By Bob Makin
originally published: 08/22/2018
Billy Hector has a hot new CD out entitled “Some Day Baby,” which he’ll celebrate the release of Aug. 25 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. This week also features MOTO Records and Etherius.
Two-time Makin Waves Guitarist of the Year Billy Hector is back with a scorchin’ CD, “Some Day Baby,” which he’ll celebrate the release of, along with his 62nd birthday, on Aug. 25 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. This is blues at its best, and Billy Hector always has been New Jersey’s best blues ambassador throughout the entire 30-plus years that I’ve been writing about him. It brings me tears of joy that this record is so great.
The 13 tracks include the opening Texas shuffle of “Wizard of Babylon,” which sizzles like a brisket coming out of the cooker; the bluesadelic title track, which flirts with the horn-driven rock ‘n’ soul of Asbury’s glory days, such as Hector’s early band, Hot Romance, and the honey-drippin’ funk of “Butt Naked and Funk,” which delightfully features tinges of hip hop. There’s also the exotic raga-flavored “Moonlight in Her Eyes”; an instrumental entitled “Bareback” reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughan; “Jolene,” a fun bar-room broiler in the spirit of George Thorogood; new arrangements of traditional tunes “Alabama Bound” and “On Your Bond,” and the Asbury Jukes-like closer “Road to Happiness.”
Longtime musical and life partner Susan Lastovica comes alongside her man as co-writer on eight of the 11 originals, as well as an exceptional co-vocalist on “Alabama Bound” and “Road to Happiness.” Hector’s all-star studio band also includes Rollins Band/Ween drummer Sim Cain, Steve Morse drummer Van Romaine, Soul Asylum bassist Winston Roye, keyboard great John Ginty, sax great Tommy LaBella, harmonica great Dennis Gruenling and many others with whom he’s played for 40 years.
In addition to winning two Makin Waves Awards, Hector also has won several Asbury Park Music Awards for Best Guitarist, Best Blues Band and Living Legend, as well as the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also was invited by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to pay tribute to Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, SRV’s Double Trouble and the great blues harpist Charlie Musselwhite. And he played the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams and Buddy Miller in honor of Leadbelly …
Everyone knows that the multi-hyphenated talent of Chris Pierce is amazing, but Book Chop Express Booking is going out of its way to prove that with Piercefest, a show on Aug. 25 at Mill Hill Basement in Trenton where he’ll play drums with three bands in one night: Mikey Erg Band, School Drugs and Erotic Novels. Whew! At least he gets a break during a performance by Coach’s Son, featuring former members of The Great Explainer. Pierce also will play guitar in his fabled punk band Doc Hopper in which Erg plays drums on Sept. 8 at Hub City Sounds: ROCK New Brunswick in Boyd Park with Hub City Stompers, Sharief Hobley, Pleased Youth, Silent Knight, Nalani & Sarina, Experiment 34, Professor Caveman and more …
Speaking of Hub City Sounds, New Brunswick Cultural Center’s annual summer concert series continues on Aug. 25 with the 3rd Annual Caribbean Festival, also in Boyd Park. Performers will include Arita, Menny Moore, The Young Picassos, Universal African Drum & Dance Ensemble, King Tappa, Black Circle Symphony, Soca Twerk, Haitian All-Starz and much more. Highlights will feature a jerk chicken cook off whose judges will include lil’ ol’ me. For the fam, there’ll also be a moon bounce, face painting, a petting zoo and more ...
Asbury Park-based MOTO Records is throwing a shindig on Aug. 29 at Asbury Park Yacht Club featuring a chunk of its young roster, including Leah Nawy Band and Lauren Gill. MOTO Records Live! also will feature several young performers from Lakehouse Music Academy’s Artist Program, including Kayla Hutchins, Vianna Schibell, Davis Dugan, Chelsea Pulermo, Will Bezerra, Ryan Fiorello, Abby Kenna, and Alec Demello …
New Jersey-based progressive metal quartet Etherius will release their new instrumental EP, “Thread of Life,” on Aug. 24. The five track offering will be available on all the usual digital platforms and can be sampled in part on Spotify. The record comes with a new bass playthrough (streaming above) of the title track, featuring Chris Targia performing amidst a beautiful forest setting. The video was produced by Michael J Adams of Blackline Studios and recorded at High Tor State Park in New York. Also to promote “Thread of Life,” Etherius will play Sept. 2 at Mercury Lounge, New York City, with The Astra Cadence and Book of Harmony.
Bob Makin is the reporter for www.MyCentralJersey.com/entertainment and a former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him at [email protected]. And like Makin Waves at www.facebook.com/makinwavescolumn.
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
Griffin House
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ“If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.” —American Songwriter
Floyd Pink - Celebrating The Music Of Pink Floyd
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJFLOYD PINK is a Pink Floyd tribute band from the New York metro area, celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.
Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJMulti-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the helm, Queensryche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and has performed in upwards of fifty countries. Geoff is regarded as one of the most skilled vocalists in the genre with hundreds of modern, popular artists citing him and his former band as a major influence. Combining social consciousness and expertly crafted lyrics with high-energy, melodically complex music, Queensryche with Geoff Tate at the forefront became internationally recognized as the thinking man’s rock band. The band’s first three albums — their self-titled EP (1983), The Warning (1984) and Rage for Order (1986) — all hit gold status selling over 500,000 units each.
Jesse Cook
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Victoria Theater
1 Center Street, Newark, NJA global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music’s power to connect people across cultures and continents. The Paris-born, Toronto-raised master of the Spanish guitar weaves together flamenco, samba, jazz and world folk traditions into something spellbinding and uniquely his own. On stage, Cook radiates infectious energy — collaborating with his band to craft immersive experiences celebrated for their warmth, precision and emotional depth. With over a billion streams and views across platforms, his sound remains as relevant as it is revered.
Don Mclean & Lee Greenwood
Sunday, November 15, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJTwo iconic singers perform their hits and celebrate America’s 250 birthday! Singer/songwriter Don McLean is best known for the classic hit “American Pie,” as well as “Vincent” and “Castles in the Air.” Country superstar Lee Greenwood has seven top charting singles, including “I.O.U,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” and the patriotic favorite, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
EVENT PREVIEWS
NJPAC presents Gregory Porter with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell
(NEWARK, NJ) -- With a voice that can fill a concert hall and make every listener feel personally embraced, Gregory Porter has become one of the most beloved artists in contemporary jazz. On Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm, the two-time GRAMMY® winner returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell for an evening of soulful expression, exquisite storytelling and remarkable vocal artistry, presented as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. Griffin House is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been making records for over 20 years.
KANSAS to perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- One of classic rock's most iconic bands, KANSAS, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. A limited number of tickets remain.
NJPAC presents Jesse Cook on Saturday
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Jesse Cook on Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Victoria Theater at 8:00pm. A global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music's power to connect people across cultures and continents.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition to take place on Sunday
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
Song of the Meadowlark takes place on Sunday in Hopewell
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Song of the Meadowlark takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Highland Design Farm. This is a meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry, and live painting. Doors are at 2:00pm, showtime is 2:30pm.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Chris Smither
(AVENEL, NJ) -- Chris Smither will perform at the Avenel Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother's ukulele.
Rufus Wainwright to Perform with Princeton "Super-Orchestra" at McCarter Theatre
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 7:30pm, GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright takes the McCarter stage for one night only with the Princeton Playhouse Sinfonia, a dynamic new collaborative ensemble created specifically for this concert.
