songs from various albums while we sat in his car. He emphasized listening to the lyrics, making sure that I was understanding the raps and choruses. 
Our 5th was multi-day as we celebrated our first 311 Day (2020) together in Vegas! Our experience was wild, as the pandemic was declared on the first day of the 3-day concert. It was a great way to meet the community of dedicated fans, especially in a time of such heightened emotion.”

The last show Lydia saw was her 10th overall, with 311 Day 2020 being her first. Then during 2021 she and Alexis followed them around to many shows on the west coast. “I just can’t get enough! Every time it’s a positivity-infused experience.” She currently has 3 top shows: “Highest / most rowdy energy: Phoenix Spring tour 2021- Most happy final song: 11/11/22 when they surprised the audience by finishing with Creatures rather than Down!! That was a major win… – Crowning 311 Moment: Berkeley 2021 end of Spring tour, when I received the all-powerful drumstick from SA! There was no doubt in my mind I was going home with a drumstick that night, and to everyones surprise but my own, reached up to catch it after the show! Suchhhh a great moment.”

While it’s hard to pick one favorite song, Lydia said if she was forced to choose she would pick “Creatures (For A While).” “Some might feel it’s overplayed, but the energy of that song live at the right moment can be so raw and infused with embodiment! I just love it.” While there are also many lyrics that she loves, one that comes to her mind currently is, “Everything I eat is from the Earth right? I am what I eat, straight up Earth, right?”

Los Angeles, California, is where Lydia grew up but she has been living in Northern California since she finished college, which was in San Jose. “Fllow and I are currently living in the East Bay Area, with plans to move to Topanga, CA later this year.” To help support her 311-driven lifestyle, Lydia works as a brand consultant and content creator. “I’ve worked with clients in Gourmet Food, app development, Eco-preservation, and more.”

Lydia is also a vocalist and loves creating alternative hip-hop with Fllow. “I love to sing and rap on our music, and am also the media director for our music project, which means I’m creating all the track art, music and lyric videos for us.” She is also on the way to creating her own original music! “Look out for music released under my artist name, Lummingbird, later this year. I have lots of goals this year! My coined genre is “uke-bass” … acoustic ukulele with a heavy sub.” Here is the link to her website: www.lummingbird.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Another fun fact about Lydia is that she is a great writer and poet. “I love to rhyme and harmonize the words that I use and am planning to put together a small book of my best writings later this year.” As for guilty pleasure, her current one is watching the live 24 hour Bald Eagle camera in Big Bear. “It’s a thrill of a live cam!”

Like Lydia has mentioned, she loves music so she has a variety of bands that she likes, aside from 311. They include Stick Figure, Anderson .Paak, Alex Serra and Little Stranger. “Some lesser-known artists I listen to include Korra Obidi, Khruangbin and Two Another.”

To 311, Lydia is sending this message: “You guys rock so hard. Thank you for endlessly inspiring and reminding so many people to do & be their best selves as much as possible! Music is timeless but your frequency transcends.” 

Now here is her message to all the other 311 fans in the universe:

“Keep on rocking and living your best life! After being immersed into this commUnity, I long for the energy of the Excitables at other concerts. Nothing compares to the way we love this life! Stay rockin’ y’all.”

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So much gratitude to Lydia for sharing her story with us all! Per the usual, a huge shout out of love to all the readers each week. I hope you all have some sunshine in your life this week, sending many positive vibes to you all.

Much Love – The Runt