By Lazlo
originally published: 12/12/2022
Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at releases by Tony Lio, Funny Fuel, Jason Didner, Samuel Vincent, Renee Maskin, tiyu (ft. eleanor forte), thin ear, Zachary West & The Good Grief, JEFFREY, Long Neck,and Omen and the Possum.
Tony Lio - "Kaleidoscope" [single]. Tony Lio's colorful new single is a beautiful, poetic, indie rock ballad.
Funny Fuel - "Get Told". Funny Fuel's new release is called "Get Told", but currently only contains one song, "Future Self", which is a rather catchy piece of mid-tempo bedroom pop. Hoping there is more on the way!
Jason Didner - "When The Time Came" [single]. Jason Didner's latest single, "When The Time Came", is a beautiful song about growing, changing, leaving the past behind, and finding some peace and happiness. Something we all aspire to!
Samuel Vincent - "Deadlock" [single]. A lot of hip-hop incorporates numerous loops, effects, and all sorts of gimmicks, often burying the lyrical content, but the first single from Samuel Vincent's upcoming EP is all about a simple drum & bass beat where the lyrics can be heard loud and clear.
Renee Maskin - "Dreams a River". Listening to Renee Maskin is like getting in a car, heading out to the middle of nowhere and driving towards the skyline. It is not about the destination, it is the journey, and, as Renee always does, "Dreams a River" is a wonderous journey!
tiyu (ft. eleanor forte) - "another summer..." [single]. "another summer" from tiyu (ft. eleanor forte) is an amazing retro sounding synth-pop-disco-lite tune, that evokes the days when ABBA were the band the DJ played at the local roller rink. This tune was fun!
thin ear - "Your Mind Walked Away". Jon Gonnelli, of Rye Coalition & The Black Hollies, uses thin ears as his songwriter project, and the new EP "Your Mind Walked Away" showcases four different varieties of indie rock. Definitely check it out!
Zachary West & The Good Grief - "Head Empty". It is ironic that my favorite track on Zachary West & The Good Grief's amazing new EP, "Head Empty" begins with the line, "I'm so sick of nostalgia". Their anthemic alt-pop-punk/modern rock sound has a certain bit of nostalgia to it. Not sounding specifically like any one band that came before them, but capturing the essence and spirit of a bygone era. I freaking love it!
JEFFREY - "JEFFREY". The harmonies on JEFFREY's self-titled album are chill inducing, and the music is all around wonderful alt-dream-pop!
Long Neck - "Live from Kaleidoscope Studios". Long Neck's music is always amazing, albeit it often lyrically depressing, but the live energy in this recording just brings the songs to a new level!
Omen and the Possum - "Omen and the Possum". Omen and the Possum's self-titled album is beautifully crafted mellow, singer-songwriter indie-rock.
That's all for this week.
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon at https://mstdn.social/@BlowUpRadio
EVENT PREVIEWS
Good Damage to perform at House of Independents on July 15th
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- New Jersey alt rock/pop-punk band Good Damage will return to the House of Independents on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 supporting American Vanity and Faded 2 Gray. This will be the band's third time playing the venue. Doors are at 7:00pm, music starts at 8:00pm.
WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach series presents Nicole Atkins on Thursday
(BRADLEY BEACH, NJ) -- WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach presents Nicole Atkins on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:00pm. Cory Blair will open the night. The free outdoor concert takes place at the Newark Avenue Beach in Bradley Beach.
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul to Headline Concert at ParkStage on July 17th
(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul will headline a concert at ParkStage on Friday, July 17, 2026 that fans of Jersey music will love. The lineup includes Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Jake Clemons Band, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Gary U.S. Bonds, and The Weeklings. Showtime is 4:00pm.
Scottish Rite Auditorium hosts An Evening with Patty Griffin & Kathleen Edwards
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- The Scottish Rite Auditorium hosts An Evening with Patty Griffin & Kathleen Edwards on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. The concert is presented by the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
LoMotion Live Presents America at 250: A Celebration in Song to Benefit Elks Army of Hope
(PARSIPPANY, NJ) -- LoMotion Live invites the community to an inspiring evening of music, storytelling, and patriotism with America at 250: A Celebration in Song, a special benefit cabaret on Friday, July 17, 2026 at the Parsippany Arts Center. Showtime is 7:30pm. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Elks Army of Hope, a charitable program dedicated to providing assistance to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families during times of need.
The Menzingers to Celebrate Album Release at Stone Pony on Friday
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Stone Pony presents The Menzingers' Album Release Show on Friday, July 17, 2026. The band will be celebrating the release of "Everything I Ever Saw". At this point, the Philadelphia punk legends are an absolute institution.
Grounds For Sculpture and Third Way Cultural Alliance to Present an Intimate Evening of Art and Music on July 18th
(HAMILTON, NJ) -- Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) and Third Way Cultural Alliance announce a special evening celebrating the power of creative freedom through music, art and conversation. "Creative Freedom: A Salon Experience featuring Marshall Allen, Salvador Jiménez-Flores and Jamaaladeen Tacuma," will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.
bergenPAC presents Swingtime Big Band on Saturday
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- New York's high-powered Swingtime Big Band returns to Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Saturday, July 18, 2026 to celebrate America250 by showcasing the popular music that kept Americans dancing for decades—from the Lindy and Fox Trot to the Cha Cha to the Twist! Showtime is 8:00pm.
DePue Brothers Band to Bring "Grassical" Music to Sewell
(SEWELL, NJ) -- Music at Bunker Hill welcomes the DePue Brothers Band on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00pm. In a departure from the series' customary chamber music fare, the DePue Brothers Band has long coined their music with the term "grassical," the combination of bluegrass with jazz, blues, rock, folk, and classical.
Albert Music Hall's "Back to Our Roots" Benefit on Sunday to Support Preservation of Pinelands Music History
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Albert Music Hall will present Back to Our Roots, a special fundraising concert on Sunday, July 19, 2026, inviting music lovers to enjoy an afternoon of live performances while helping preserve an important piece of New Jersey's musical heritage.
FEATURED EVENTS
