10 Questions with ... Gabe Reynolds

1) What led you to a career in radio and was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?

I picked radio because I always looked at it as a combination of two of my favorite things -- music and theatre. The defining moment came in my high school math class, which I completely sucked at. My math teacher, Mr. Montgomery, had a poster on his wall that was titled "When Will I Ever Use This Stuff" and it was a big graph which listed different jobs and what type of math you would need for those jobs. Well, I found Radio DJ and then started scanning and according to the graph the only thing I needed to know was "Numerical Order." Of course, it was just a few years later when I learned that the graph was a filthy liar.

2) How long have you been at WFXH and what makes this station so unique?

I've been at WFXH for over nine years now. We've been lucky to work for companies that allow us to do things on a local level. We're not getting told what to play or what kind of imaging we have write. So that allows us to embrace the uniqueness of the area and include that in the station imaging and promotions. We're also very willing to take a risk and make fools of ourselves when necessary.

3) You used to run the nationally syndicated Lex & Terry Morning Show. Now you have Two Guys Named Chris in the Morning. How long have they been doing mornings and how are they performing?

The show has been together for over 15 years and have dominated their home market.

It's definitely different than Lex & Terry, but that's not a bad thing. I think they sound great on the station and open us up to a wider audience.

4) In afternoons you are running the Work Release Program. Tell us about this show.

The Work Release Program started nine years ago with myself as the only host. Four years ago, I was joined by my now co-host Marshall. Simply put, the show is two friends hanging out, playing some music and talking lots of crap to each other. We try not to overthink or overproduce anything. We just want it to be fun and relatable to the audience.

5) From the station website I also noticed a show called Torture Tuesday. Do tell?

Torture Tuesday is a feature on the Work Release Program that usually involves something horrible happening to Marshall or myself. We set up the bit with some sort of bet where the loser must face a torture. We've been put through tables WWE-style, shot with paint balls at close range, got in the ring with an MMA fighter, ran on a treadmill while Legos were dumped on it and various other painful things. We started it as soon as Marshall joined the show and it has since become our signature bit.

6) Let's talk about the music on Rock 106.1. Does the lifestyle of a community like Savannah influence the music you play on your station at all?

Yes and no. You don't want to ignore what's going on in the community but with an area like Savannah where there is so much going on it can be easy to want to over think it. We're an Active Rock station. We're not going to be everything to everyone, so we keep the lifestyle of the community as a whole in mind, but when it comes to picking music, the lifestyle of our listeners is more important.

7) What's your take on current Active Rock music and the format as a whole?

For a while it felt like the format was getting really stale. We needed bands that have their own voice and I think we're finally getting that from groups like Nothing More, Fever 333 and Highly Suspect. As a programmer I think it's easier to get behind a new group that has something personal to say. It sets them apart and makes it easier for the audience to identify with them. So the music and the format is in a better place than it was and I hope we continue to see new bands like the ones mentioned above.

8) Give me three new Rock bands or songs that you are digging right now?

Can I just put Ghost down three times? Seriously that band is amazing and the new album is incredible. They get it. You've got to do something that is going to make you stand out from the crowd. They are like no one else.

Fever 333 is another band that is setting themselves apart. The live show is insane and they've definitely got something to say.

I think the tune "Ghost" from Badflower is incredibly powerful and couldn't more relevant or necessary than it is right now.

9) How much does Rock 106.1 use social media to interact with its listeners and are you doing anything new and creative you can share?

People live on social media so for us it's all about the interaction. You can go to a car remote and you're lucky if you talk to two listeners. You can get on social media and interact with hundreds. And because of that interaction, social media is one of the tools radio can use to set themselves apart from streaming services.

We do a weekly hashtag game feature on the Work Release Program. We create a hashtag and then have listeners come up with funny responses for said tag. The hashtag typically trends top 5 in the country. We've even gotten some website coverage from places like Fox News because of certain tags. Lars from Metallica played along with one a few weeks back when the tag was #MakeAMetallicaSongSofter.

10) Finally, with everything on your plate, what do you like to do to relax when you're not fully in radio mode?

Hanging out with my family. I've got two kids (17 and 15) that still like me so I'm taking advantage of that while I can. I'm also a huge fan of craft beer. So I'll take any excuse to end up at a brewery.