I am very excited to feature Julie Gonzalez as the subject of the very first installment of ALL ACCESS PASS! Julie is not only an incredibly kind, friendly, and good-hearted person, but she also happens to be the 311 fan that has, as far as I know, seen the most 311 shows ever – 214 to be exact! This statistic alone is impressive and intriguing enough for anyone to want to know more about this super fan, so…read on, and get to know more about Julie!
Julie was first introduced to 311 back in 1995 when a co-worker played a live 311 bootleg album for her at work. The disc was called Kind, a recording of a 311 show in Connecticut in 1994. It was so long ago that she can’t remember what the first song was that grabbed her attention, but she was instantly intrigued by their sound and the fact that they sounded so good live. She loved that first bootleg album so much that shortly after hearing it, she went to the local record store and picked it up, as well as Music, Grassroots, and 311.
Julie didn’t allow too much time to pass once she decided she needed to catch 311 live in person. She first saw them on December 9, 1996, at the Citrus Pavilion in San Bernardino, CA. The most memorable moment from her very first show was seeing “Hive” live for the first time.
The following year, 1997, was a significant year for Julie as a 311 fan. Not only was Transistor released (which became, and still remains, her favorite 311 album of all time), but she also stated that the Transistor tour that year was her favorite 311 tour of all. Additionally, she met band members Nick and SA for the very first time in 1997! She recounts, “I met SA and Nick at my 17th show in Berkeley, CA. We were all so excited, including the guys. As SA was leaving, he poked his head and hand out of the bus window and handed his sushi to my friend Artie. They were so nice, it was AWESOME!”
Over the past 17 years, Julie has had the opportunity to see 311 in some very interesting places, including Japan, Canada, Alaska, and all three Caribbean Cruises. She has also attended six 311 Day celebrations and the first 311 Pow Wow Festival in 2010. When asked what some of her most memorable moments were on tour, she narrowed it down to these three:
1. In 2004, a few of my friends and I went to Omaha to see 311 for the 150th anniversary of Omaha celebration. It was AMAZING! Zack Hexum and Grasshopper Takeover (Curt Grubb) opened for them at Memorial Park in front of what seemed to be over 10,000 people! It was so cool to see them in their hometown. I remember looking into the crowd of people during “Beyond the Gray Sky” and just seeing lights everywhere…in between the trees, EVERYWHERE! It was such a cool experience. I will never forget it.
2. KROQ’s Weenie Roast (2001) was really awesome because Shaq came out and sang “Psycho” with them. The guys were all so happy – they had a grin on their faces the whole time. I’ve seriously never seen them so happy! I’m smiling just thinking about it. Then Shaq crowd surfed. It was classic!
3. The three cruises have been amazing! I loved the first cruise because no one knew what to expect. It was so cool to leave the Port of Miami as 311 was going off on the Lido deck. With my friends and fiancé by my side…it was magical!
Julie is a dedicated 311 fan who remains committed to the band, the music and the shows. When asked what keeps her coming back year after year, she said, “Definitely their music, the fact that they are AMAZING live, and all of the friends I’ve made over the years. I’ve been to other shows and have seen other bands multiple times, but NOTHING compares to a 311 show and the fans! I feel at home at their shows!”
After 214 shows, it may seem like this 311 fan has “done it all.” I asked Julie what her biggest 311 “goal” is that she has yet to accomplish, and she said, “I don’t really have a “goal.” But, if I did, it would be cool to get to 311 shows – but it’s not a ‘goal.’ I’m just happy enjoying the shows, my “311 friends,” and other fans that I meet along the way!” I don’t know about you, but I am definitely pulling for Julie to someday make it to show #311! That would be an epic accomplishment, and I would hope that by that point, Julie’s name is etched onto every show’s guestlist for life. =D
—————————————————————————————————
JULIE’S 311 STATS:
Total # of 311 shows: 214
Greatest # of shows seen in a single year: 31 (2005)
Greatest # of shows seen consecutively: 9
Total # of states where she has seen 311: 29
Favorite 311 songs: “8:16 a.m.” and “Do You Right”
Favorite 311 album: Transistor
Favorite/most unique 311 merch item(s): Vinyls, show posters, promo items, glossies, old newsletters, and rare shirts
—————————————————————————————————
And finally, Julie’s message to the band: “Never stop doing what you love; there are a lot of us that love it too!”
—————————————————————————————————
Thank you so much to Julie for giving us an inside look at her life as a 311 fan! Be sure to look for Julie at 311 Day 2014 and say “Hello!”
Til next time… =D