| I never expected to be one of those people that calls a radio station..I always thought it was kind of weird that people did do that. But on this day I couldn't keep myself from doing it. The voice that was coming over the airwaves was just too much for me to take even though I had never laid eyes on the face that belonged to it. I was driving home late from work one night,when I tuned in to my regular radio station ,MROX, and the DJ (one of my favorites) was interviewing a band I had never heard of. I hadn't caught the name just then but as I was listening to them answer questions from both the DJ and listeners I noticed that the one named Taylor seemed really intelligent, but I could tell he liked to have fun. That younger one..they were brothers, was a big goof off and the older one was really good at impressions and quite funny. But there was something about the one named Taylor, his voice, the way he spoke, maybe it was how he treated the listeners, anyway I had to do it. I picked up my cell phone and dialed. The phone at the other end rang for what seemed to be an eternity. As I was considering haning up ( losing my nerve really), suddenly a there was a loud burst of static and then, "Hello! You are on the air at MROX, with Hanson! What's your name caller?" |
| Air Waves |
| " Umm...HI..I am a first time caller to this station to begin with so bear with me.." There was a burst of laughter and the one named Taylor said , "that's okay..there's a first time for everything. What's your name?" I felt like an idiot but I answered him. "Jessie Reid...and you know this is gonna sound really stupid but..." "Oh come on," Taylor said. "We're harmless really.." " Okay then, I have no IDEA who you are...but I was listening to the interview on my way home from work and just had to find out where to pick up whatever album you're promoting right now..I didn't actually expect to talk to you.." The DJ broke in.."YOU haven't heard these guys..??" "Nope dork! I work nights and none of the buildings I work in get your station..and if you don't stop teasing me..you won't be my FAVORITE DJ anymore..I can only get you in my car. Now how can I get this record?" "Whoa..Drew..she's gonna come after you.." Taylor laughed and added, "since you were brave enough to call when you didn't even know us, you can have the CD..it's on me." "Oh no I couldn't...just tell me where I can get it..." " I SAID it's on me..hang on..someone can get her name and info right?" "Sure thing..hang on Jessie...we'll get your info in a sec.." "Okay I'll hold..but not for the CD..you better talk to some of your real fans who I imagine are really ticked at you guys right now.." More laughter.."Ok, everybody you heard her..so we'll take another call and then we'll have to take a break..." there was a loud click and then I could hear the next call through the phone. Boy were those girls mad! But I held on again for what seemed an eternity when the phone clicked again. "Hey,Jessie... you still there?" Oh man! Taylor himself! " Yup! Still here but you ARE not GIVING me that CD..I'll buy it. You should give one to one of your fans who actually KNOWS what your music is like. I was just impressed with the interview and decided to call for the info..and why are YOU talking to me? aren't you busy or something?" He laughed again. I was beginning to love that sound already. "Well, if you don't come down to the station now and pick it up how else can I MEET you?" WHAT? " Why in the world would you want to do that?" "Because I was impressed with your interview and you're kind of a pistol aren't you?" "GEE thanks..I'm just me..I can't come down there.." "Oh come on I don't bite and you won't get your CD because I won't tell you where to get it if you don't agree to come down here.." "Oh brother! " I said as I rolled my eyes. "OKAY, but I can't stay long and how big of a crowd is there? I heard some of your fans.." "oh don't worry just show security your ID and you're all set" "Okay Taylor,I will see you in a few minutes but I think you're crazy!" "Same here..you'll really be here?" "Yes. I said I would and I always keep my promises." "See you in a few then." "YUP! Bye." "Bye." |
| Was I insane? I debated with myself for a few minutes and then remembered what I said about keeping promises. I sighed and turned the key in the ignition. As I was driving to the station I listened to the rest of the interview. I continued to be impressed with all three members of the band. Great sense of humor, all three were very intelligent. They sang a song in studio and I was totally blown away! They all had beautiful singing voices. "I'm looking for a song to sing..I'm looking for a friend to borrow.." Goodness! And I was crazy enough to go to a stupid radio station and MEET this person? What was I thinking? But I promised, and besides I was already approaching the parking lot. As I pulled in to the parking lot I was amazed at the size of the crowd, most of which were teenaged girls. They were all screaming out Taylor's name, and his brothers' names, which were Isaac and Zac. This fact I gathered from the signs the girls were holding up, because the noise level from the screaming was deafening. I got out of my car and locked it, then plunged into the crowd trying to work my way to the doors, so I could introduce myself to SECURITY. I finally got there and a BIG man in a red shirt and black pants stopped me. "I can't let you up there miss.." "Oh I don't really want to be up there, but Taylor said to show you my ID and I'd be all set.." "And you are..?" "Jessie Reid..here's my ID.." He took it from me and said , "I'll be right back." he went inside and I tapped my foot impatiently and looked around at the crowd, thinking to myself once again YOU ARE INSANE. The big man with the red shirt finally reappeared and said, "Yup you are all set..this way..hurry." As he opened the door to let me through, he had to position himself between me and the crowd which had started to press in as they saw him go for the door. He and two other guards in the same red shirts held the crowd at bay as the doors shut behind me. "Whew...what a mob!" I muttered as the next security person led me down the long corridor leading to the sound room. "It's ALWAYS like that," he chuckled, "you weren't expecting it?" "No..I must admit I didn't figure on THAT big of a crowd." "Well here we are.." he opened the door to a room with all kinds of buttons and lights and panels that was overwhelming to me. I turned to him and thanked him. |
| "No problem," he said. "You can wait in here with Jeff they're almost finished." "Thanks again." I said and smiled. Jeff , the man in charge of the computers that ran the whole show, smiled and motioned for me to sit in the black office chair next to him. He looked quite young to know so much about all this technology, but his fingers flew over the boards with confidence. "Well that's it everybody our time is up...I'd like to thank you guys for coming in and talking to us tonight..." I heard through the speakers in the room. I was sitting in that chair just kind of taking everything in. I'd never been inside a radio station before, so I was eager to remember all of it. After all it would make a good story to tell my future children and grandchildren someday. The room I was in was sort of dark, because 3 of the flourescent lightbulbs were burnt out of the overhead lights,so the lights coming from the sound equipment had a kind of glow to them. There was a big glass window right in front of the sound equipment and through it I could see Drew, who I recognized from the radio station's billboards around town. I wondered which of the three other men in that cramped room was Taylor. One of them had a really wide smile and short , curly, blnde hair. He was tall and thin, but muscluar. Another one, who was taller ans broader than the other two (was that Taylor?) had really long, blonde silky looking hair. He had a sensuos looking mouth, and soft, brown eyes. he wore a T-shirt, with a rock logo on it, and jeans, The curly-haired one had on brown leather pants and a really noisy kaleidoscope colored shirt. |