Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > September > 18 > Entry
9/18: Kaedy Kiely back on air on the River, 2nd season for Alan Ball’s “True Blood,” “America’s Got Talent” top 10
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kaedy Kiely returned to the air this morning on 97.1/The River after a four-year absence from Atlanta airwaves.
“I’m so psyched to be here,” she told listeners. And she sounded it. “I have to pinch myself,” she added after wrapping the show. “It was such a trip. I felt like I was back home.” She’s on from 5 a.m. to about 8:30 a.m.
“The greatest thing about the past four years is I didn’t need radio,” she added. “But I certainly missed it terribly. It’s what I do best.”
Thanks to www.971theriver.com, she’ll be able to funnel her rock knowledge with interviews and other content online. And you’ll see her at the Stone Mountain chili cookoff Sept. 27 and the AC/DC concert in December.
The River, as Kiely noted, makes “the music the star,” but she doesn’t mind not talking as much. “Rock and roll has always been such a big part of my life,” she noted. She was a fixture on Atlanta airwaves on those two stations for more than 20 years.
Her friend Jordan Graye (who is on B98.5 and also plays Kate McCarthy on the River) told her about the auditions a few weeks back at the River. Kiely competed with Steve Mitchell (a former colleague at 96rock, ironically), Tim Rhodes (also a former 96rocker who is now on a rock station in Athens) and Paula Phillips, the traffic gal at the River.
Kiely, who replaces Lexie Kaye, wasn’t entirely out of radio. She spent the past two years doing “continuity,” the liaison between advertising and talent at 790/The Zone. She also has been helping out selling horchata, a Mexican drink that has a rice pudding flavor. And she started a Web site called www.rockriddles.com.
-Marietta native Alan Ball gets a second season of “True Blood.” HBO has given Ball the green light after just two episodes. Although ratings have been relatively modest for HBO with 1.44 million seeing the debut, the second episode audience grew to about 1.8 million. It is a taut, fascinating drama, with Anna Paquin making a great central character as Sookie. Ball is also known for “American Beauty” and “Six Feet Under.”
-I can’t say any of the top 10 of “America’s Got Talent” has the true star power of Terry Fator last year. And I’m disappointed America is so fixated by singers with only Nuttin But Strings standing out. (I would have liked to have seen the baton twirler, the James Gang and even the Tapping Dads instead of, say, Jessica Price.) I tended to agree with Piers Morgan. Most of the Tuesday performances were mediocre. Five will remain as of tonight and the winner will be picked next week. Here’s my ranking of last night’s top 10:
1-Nutting But Strings They have such passion, such grace, such fire. As the only act that doesn’t sing, they are the favorites to take this home. Wow. If you haven’t seen them, here’s their audition:
2- Eli Mattson - He got the pimp spot, which virtually guarantees a slot in the top 5. He has a distinctive voice and sings with conviction, a powerful combo. He really connects with the audience. And his version of Elton John’s “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word” clicks.
3- Queen Emily - Ugh. She went for the most obvious diva song “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” in the songbook. There are 100 others who can sing it as well but her stage presence and personality makes her special. She’s in the top 5 for sure as well.
4-Donald Braswell He is such a pro. I really do enjoy his pure vocals though he does sometimes seem too internalized while singing. I’m not sure if voters will place both opera singers in the top 5. Probably not. I’m rooting for Braswell over Boyd.
5- Kaitlyn Maher: I have an incredibly soft heart for Kaitlyn. She made me cry the first time I saw her at just age four. As Piers notes, she never misses a lyric. Sure, she misses a note once in awhile but she is the princess of adorable. It’s hard not to root for her. Based on talent alone, she doesn’t deserve to be in the top 5, but here I am placing her in the top 5 myself. I can’t help myself!
6- Neal E. Boyd - He made a mistake going for a boring pop song like “All By Myself.” I’ve never been quite as taken by him as others but I can see his underdog appeal and he’ll probably make the top 5.
7- Jessica Price —Â So-so voice, a fearful image on stage does not make the next big star in my mind. And she couldn’t compare to Sarah McLachlan doing “Angel.” The judges fell over backward praising her but I’m not sure she’d even make the top 24 on “American Idol.”
8- Paul Salos - He does a lovely rendition of Frank Sinatra each week and was adequate tonight with “New York New York,” but he really shouldn’t go any further. He’s another case of a great underdog story which “Got Talent” specializes in.
9- The Wright Kids - What century did these kids come from? They seem completely stuck in 1973 and sing Jackson Five’s “ABC” to boot. Cuteness has gotten them this far. Seriously, they are really not all that.
10-Joseph Hall I totally agree with Piers on him. Good stage presence, horrible voice with “A Little Less Conversation.” I’d be horrified if he made the top 5. I still have no clue why he’s even here at all. Bleh.
-Congrats to Kevin & Taylor at the Fish for winning best morning show in the “Best of the Big A.” Ditto with Karen Minton of WSB-TV for sexiest weather forecaster. (The Bert Show and Dagmar Midcap were our editors’ picks.)
Comments
By rocker
September 18, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Like I’ve said before, Kaedy Kiely is the best Atlanta rock-jock ever (being an Atlanta area native I’ve listened to her all the way back to 1982). It’s great to hear her voice gain. Also glad to hear she will be able to use her excellent interviewing skills (online at least)…..Some of those old interviews that she did with Gregg Allman were classics (back when he was still staying messed up most of the time and communicated mostly with slurred speech and grunts). Now if we could just get her to use her influence to convert “The River” into a true Classic Rock station with a deep eclectic play list we would be rollin’ (yeah, I know that ain’t going to happen……thank God for satellite radio).
By bigun
September 18, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Kaedy tried to get me to boink her when she did the drive home show on 96 rock.Man that was long ago.
By Donny
September 18, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Thank god, maybe she’ll expand the play list. I swear the river feels like a 1 GB iPod, it’s mostly great music, but just not enough variety.
I know The Who has more songs than the 3 that they play on The River.
By Tim
September 18, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Next name to come back … The Kimmer … count on it!!! Hurp!!
By old man
September 18, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
is this 3yr old station still the “new” river
By Lee
September 18, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
I gave up the RIVER about a year ago…the repetition was driving me up the wall … really, does the audience need to hear tracks from Queen 10-20 times a day?
By RK
September 18, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
old man…I hate that. They need to stop with this “new” crap.
Rodney, you should be ashamed of yourself. That show is ruined by the talentless kids that people sympathy-vote for.
By Mel
September 18, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
I really like “The River,” but their playlist is jacked up! Do they want to be “classic pop hits,” or “classic rock hits?” The 2 just don’t mix. One minute you’re rocking out to some favorite Zeppelin, and the next you’re hit with Elton John! If I want to hear EJ, I’ll turn to a pop station. Please, make the playlist “CLASSIC ROCK,” and the station will be number one for me!
PS. The River went on the air Jan. 1, 2006…how is it still “new?”
By Charlie
September 18, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Our family knows this station as “the Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp station”.
By linny
September 18, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Rodney hey… i’m HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY that Kaedy is back!!! I agree with the earlier post - she’s one of the absolute best for rock’n’roll radio, knows her stuff and is great fun on the radio, to boot — been listening to her when available since the 70s! Kaedy! YOU GO GAL!!
As for AGT, Rodney, you’re about on the same page I am except I’d but Donald higher on the list. And I agree Neil shot his big toe with such a pop pop choice. Ah well. NBS has a HUGE chance to take it all.
And i totally agree, hopefully Kaedy can exert some influence on RIVER and get us some NEW (what a concept!) music from the classic days of Rock.
see you back on the home blog, RH…
peace!!
By Jan
September 18, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
REPETITION RIVER!!! Yall are correct on that!!! No way I can try to listen out by the pool, or cleaning the house or even riding down the road - because of all the over and over again songs!!!!
Love the PianoMan on AGT!!! and the little girl IS darling!!!!! I pretty much agree with your list…..
By linny
September 18, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
RK, I’d HARDLY say that “talentless kids” describes the likes of Neil Boyd, Donald Braswell, Queen Emily… and no wayi you can call Paul Salos a kid, LOL!!! This year’s show has pulled out some very nice talent, thank you very much!
Nuttin But Strings are nutting but phenomenal … not only do they PLAY the violins, they compose the pieces they perform … and are HUGELY talented at both. Kudos to their Mom for getting them interested in the kind of thing that will take them far — far from the ghetto and far into success!!
By CL
September 18, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Kaedy: So enjoyed you this morning! Met you many moons ago at Aunt Charley’s and have tried to follow you ever since. Welcome Back!
By TPM
September 18, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
It is nice that Kaedy Kiley is back. I missed her rock riddles.
97.1 the river is perpetuating a fraud by having Jordan Graye on under another name. Who are they trying to fool ? She is not a DJ - she is an annoying voice-over.
They also need to triple their playlist
By Goldfish
September 18, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Get it on, sista. We missd ya!
By Goldfish
September 18, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
BTW: Are we gonna lay around the shanty and put a good buzz on!
By lakerat
September 18, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Rocker -
Even Kaedy said herself this morning that she has been on the airwaves 20 years hear in Atlanta, so it is highly unlikely she was on the air in 1982. But, it is great to have her knowledge back on the air!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 18, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Um lakerat — Kaedy Kiley was on 96 Rock with Mark McCain and Steve Mitchell and Willard in those days, yes she was. When I was preggers with my son in 1984-5, she had already been there a while. Mark and Kaedy had an incredible chemistry on air in the mornings (Wake Up Crew, anyone?) Steve Mitchell, Willard and some other guy I can’t remember the name of, and a fella that did incredible voice imitations…. i can’t tell you exactly the years but i know it was early-mid 80s at least…by the late 80s they were shaking up the lineups already… mark moved on somewhere i think, kaedy moved to afternoons maybe… i dunno… but i know i never listened to any other station except to hear the braves (poor guys, couldn’t win for losing back then either)
nostalgia, what fun!
By War Eagle
September 18, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Kaedy is just as hot now as when I met her in 1985, Would love to Marry that Woman. Sizzle!
By Crude
September 18, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Thank God she’s replacing Lexie Kaye. I had to abandon The River months ago because I was sick of her nasally voice.
Oh, and yes, expand the damn River playlist!! And let’s agree to ban all Eagles songs for one year minimum. Oh, and Elton John songs. Oh, and Fleetwood Mac. Oh, and the Who. One year bans for all!! I promise you, you won’t miss them, and you can find other/better bands to play.
The River needs to become a ROCK station, not a slightly edgier version of B98.5.
Seriously.
By Deirdre
September 18, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
WE! Behave yourself!!!! :-)
Rodney… sweet Kaitlyn will turn into bratty Kaitlyn soon. Vegas would destroy her….at least what’s left of her after her parents stop pimping her. She’s cute as a button but last night, when Jerry told us that “even at 4 years old she already has a hero” my first thought was.. if she says cute squeaky voiced “my daddy is my hero” I’m gonna puke! Sure enough……
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 18, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
LOL, Deirdre, who ELSE would it be? and what 4 year old DOESN’T have a hero???? and it’s usually “Daddy”…
Hubby just laughed and laughed at Springer on that one — guess you and i saw that one in different lights, but i whole-heartedly agree, Kaitlin needs to go home THIS week, not take the place of one of the gr’ups!!! (ok… can anyone tell me where THAT term comes from??? and yes, i do know)
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 18, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
Oh, and WE — 96Rock did a beach thingy at Stone Mountain, back when you could get into the park and on the freaking beach for FREE, and were giving away Beach Towels with the 96Rock logo (black and orange—ugly!) … Kaedy gave my hubby one, and he still has it TO this DAY!!!! won’t let me toss it, uh uh no WAY! Kaedy touched that thing!!!! (he thinks she was the hottest, too LOL)
By rocker
September 18, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
lakerat - yes, Kaedy started at 96Rock in 1982 (Don’t argue with me….I’m old enough to remember it). She started part time (as most DJs do). I think her full time afternoon gig started in 1984 if I remember correctly. She was at 96Rock until they made the stupid decision to run her off (in late ‘97 I believe)…and then she was at Z93 from 1998-2004. She got canned when Z93 turned into whatever the hell that “Dave” thing is they have going on there now.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 18, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
rocker, Kaedy and Willard did the trek from 96 to 93, similar paths…and you ARE correct, lol, i remember her being there too. gotchyer back, friend!
and by the way, thank you River for choosing Kaedy over Mitchell… she was waaaaaaay better!!!
By doodie buddy
September 18, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Whatever happened to Christopher Ruud?
By Jaime
September 18, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Kaedy! You’re the very best of ATL radio! I’m among the long-time fans who are absolutely thrilled you are bringing your knowledge and class act back. Congratulations! I was giddy to hear your familiar voice this morning. It was a thing of beauty amid too much talk and shock.
By Jaime
September 18, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Kaedy! You’re the very best of ATL radio! I’m among the long-time fans who are absolutely thrilled you are bringing your knowledge and class act back. Congratulations! I was giddy to hear your familiar voice this morning. It was a thing of beauty amid too much talk and shock.
By Jaime
September 18, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Kaedy! You’re the very best of ATL radio! I’m among the long-time fans who are absolutely thrilled you are bringing your knowledge and class act back. Congratulations! I was giddy to hear your familiar voice this morning. It was a thing of beauty amid too much talk and shock.
By jeff
September 18, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Hopefully she is a Springsteen fan and will start playing some of his stuff. The station has not played a Sprinsteen song in almost a year. Unbelievable. More from the Moody Blues and ELO. ELP Genesis with Peter Gabriel. Traffic. Lets shake up the playlist a bit. More Beatle cuts as well. Anything by Boston Dont play anymore.
By Locutus
September 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
LINNY: Sometime in ‘67, “Miri”: the episode where the children ran the Earth-replica planet because a disease wiped out all above the age of adolescence. Saw the original NBC-TV run one Friday night on WSB-TV/2, as a 9 year old in Marietta.
By KEITH J
September 18, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Christopher Rude is on “680 The Fan” in the mornings. It is an AM sports talk show. It’s great to hear Kaedy again. I enjoyed listening to her in the 80’s on 96Rock with all the other guys. She really brings back a lot of memories.
By sam
September 18, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
i’m sure kady will have fun alternating between The Eagles and Boston….
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 18, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Locutus … EXcellent!!! i didn’t think anyone noticed!!! Wasn’t that episode awesome? Love my ol’ star trek, LOL. My kids have seen every star trek (of all generations) … it’s sort of a family tradition, i guess, and sometimes they call us “grups” to unsuspecting friends… always fun…
thanks for responding!!!
By Peter
September 18, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
I clicked on this link hoping she had gotten a slot at Rock 100. Sad to see her comeback on such a lame station. “The new” 97.1 The River flat out sucks. I sent an email to Lexie once and suggested a contest idea - have listeners guess how many Boston songs 97.1 plays per hour. I’ve lived here for 28 years and remember 96Rock at its peak. 97.1 is the worst rock station I have heard in that time. Even makes Grease’s tenure at Z-93 tolerable by comparison. Sad to see this happen to Kaedy. At least Mark McCain was smart enough to get out and stay out.
By Rock 100.5 Fan
September 19, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Just a reminder to all radio listeners of da ATL… Chuck Deskins & Randall Bloomquist are complete idiots. I hope you both get fired and end up working at the Taco Bell on Buford Highway.
By kevin
September 19, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
My two cents about the River: I have never in my life heard a station that plays “The Day the Music Died” with such ear-bleeding regularity. Every time I hear that opening piano riff coupled with “A long long time ago…” I run to the radio just to change the station. If there are elevators in hell, that’s what they’ll be playing.
By Doofy
September 19, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Note to Rock 100.5 Fan - Deskins got canned a few weeks ago. He is now cleaning toilets at the Walmart on Bankhead Highway.
It’s only a matter of time before Bloomquist is gone……
By Locutus
September 19, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
Reistance is futile. You will all be assimilated.
By Rock 100.5 Fan
September 19, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Hey Doofy
You have a link?
By Doofy
September 19, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Links on Deskins replacement:
(http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=n18335)
(http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/NewsStoryPage.aspx?ContentID=TJ0w%2FLlrBSI%3D&Version=2)