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10 Questions with ... Ebo
August 18, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. My on-air style is full of pop culture references, making fun of myself, giving out interesting tidbits about the band that most people wouldn’t know and just putting positive vibes out in a world full of bulls*** right now.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started working odd jobs and weekend overnights on 94.1 WJJO after my roommate’s girlfriend told me they were essentially looking for “gopher” to do whatever. I said, “Sure, why not!” and never said no to anything, made myself always available and worked hard with a good attitude. That is how opportunities continued to present themselves to me and I would always pounce on them. Currently, WRIS (The Resistance) Afternoon Drive Host / WOZN (The Zone) PD/Morning Show Host.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
Growing up in the mid-late ‘90s to early 00’s, I was always listening to the radio. My older stepbrother would always be listening to Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Metallica, etc. so 94.1 WJJO was my go-to while growing up. That’s when I started to get into nu-metal (don’t groan, there are some bangers in that era) then more and more artists I would find via the radio while bumping around the dial to broaden my horizons. Radio opened my ears/mind to different styles and genres of music at an early age.
2. You’ve began working at Mid-West Family Broadcasting 10 years ago at WJJO and now work on multiple stations in the Madison cluster. Your day starts quite early. In addition to your Alternative duties on The Resistance, you co-host a Sports morning show on The Zone. What is a typical day like for you?
My typical day starts early… 4a alarm goes off, I ask myself “WHY!” hit the snooze, then get out of bed at 4:10a. Drive into work, grab a few quarters from my car and get some terrible .25 cent coffee. Come 5am I am cutting sports updates for our Sports Network that runs across Wisconsin. 6am my sports talk show starts and ends at 10am… that is a blast! After that I’ll be cutting promos, responding to emails and management side of being the Program Director for The Zone. I start transitioning to The Resistance duties after I merge the logs in the early afternoon.
3. Let’s focus on your duties for The Resistance. Tell us about afternoon show from 3-7p.
My duties on The Resistance are quite fun. First of all, I want to thank our PD Miranda Daniels for handling all the scheduling and behind the scenes stuff that allows me to have so much fun (Miranda rules BTW)! I get to interact/interview so many cool artists and bands from Tom DeLonge (talking aliens and government conspiracies) to new up and coming bands that are hungry to break through. Basically, my duties consist of just stirring it up on the air and having fun talking to rock stars.
4. How would you describe your on-air style?
My on-air style is full of pop culture references, making fun of myself, giving out interesting tidbits about the band that most people wouldn’t know and just putting positive vibes out in a world full of bulls*** right now.
5. What is your show prep routine for The Resistance?
My show prep never stops. It doesn’t even feel like show prep to me because I love what I do. I am constantly listening to new music, constantly looking up who is in the band, what they do, where they come from, listening to old interviews, reading non-stop, where they recorded it, who they recorded it with. I love the art of music and want to find out how and what inspires artists. I’ve done it my whole life anyways, so why stop now.
6. You’ve been hosting quite a few Instagram Live interviews, which is some cool exclusive content for The Resistance during the pandemic. How have these been going?
First of all, I love doing face to face interviews, but with COVID-19, that really isn’t possible right now. Instagram Live is awesome during this time, though! They have been going great. I eluded to Tom DeLonge before, that was one of those interviews that 1999 version of me, who is listening to “Enema Of The State” at the time, wouldn’t have ever fathomed. We set up another Instagram Live because Tessa Violet’s fans blew up my Twitter mentions to talk with her, so we did it! I’ve had such great conversations with Hirie, The Unlikely Candidates, Little Hurt, Run River North, just to name a few. It’s so cool that we can use this technology to connect with people across the world to talk life’s trials and tribulations, joke around about aliens and get people to admit they miss eating pizza on tour…. Who really gets tired of pizza though?
7. How else are you using social media to augment what you’re doing on-air?
I love interacting with fans on Twitter. I am a Twitter guy (shameless plug for @ebosays). Always asking questions that tie in with songs. Random trivia questions about bands. What artists are listeners listening to that they would like to hear on The Resistance. I’m just using social media platforms to connect with people who have similar interests to me. Hell, we’re both listening to the same music, we probably have more in common, too!
8. Who is your favorite on-air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
Ok, so, this guy is a radio gem! He goes by the name of Jim Bartlett and he works for our sister station Magic 98. Magic 98 is an adult contemporary station that I grew up listening to because it’s what my mom always had on and reminds me of my dentist office, too (Ha!). Jim will host Saturday at the ‘70s and his classic deep radio voice, tied with dry humor and the ‘70s music is AWESOME. I love driving around on Saturday’s to hear Jim walk up a ramp to Earth, Wind & Fire or Sly And The Family Stone. Legendary.
9. What would surprise people most about you?
I’ll go from listening to Cage The Elephant to Steve Winwood to Alice In Chains to Hank Williams Jr. if you give me access to playing music on a road trip… and I won’t skip a song halfway through. I love it all!
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
COFFEE, but that may be the morning shift in me talking.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Weekends are usually spent trying to find a spot away from humanity, out camping, preferably by a body of water, with my wife, a beverage and a fire flickering while music plays in the background.
I hear you’re obsessed with aliens. Explain.
*Ace Ventura voice* Obsessed much? Yes, yes, I am. I love space and the vast amount of things we don’t know about it. It started with Star Wars, then I used to watch the X-Files with my parents growing up and that sparked the interest more. Then, getting into everything that is space, galaxies, stars, etc., there is no way you can tell me we’re the only life out there. Now with the government literally admitting they have “technology not of this earth” and released videos of the Navy. I’m over here screaming “I KNEW IT!” Honestly, I just want to meet one and have them let me drive the spaceship.
What are your favorite places to eat in Madison?
There is this incredible southeast Asian spot called Ha Long Bay. They have this Laotian dish called Nam Khao Tod that’ll knock your socks off. I also love my dive bars with greasy burgers and fish fry, so shout out to Village Bar, Dexter’s Pub and Villa Tap!
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Easy. I bleed GREEN & GOLD… #1 Packers, #2 Badgers, #3 Bucks, #4 Brewers
First record ever purchased?
The first time I bought an album, I bought two of them right when they came out… Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication and No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom.
First concert?
The Doobie Brothers at the Wisconsin State Fair… I looked over to my mom and asked, “Mom, isn’t a doobie for smoking weed?” Spoiler: It is.
Favorite band of all-time?
The toughest question to answer… Due to different style of every album and I can fit their music for any mood… Red Hot Chili Peppers. I could list like 10 more, though.
Favorite new band over the past year?
I’m looking back at 2019 for an album that has not left my rotation yet… not a new band either, but Social Cues from Cage the Elephant is phenomenal front to back. Incredible piece of art right there.
Anything else you would like to add?
Go Pack Go!
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