New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 2/3/25


By Lazlo

originally published: 02/03/2025

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 new releases by High., Sunshine Slackers, bronwyn, Happy Joe, The Grip Weeds, Cut The Kids In Half, Jon Caspi & The First Gun, and Rich Lancia. Plus a look back at "Winnebago" by The Wailing Kids.

High. - "Come Back Down". the debut album from High., "Come Back Down", is some mighty fine shoegaze/noisegaze. Lie comfortably with some big headphones, and enjoy.

Sunshine Slackers - "I'll Meet You Down There". Sunshine Slackers' press release states their, "sound is the product of over a decade of musical chemistry between Jack Linden (Karma Gambit), Deirdre Padric (American Stereo), and Chris Dubrow (Karma Gambit), who’ve played in something like five music projects together." It also describes their EP, "I'll Meet You Down There", as having "themes of loneliness, anger, and longing for comfort amidst chaos."

If it were early/mid 90's I have no doubt that their music, self described as, "grungy hooky alternative rock", would be all over mainstream rock radio... but those stations don't really exist anymore... a real shame because this music is outstanding! At least BlowUpRadio.com is here to play it.

bronwyn - "Uno (& friends)". According to the liner notes "Uno (& friends)" was recorded in bronwyn's bedroom, so in that sense it does qualify as "bedroom rock". Yet, calling it that seems incongruous, as this is no lo-fi recording. The 8 songs on this collection (4 regular tracks plus 4 bonus tracks) are fully fleshed out shoegaze indie rock, and engaging ones at that.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Happy Joe - "Primitive". Happy Joe (AKA Joe Canzano) last release, "Big Mouth", came out 15 years ago, so it is not surprising that the new album, "Primitive" is 26 songs. Is a 70 minute album too much of a good thing? Not to my ears. Happy Joe's "rowdy guitar rock" (his perfect description of his music) is a great soundtrack to the crazy times we live in.

The Grip Weeds - "Early Clues EP". The Grip Weeds have been a mainstay in New Jersey for over 35 years, putting out one release after another of killer power-pop. Their latest release, "Early Clues EP", continues the tradition with 3 pieces of ear candy for your enjoyment.

Cut The Kids In Half - "What We Became". "What We Became" is the debut album from Cut The Kids In Half, and it is a fascinating debut. Their alt-rock/indie-rock is hypnotic, with the less rocking songs having an almost Leonard Cohen-esque feel to them.

Jon Caspi & The First Gun - "On The Way Now". Jon Caspi & The First Gun's latest single, "On The Way Now" is my Earworm of the Week! It also may be the most relatable song I've heard this week, described by the band as being about having, "a friend that needs help and then when you try to help, they make it impossible".

Rich Lancia - "Look What I Found". Do like jangly, roots-pop-rock music? Then you need to check out the latest single from Rich Lancia, "Look What I Found", and then you can tell your friends, "hey, look what I found, an awesome song by Rich Lancia".

 




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Not New, But Memorable Corner

The Wailing Kids - "Winnebago". The Wailing Kids were a, "Three piece existential rock/dream punk from Trenton". To my ears, they also dabbled in shoegaze with a hint of psychedelia. I was, and still am, a huge fan of this band. Hard to believe their "I Saved Latin" album, which contained the song "Winnebago", came out a decade ago.



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 be 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://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio (and bridged on BlueSky)

FEATURED EVENTS

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


The

The Isley Brothers

Saturday, February 15, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Meshell

Meshell Ndegeocello - No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

Saturday, February 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Tito

Tito Nieves

Saturday, February 15, 2025 @ 8:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Peter

Peter Karp

Saturday, February 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Sons

Sons of Cream

Saturday, February 15, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Gloria Gaynor

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Gloria Gaynor on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 7:00pm. Gaynor's legendary career spans over 50 years, never losing momentum. The 2x GRAMMY® winner has achieved global stardom with hit songs in the charts in all five decades.



Annual

Annual Music Faculty Recital to be Presented at RVCC

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department will present the annual Music Faculty Recital, Sunday, March 2, 2025 in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus. Showtime is 2:30pm.



MPAC

MPAC presents Tony and Emmy Award Winner Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Broadway's master songman, Mandy Patinkin, accompanied by Adam Ben-David on piano, will bring his newest theatre concert Mandy Patinkin in Concert: BEING ALIVE, to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 8:00pm. This show presents the acclaimed actor / singer / storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Home Again - A Tribute to Carole King

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Home Again is a tribute to the multi-award winning singer-songwriter Carole King. The tribute comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Jonas

Jonas Brothers to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with JONASCON

(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) -- In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Jonas Brothers are pleased to announce JONASCON, a special one-day event taking place in their home state of New Jersey, on March 23, 2025.