RADIO TRANSCRIPTS Star 98.9
Montgomery, Alabama
11 April 2000NICKI Right before we kicked off the "all request lunch hour" today, Steve King came flying through the hall and said "NICKI, NICKI, NICKI, stop what you are doing. You have got to answer the phone." and I’m like" what? "And he said, "Hanson's on the phone." So, the next few minutes we're gonna play back that interview. So, we might as well start from the moment I answered the phone...
NICKI: Star 98.9.
ISAAC: Yes. This is Isaac from Hanson. I’m calling to talk to Steve.
STEVE: Hey! This is Steve. I’m here with Nicki Stuart the music director and APD here.
ISAAC: Hey, how are you?
NICKI: Good. How are you?
ISAAC : Very good.
STEVE: Man, I got to tell you, you guys have a great song out right now.
ISAAC : Well, I’m glad that you guys are enjoying it. That’s cool.
STEVE: Well, people in Montgomery just love it. I keep getting email requests for it, night and day and people call up for it. I mean, you guys have got to be happy because it’s a great looking video and a great sounding song.
ISAAC: Yeah, I know, I mean, we're very excited about the record. Everybody’s response has been excellent so far. So...
NICKI: You've grown up! You've changed your style, but I must admit I like it. I like it a lot.
ISAAC: Well, you know that happens. Three years go by, you get a little taller, you get a little older you know. Especially, when you're teenagers, it's more drastic.
NICKI: Yeah. And the puberty starts kicking in. And you finally get over the eeeee. (makes squeaky sounds.) And the voice changing and all that jazz.
ISAAC: (talks in extremely squeaky voice) What are you talking about? I don't know what you're talking about. The voice? What do you mean?
STEVE: Well, you guys are in tour right now. You’re over in Paris?
ISAAC: Yeah. We’re actually doing a little promotion. We’ve been on a bunch of TV shows and doing radio interviews and things like that all over Europe. It’s been crazy. Yeah.
STEVE: Well, you got to be happy. Is this the first time you've been over in Europe?
ISAAC : Well, actually no. It’s like our tenth time in Paris or something like that.
STEVE: How lucky is that?
ISAAC: Oh... it's incredibly lucky. (laughs) we're sitting here going, "Wow three guys from Tulsa, Oklahoma and we've been to Paris like nearly a dozen times." You know, that's just frightening. So, we're incredibly shocked and just excited about the new record coming out. And we feel privileged to have the opportunity to do this kind of stuff.
STEVE: Okay. Now tell me about the video real quick.
ISAAC: Okay.
STEVE: Alright, that video, that room that you did it in, looks a lot like the room Lenny Kravitz did "Fly Away" in. Is it a look alike or just a room you found that you thought was too cool, and you knew you had to do it there?
ISAAC: I don't remember. I’m only so familiar with the "Fly Away" video. It is possible that he did the video there. But, as far as I know, he did not.
STEVE: Was that a Wherehouse? What was it?
ISAAC: It was actually, it was a hotel called the Alexandria Hotel. It’s in downtown Los Angeles. And that's where we did all the shooting. That was kind of a big ballroom, bar area. It has all this gilded gold ceilings and all this kind of stuff. Very intricate designs and the roof and chandeliers. It’s a pretty cool, quirky place and so we just saw the site and said, "This is the place where we want to have this party."
STEVE: Now, you guys have had three albums out over the course of the last 3 or 4 years. You guys have just grown and grown musically. Where has the change been coming from? Cos I know you did the live album and you did stuff from Spencer Davis group on there and I’ve seen you guys perform on VH1 (Hard Rock Live). Where do you really get your inspiration for the sound because you worked with Kenny Wayne Shephard on "This Time Around." Where do you get your inspiration?
ISAAC: Actually, we worked with Jonny Lang. He played on "Hand In Hand" and he also played on a song called "You Never Know," which is the opening track to the new record, and it was just a great opportunity to share music with fellow musicians and have the opportunity to throw in other stuff that would not otherwise be in there. Jonny Lang in particular and John Popper played some harmonica and that's just really has a different style. It’s just fun to see those guys and have them come and play on your record. Very fun.
STEVE: Well, we had you guys as our download on our website for a while and we had a young lady call us on the phone from Brazil.
NICKI: Yes. She was freaking out. She wanted that single so bad. And she couldn't download it.
STEVE: It was only available to American audiences only. And she had to have the Hanson song. Had to have it. Now it’s available everywhere isn't it?
ISAAC : Yeah. It’s available everywhere and on our website Hansonline.com. But, I think there's actually another single that's being released in Brazil. A song called "If Only." And we're actually going down to Brazil so if she was listening or something like that then... (laughs)
STEVE: I hope she's listening online right now.
ISAAC: If Montgomery gets down to Brazil...
STEVE: Through the power of the internet, anything is possible.
ISAAC: Yeah. It’s very true and we're going to go down there so, that's really cool and I’m glad she's into the music. Again, how weird is that that you have fans in Brazil?
STEVE: How about for you? You go to another country and you have fans there.
ISAAC: Well, the fact that we've got fans in Montgomery is kind of weird actually.
STEVE: How is that?
ISAAC: Well, just the fact that throughout the country that you have fans. Even in your own country. It is kind of interesting cos you start out and you're playing the fairs and festivals and block parties and bars and then all of a sudden you have fans all over the country and world. That’s an amazing thing, and amazing thing.
STEVE: Well, I know you guys are going on stage tonight ?
ISAAC: We actually just did a TV show this morning.
STEVE: Before you go, Nicki has been working with camp Smile-A-Mile, which is a camp for children that have cancer.
NICKI: Yeah. It’s for kids that have cancer, and it’s only in the state of Alabama. There’s about 735 kids statewide and about 35 from the Montgomery area.
ISAAC: Wow.
NICKI: One thing we're doing is soon, I might as well go ahead and spill the beans, an online auction. You can help us out with that, or if you're gonna be in the area anytime soon, I’m sure the kids would love a benefit concert for Camp Sam.
ISAAC : Oh yeah, well, we would love to help you guys out in any way. I’m sure we can get something for you to auction off, yeah.
STEVE: Thank you very much for calling us I mean I’m getting chills because I can't wait for the rest of the CD to comes out.
ISAAC: I’m glad that you guys are enjoying the records so much, and thanks to all the fans in montgomery.
STEVE: I tell you what, anytime you drive through here, you are more than welcome to come visit the station. We will make sure you're set up like kings.
NICKI: Hey, since you're in Paris, do you know any French, and could you ah say something in French kinda sexy for an older (clears throat) female DJ. If you will?
ISAAC: Well, I only know a couple of things, "Hello," "good-bye," "thank you very much," that kind of thing.
NICKI: Aww, say something and let me have my fantasy alright?
ISAAC : Okay, since I’m going, I can say "au revoir."
NICKI: Oh.
STEVE: That sounds good. Thanks for calling us up today.
ISAAC: Hey, you're welcome. Hey, Zac just popped in, would you like to talk to him?
STEVE: I’d love to talk to Zac.
ISAAC : Okay. Hold on.
ZAC: (with a French accent) "le fromage"
STEVE: Zac?
ZAC : Yes. How are you?
STEVE: Pretty good. I’m Steve King calling from Star 98.9 in Montgomery, Alabama.
ZAC: I know that.
NICKI: He's done his research.
STEVE: You guys called us. That’s right. Well, man, you guys have a wonderful record out there right now, I mean, I can't even begin to tell you the numbers of emails and requests we have gotten for you guys. Feeling pretty good about it?
ZAC: We're really happy. So far, the response has been amazing, great. I mean, I’ve only heard one person say they didn't like the record. So that's a good thing.
STEVE: Where are they? I’ll break their legs. I’m sorry I’m not in New York, excuse me, I’m sorry.
ZAC : We've gotten a great response, especially on the internet just talking to fans. And everyone's... so far we've gotten a great response, so we're really excited.
STEVE: So, you guys worked with John Popper on this record I heard. Do you consider John Popper to be one of, like, your mentors or a peer?
ZAC: I don't know about a mentor, obviously an amazing player. Probably one of the best harmonica players alive, or ever. So, yeah, he's definitely and amazing guy. We love Blues Traveler records. We listen to those all the time. So, yeah, it was really great to have him on the record because, one as a fellow musician. And two, we enjoy his music.
STEVE: Let me ask you something, I mean, age is never an issue when it comes to music, because it's ageless. But my question is, many people your age are going out and seeing concerts. What’s it like to perform with some of those people that a lot of people your age are going out and seeing?
ZAC: Well, it was great, I mean, being a fan of both of those guys. For instance, Jonny Lang, we love his records and we--I’m really excited to hear his new one. And John Popper, loving their music and your like, its like... “dude, we're on stage with Blues Traveler,” it's kind of like... yow! We got to perform with them last summer, they were at the same venues we were going to the next day. And our security guard knew john and used to work with him so, we got to meet the other guys. It was awesome.
STEVE: Well, this conversation is wonderful. Thank you for calling us today.
NICKI: Thanks a lot.
ZAC: Well, thank you guys for spinning the record and being supportive.
STEVE: We're gonna continue to do so.
ZAC: Thank you.
STEVE: Thanks man.