Must be professional courtesy otherwise why hasn’t Gregg Hammer imitated the excellent traffic reporter, Danielle Tucker? Just listen to this combination of Gregg mimicking Danielle letting loose her personal commentary about the traffic situations.
The dream has died, and so went Island 98.5 from my car radio preset lineup. The dream? The reunion of the OG Wake-Up Crew with Rory and Gregg Hammer (and Krey-Z). I’ve fully accepted this will not come to pass.
Another impetus for this change is the emergence of ALT105.9. The new KPOI plays modern alternative music instead of classic rock. After a short listen, I was hooked. Hit after hit played with nary a pause. I don’t know if this is the longer term format sans deejays but for now the music has me hooked.
Back to Gregg Hammer and Hammertime on KRTR 96.3. Gregg, Davey, and Shawnee have their groove going. The team has definitely worked on their show and have polished out the rough edges. It’s no longer a one man show like I originally felt, and the format isn’t so formulated as before. Gregg is given his moments of genius within the framework of the overall show and spots. A slew of local characters now make a daily appearance from Aunty’s Storytime to interruptions from Bubbles. Davey does a much better job setting up Gregg and his impersonations. Then there’s Shawnee offsetting the goofiness of the dudes and bringing a practical viewpoint to the show, but you gotta love Gregg’s impersonations of Shawnee’s ethnic and cultural backgrounds. OMG!
Let me tell you don’t underestimate the traffic report from Danielle Tucker. Simply the best on the morning drive. Descriptive with enough personality mixed in, and she tweets with those stuck in traffic. Traffic on the Five is it and so much more.
So where am I going with all of this? Hammertime on 96.3 continues to flourish, I’m liking the tunes on Alt 105.9, so the odd station out is Island 98.5.
So you’re 24 years young, making millions playing a game you love, and just achieved a major milestone. Who cares if Michelle Wie partied it up a bit to celebrate. What is funny is Gregg Hammer’s impersonation of a golf announcer doing the play calling for Michelle’s against-the-wall twerking. Take a listen…
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Two voice Tuesday on Hammertime brought a mashup of Kim “Mrs. Yeezy” Kardashian and Korea’s own Kim Jong Il. Sorry, I cannot translate and don’t mind the non-sequitur image. SoundCloud’s integration with Instagram isn’t working for all my images.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/148475782″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Mea culpa if this is old news, but when did Hammertime on KRTR 96.3 revive the famous Two Voice Tuesday? Have I somehow been missing out all this time listening to Gregg Hammer combine two vocal caricatures? Here are a few clips from today’s zaniness.
All-Asian Wayne Anzaki mixed with Austrian-American Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Perhaps a little controversial, but he was asked and Mr. Hammer produced, mixing Helen Keller and Bubba Smith. Don’t mind the Harley revving its engine in the background
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Say what? I can’t understand what “Oprah Chai” is saying. Maybe Oprah Winfrey and local chef Chai Chaowasaree can translate.
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And what’s with my SoundCloud images for these audio clips? Just playing around with SoundCloud’s integration with Instagram and using some of my recent shots.
Talk about getting Hammer’d for real kine. There I was watching the Honolulu City Light Parade when I heard that voice. Was that Aunty Mildred? Wayne Anzaki? Joe Souki? Yes, yes, and yes as Gregg Hammer, Davey D, and a KRTR 96.3 parade entourage rolled down King Street then promptly stalled.
I don’t know why, but the entire parade stopped in place for at least 5 minutes. During this dead air time, Gregg and Davey entertained the crowd telling jokes, poking fun at their sister station’s blown out sound system, and encouraging parade watchers to do the wave. As Mr. Hammer talked to the crowd, he noticed me filming and taking pics.
Meeting Gregg Hammer from Gee Why on Vimeo.
Talk about honored! Even in the dim lights of the parade, Gregg was able to spot and recognize me standing over on the sidewalk. He acknowledged me as “the blogger” and came over to shake my hand. Awestruck! We chatted a bit and took this pic (otherwise it never happened, right?).
Thanks Gregg! What an amazingly memorable way to meet in real life. No bah humbug here. 🙂
This morning on Hammer’d, Gregg impersonates a Chinese/Laotian/Micronesian/Samoan business owner specializing in alternative diary. Ever had yogurt made from the teats of a llama?
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119847470″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
This prank call segment has some potential though I do feel bad for those getting punked aka hammer’d. One of these days, the person getting hammer’d won’t be able to take a joke and is bound to go off.
Have you noticed that according to their RDS (radio data system) signal, KRTR 96.3FM has been playing Lauryn Hill exclusively for the past few days? Specifically, her song Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.
It’s a good song, but all day and all night? Well, not exactly. Seems like KRTR is making some upgrades and until done, this song ID is stuck on your radio and mine. Could be worse, KRTR could have been playing a Weird Al song. Anyways, here’s the miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
It’s been four days since HammerTime started broadcasting on 96.3FM KRTR in the mornings. You’ve tuned in by now, right? Truthfully, after four days, I’ve listened to about four hours of the trio of Davey D, Gregg and Shawnee Hammer. While I’m elated Hammer’s back on air, I ain’t that infatuated with the man. 😉
I know this is just the very beginning with rough spots expected, but from my limited sampling, here is Pulpconnection’s analysis and breakdown.
But before that, if you missed the launch of HammerTime, listen in to the first two minutes of HammerTime. So what if they started about 5 minutes early?
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116972762″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Just nitpicking here, but the name HammerTime is appropriate but small kine confusing. Thanks to MC Hammer, HammerTime is part of our vernacular. Gregg Hammer is a marquee draw and since two of the three members of HammerTime are Hammers, the name fits. But there’s Davey D who seems like the team’s radio lead but gets unequal billing. No, I’m not trying to disrupt the team, just pointing out an observation.
KRATER 96 plays adult contemporary music, and at my age, I don’t mind this music since it’s all familiar. Rihanna is as hip hop as it gets around here. There’s a good mix of 90’s and newer music. Trivia fact: if you listen to the launch of HammerTime, the first official song played is Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn from 1997.
Fortunately, KRTR has the best traffic reporter assigned to their station with Danielle Tucker and Traffic on the Fives. Danielle’s reports are thorough and tweaked just enough so they don’t sound like she’s repetitively reading the same report for several stations.
Let’s start with the jockette, Shawnee Hammer. Since her departure from the I-94 Wake-Up Crew way back in the day, I’m not sure what she’s been up to. But she hasn’t missed a beat. Her news delivery is a bright spot for the fledgling HammerTime. She has a quick, precise delivery with enough inflections to stress words and convey vibrancy.
Davey D is a name I’ve heard before, but I’m not familiar with his style. I’m guessing his role is the experienced point man/facilitator of the program. The problem I have is telling the difference between the voices of Davey D and Gregg. When Hammer is in caricature-mode, it’s easy to discern, but in straight up regular dialog, I can’t immediately tell. Their voices have similar qualities unlike the former pairing of Gregg and Rory Wild.
Now, the main show, Gregg Hammer. Yes, I am a fan and believe Gregg belongs on the airwaves as one of the most talented entertainers. His range is wide and his speed of improvisation is unparalleled. But… these are new times, a new station, and a new team.
At times, it feels like Gregg is a one-man show. He goes into character but has to play all the parts. Listen in.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116910650″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
While he can pull this off, the effect is more compelling when the team complements or augments the stories and jokes. Yes, the team is still adjusting to one another and will get better over time; I understand that. I’m not sure if Gregg’s team knows how to react to his skits or can’t keep up or can’t lead him to the next segment. Again, Rory Wild was the master of this. With a few, well-placed comments, questions, or even a sigh, Rory would be directing the discourse giving Gregg a new path for hilarity. The team just needs more time, more repetitions, more exchanges before everything comes together. My basis for comparison is Gregg’s time with the Wake-Up Crew that spanned years. Seemingly he’s known Rory even longer. So it’s with this bias and expectations, I listen to HammerTime.
Ugh, okay, this has got to be the worst aspect of the show. It’s no fault to any HammerTime member, just the format of KRTR. But I really hate it. It’s the whole “right after this…” teasing. What celebrity was arrested last night? Find out right after this. Where “this” is typically one or two songs and a commercial. Then there’s some banter followed by another song, news, or traffic report. Then another teaser. Now follow this format for hours. There’s just no flow. Staccato is a rhythm but not a desired flow for this morning show.
Unshackle the Hammer. When things start getting good, the format kicks in, stifling the creativity of Gregg Hammer. Remember the days of the Wake-Up Crew when they would talk for minutes, not playing any music, just doing the obligatory bill paying commercials. The dialog would carry and engage the listeners. I would stay through the commercials so I wouldn’t miss out when the conversation picked up. The current show format doesn’t allow for this, letting me leave knowing I won’t hear from Davey, Shawnee, or Gregg for some time. And when I do hear from them, it’ll be for a scant few minutes before another mandatory music interruption.
It’s the beginning, and I’ll keep listening to HammerTime. You just never know when Gregg will talk about his Instagram selfie.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116972604″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Oh, one last thing. Develop characters. Gregg needs to redefine and develop characters. Gone are the days of Tufi Claus, Robert Crazymero, Manyo the Janitor, Bubba Fujimoto, the old Japanese couple, Officer Sherman Botello, and others. Gregg needs a new cast and fast. I’m not sure if Bubbles is it though.
There were rumblings and rumors, but now it’s known. Gregg Hammer is coming back to the airwaves starting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22, 2013. But no, Mr. Hammer isn’t reuniting with his old gang, the Wake-Up Crew. Instead, this comedic genius is joining KRTR 96.3 FM for the morning show. Joining Gregg from 5am to 10am weekday mornings will be Davey D and Shawnee (Hammer).
What’s with Gregg’s return? Who knows, but it has to be an all business affair. I hoped the return of the Hammer would be with his partner-in-crime and point man, Rory Wild. The world is a better place with Rory and Gregg on the air waves, but it’s not to be as Rory is still leading the revamped Wake-Up Crew on Island 98.5. So yes, both will be broadcasting at the same time on different stations. Doesn’t that pain you too?
Also, if you’re not a KRTR listener, morning deejays Dave Lancaster and Sister Sherry have been gone for about two weeks. Again, another business matter to seemingly open a time slot for Hammer’s return.
I don’t know Davey D’s style and haven’t heard from Shawnee since becoming Mrs. Hammer, so I don’t know what to expect. Tune in tomorrow to catch the return of Gregg Hammer!
Order in the world is gradually returning to normal. The first sign is the comeback of Hostess goodies. Despite their nutritional value, your childhood memories are better off with Twinkies in them.
The second sign is this hint from former radio personality Gregg Hammer.
Hammer returning to the airwaves after leaving? Yes, please!
I’m wondering if this is related to that under construction commercial I keep hearing on 96.3. Seems like Dave Lancaster and Sister Sherry are gone from the morning. Just have to be patient and keep monitoring the radio waves for the return of Hammer.
I like to review popular search terms that bring readers here to Pulpconnection, and sometimes, I just gotta laugh. One search term that’s been percolating for the past week is “moose knuckle.” The culprit is the pulpy post “Was That a DWTS Moose Knuckle, Gilles?”
If you recall, back in 2009, actor Gilles Marini’s wardrobe on Dancing with the Stars was a bit too shapely. If you’re not sure what a moose knuckle is, the Wake-Up Crew on I-94 had a lesson back in 2008. Of course, this lesson was led by the famously funny Gregg Hammer.
Speaking of things you learn or hear on the radio, today’s discussion on Da Bomb 102.7 was about golden showers, and one caller was descriptively enthused about this activity. And no, this topic wasn’t about the golden showers fireworks.
