New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Death Threat Radio


By Gary Wien

originally published: 12/04/2005


The news took most fans by surprise when they checked their email and learned that New Blood Revival was breaking up. NBR was one of the most popular bands in the Central Jersey area for several years. They had signed a deal with Atlantic Records and appeared to be poised for bigger and better things. Unfortunately, the record pretty much got shelved by the record company and as NBR played out their last few farewell shows, another chapter in New Jersey music history came to a close.

Enter Death Threat Radio - the next chapter in the story of Matt Witte, the talented songwriter and performer from the Jersey Shore who made a name for himself in the bars of New Brunswick. Death Threat Radio is Matt's new band.

"It's definitely different," said Matt Witte. "It's not like the old band. It's not like the stuff I was doing six or seven years ago. It's a bit more R&B now. When we play out we try to stay in the same vein and not be so diverse where before we kind of got lost."

The experience with New Blood Revival, the record deal, and touring across the country has taught Matt a few lessons about the industry. One thing he learned is that it's hard to tour with a lot of people. So, instead of going with another large band, Death Threat Radio is a more manageable three-piece unit.

"It's three guys and they're all fucking cool guys," said Witte. "We're going to have some sampling and in the studio we're going to have a lot of string arrangements that will be run through the computer and that will basically be the fourth member of the band. We're only going to keep three guys in the band. The music is real laid back. Most of the stuff is pretty dark."

"The energy's real cool, I think. We all get along - not that the other band didn't get along, it's just a lot less people to deal with. I think that last time it didn't enable us to take so many people on the road and be comfortable. This time I would want to make sure everything was laid out."




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Another thing Witte learned is that he absolutely loves being on tour. He loves the road and can't wait to go back. Death Threat Radio, which only started a little over two months ago, plans to start playing out locally and eventually moving to shows across the northeast. You can currently see them in places like New Brunswick, Asbury Park and New York City. In fact, the Bitter End - a very important NYC club - has been the site for several of the band's earliest shows.

"We did three weeks there," explained Witte. "We did once a week for three weeks. We didn't really expect that to happen. We got together real fast, had everything kind of mapped out for the most part but we didn't expect to get that far that fast."

Part of the plan includes heading into the studio sometime in the next couple of months. After the band has a record, the touring will move to new areas. There's a big base of support built up from the NBR days, so Death Threat Radio has an opportunity to take advantage of the NBR following.

New Blood Revival finished off with a pair of farewell shows in November at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick and the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. If you missed those shows keep your eye out for one final reunion which should take place in 2006.

"The Court show was so much fun, it was great!" he said. "We didn't have our original bass player - he was actually at a wedding so he couldn't make the show - so we're going to do another show with the old band in the next 6-12 months. It'll probably be at the Court."

You can catch Matt's new band, Death Threat Radio on Saturday, December 10th as part of the New Jersey Music Hall Of Fame's "Artists On The Brink" show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.


Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Indigenous

Indigenous

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - SUMMER: The 90's Part 2

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Bria

Bria Skonberg

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

KC

KC and the Sunshine Band

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

The

The Hit Men: The Ultimate Rock Concert

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

City

City Winery NYC presents Sly and the Vine: A Funkadelic Tasting Experience with Vernon Reid of Living Colour

(NEW YORK, NY) -- City Winery NYC presents Sly and the Vine: A Funkadelic Tasting Experience with Vernon Reid of Living Colour on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 7:00pm. Join them for an immersive 8-glass wine tasting perfectly paired with the revolutionary sounds of Sly & The Family Stone—featuring special guest Vernon Reid, legendary guitarist and founder of Living Colour. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind night where rhythm meets the vine.



Blue

Blue Curtain presents Fabiola Méndez and Her Band on July 19th

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Blue Curtain's free summer concert series continues on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 8:00pm with a performance by trailblazing Puerto Rican cuatrista, singer, and Emmy-nominated composer Fabiola Méndez at the Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater in Princeton.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Hanson

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Hanson on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:00pm. Over their first 28 years as the band Hanson, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have made a significant mark in music.



A

A Brother's Revival: Celebrating the Legendary Sound of the Allman Brothers Band Live at Drew University

(MADISON, NJ) -- Get ready to experience the timeless legacy of the Allman Brothers Band like never before, as A Brother's Revival takes the stage at Drew University Concert Hall on Thursday, September 19, 2025 at 8:00pm. This high-caliber tribute band honors the spirit and soul of one of America's most iconic rock groups with a performance brimming with power, precision, and heart.



Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. Griffin is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller. Touring and making records for over 20 years, House has a discography that includes over 13 albums.