By Lazlo
originally published: 01/30/2023
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 Alex Sieira, Old Friends, Today Is..., San Tropez, BYRH, Geb Zurburg, and Solid Bronze.
Alex Sieira - "Better Days" [single]. Alex Sieira describes his latest single, "Better Days", as "about always moving forward, and overcoming hardships. Change can be scary, but also a beautiful thing."
This song is a beautiful thing! It wrapped me up in the emotions, keeping me warm on a cold night.*
"Better Days" will be on Alex's forthcoming album, "Welcome Home", coming out this fall.
* - to be clear, that is a metaphorical warmth. Don't go out in the cold wearing nothing and listening to the song and expect to stay warm.
Old Friends - "Missing" [single]. Old Friends return with an alt-rock single to wake you up from these sleepy winter blues!
Pick up a tennis racket or hairbrush and rock out in front of your mirror. And don't forget to air drum!
Today Is... - "Tunes for Bears To Dance To (Demos)". The new EP by Today Is... are four demos, so the sound lacks that mastered full sound, but don't let that dissuade you from listening to four amazing pop-punk tunes that are so much fun that they almost hide the downer, self-loathing.
San Tropez - "Maybe Tomorrow". San Tropez has been around since at least 2018 when I first started playing their music on BlowUpRadio.com, so it surprised me to find that "Maybe Tomorrow" is their debut album, but indeed previous releases were singles and EPs. It is great to finally get a full 10 song album from this outstanding dream-pop with hooks and riffs like waves on the ocean... light enough to float on, but big enough to surf.
BYRH - "Bring Your Right Hand". BYRH (pronounced "brrr") has been an acronym for many things, including their new album title, "Bring Your Right Hand". I was going to try to come up with my own acronym for how awesome their album's blend of indie-pop with power-pop is, but clearly I am not as talented as they are (Bet You Rock Hard just doesn't quite fit, and Booyah! Yeah! Rock! Harmonious!, is even worse). So don't worry about the acronyms, just go check this album out!
Geb Zurburg - "Forty High Five". Geb Zurburg (who some may remember from the band Echofission), returns with his latest solo release, the three song EP, "Forty High Five". Geb's music has always been an eclectic combination of sounds. The songs are pop rock, and have amazing harmonies, but they are also experimental, jam, alt-rock. It is a sound that Geb has been honing for many years now, and continues to impress with every release.
Solid Bronze - "Mt. Fuji". I could go on and on about how much I love Solid Bronze's new album, "Mt. Fuji", but let me just be concise, this is some fine Funky Soul Jams!
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.
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.
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.
New Jersey Symphony to Make Rowan's Marie Rader Series Debut with "Life & Liberty" on July 22nd
(GLASSBORO, NJ) -- The Marie Rader Series will launch its 2026-27 season, entitled "Life & Liberty," with the New Jersey Symphony's Rowan University debut. On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players featuring Rowan University Strings Faculty & Alumni will perform at Pfleeger Concert Hall. Showtime is 7:00pm.
The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Blues For Greeny and the music of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Blues For Greeny - The Music of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Dude Cervantes & The Panchos will open the night. Doors are at 7:00pm, music starts at 7:30pm.
Shinedown to Play Shows in Newark and Philly in July
(NEWARK, NJ) -- One of the biggest bands in the world, Shinedown, will be releasing their brand new studio album EI8HT on May 29, 2026 (via Atlantic Records) and released the new song "Outlaw." In addition, they announced their massive Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour, taking the band to 11 countries across 54 dates, including local stops at Prudential Center in Newark on Tuesday, July 21st and Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23rd.
FEATURED EVENTS
