By Lazlo
originally published: 02/27/2023
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 Lemboi, Regency Club, retrohaze, and Hodera.
Before we get into this week's New & Notable I would like to take a quick moment to mention a benefit happening this weekend (March 4th & 5th) on BlowUpRadio.com
Our second annual Giving a Second Chance a Benefit for National Foundation for Transplants will feature 20 artists performing live on BlowUpRadio.com.
And if you donate $10 or more to National Foundation for Transplants during the webathon you will receive a download of this year's compilation album featuring 45 previously unreleased songs.
The full schedule and compilation tracklisting are on BlowUpRadio.com.
Lemboi - "I Do the Things I Do... For the Love of Knowledge". "I Do the Things I Do... For the Love of Knowledge" is comprised of 6 songs that Lemboi created in the last few years. Based on the information on their Bandcamp page they have not made a lot of music in the last few years. The songs Lemboi have made are really good sadboi alt-pop. I hope they find time to make more soon.
Regency Club - "Déjà Rêvé". Regency Club's latest single, "Déjà Rêvé", feels like a familiar mid-tempo pop rock song (in a good way), and maybe that's intentional given the song title translates from French to English as "already dreamed".
retrohaze - "001". I have been waiting a long time for Vic Fraternale to release new music. Every so often I'd hear from him and he'd send me a sample of what he was working on and I would go, "this is awesome! When are you going to release this stuff to the public?" He'd give a non-committal answer to where I thought this music would languish for over a decade like "Chinese Democracy".
Well the time is neigh, and under the moniker of retrohaze, Vic is finally releasing some of his recordings (and I'm told more are on the way sooner rather than later), and they were well worth the weight. These songs are awesome! I also love the diversity on the album, there's some punk songs, some softer rock songs, a little sprinkling of Springsteen, and even a lovely piano instrumental.
Hodera - "Dear Friend". It has been a few years since Hodera's last release, but clearly they have spent their time crafting songs that, like their previous ones, are amazing alternative rock/Americana, with hooks that draws you in like an old friend. "Dear Friend", indeed.
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
State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. At nearly 90 years old, Buddy Guy remains a singular force in American music. Fresh off earning his ninth Grammy® Award in 2026 for Best Traditional Blues Album (Ain't Done with the Blues), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the last living architects of electric blues will celebrate a historic milestone with the Buddy Guy 90 Tour, featuring select headline performances across North America in 2026.
TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL 80s New Wave Tour Comes to Atlantic City on August 8th
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Tour organizers for the acclaimed 80's New Wave tour TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL have announced a line-up change due to the unfortunate cancellation of The Motels. Bow Wow Wow will replace The Motels for some shows and Men Without Hats will replace The Motels for others. The tour comes to the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The tour's colorful lineup also features Thomas Dolby & The Lost Toy People, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Producers, Animotion, The Escape Club, and Tommy Tutone.
State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy on August 8th
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the legendary Buddy Guy on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. Guy won his 9th career Grammy Award for 2025's Ain't Done With The Blues. Limited tickets remain.
The Vogel presents Early Elton Trio on Saturday
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Early Elton Trio on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a Tribute to the Elton John, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson Trio Tours of 1970 – 1972 featuring Jeff Kazee (Southside Johnny + The Asbury Jukes), Rich Pagano (The Fab Faux) and John Conte (Southside Johnny + The Asbury Jukes).
Albert Music Hall presents Pineystock on Sunday
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Albert Music Hall will be filled with peace, pickin' and harmonies on Sunday, August 9, 2026 as Pineystock returns for a "far out" afternoon celebrating the sounds and spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Todd Rundgren to perform shows in Englewood, Ocean City, and Red Bank in August
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Legendary producer/songwriter/guitarist Todd Rundgren is bringing his 2026 Damned If I Do Tour to the Garden Sate in August. He's got shows at bergenPAC in Englewood on August 8th; Ocean City Music Pier on August 11th; and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on August 12th.
The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on August 12th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7:00pm. In a career spanning over 50 years, dozens of albums, and too many shows to count, Marty Stuart charts a course through new territory at every chance possible.
BoDeans - 40th Anniversary Tour comes to Newton Theatre in August
(NEWTON, NJ) -- BoDeans are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, in 2026. In honor of the anniversary, the band has a special tour planned which comes to The Newton Theatre on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on August 14th
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram to Headline 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Christone "Kingfish" Ingram has been announced as the headliner for the 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. The free festival will be held on Saturday, August 15th on the Green. The music begins at noon and runs until 10:00pm. The lineup also includes James Langton New York All-Star Big Band, Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet, LaBamba and the Hubcaps, and Dylan Triplett.
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