By Lazlo
originally published: 07/24/2023
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 The Make Three, Kate Ortiz, Lupe Dragon, Cyclone Static, Jon Caspi & The First Gun, The Cucumbers, and Ruby Bones. Plus a look back at Outcry's "On and On".
The Make Three - "You, Me & The Make Three". What do you get when you combine members of local bands The Brixton Riot and The Anderson Council? You get the debut from The Make Three, "You, Me & The Make Three". It is indie-punk meets power-pop and garage rock, and to my ears that is auditory bliss!
Kate Ortiz - "A Really Fun Song About Wanting To Die". There is a lot of false advertising out there, but Kate Ortiz's new single is not. "A Really Fun Song About Wanting To Die", is exactly that!
Lupe Dragon - "Attached". Lupe Dragon's latest single, "Attached", lyrically sounds like a very personal song, but it also has a beat and music that makes it a party anthem too!
Cyclone Static - "Cave Pop". "Cave Pop" is the energetic new EP from Cyclone Static. The four songs on it are punk infused power-pop to the Nth degree! What does that mean? Listen and find out.
Jon Caspi & The First Gun - "My Best Shot". If we were playing "Never Have I Ever" and you said, "Never have I ever heard Jon Caspi & The First Gun use a stylophone in a song", I would have to take a drink because their peppy new tune, "My Best Shot", utilizes the instrument to great effect!
The Cucumbers - "Old Shoes". "So dependable and true, Just like a pair of old shoes", is a line from the title track of The Cucumbers latest release, "Old Shoes", but also describes their music to a T. The Cucumbers have been a legendary part of the New Jersey music scene since the 1980's, and "Old Shoes" is just another high quality acoustic-indie-rock release from them that wraps around me like a warm blanket on a cold day.
Ruby Bones - "Really Good Time". Is it too cheesy to say I had a really good time listening to Ruby Bones new single, "Really Good Time"?
Well I'm saying it anyway, because I did. It is a fun tune with some playful sax.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
Outcry - "On and On". Ah, the 90's... so much grunge rock... and yet, Asbury Park's Outcry thrived locally, and even gained some traction nationally, with a decidedly non-grunge rock sound. Influenced by artists like U2, The Police, and Prince (whose songs they often covered during live shows), they had both songwriting chops and electrifying live energy. They released an EP, "Wentworth", and a full length, "This Side Of Anywhere" (which was self released and then re-released by Eureka Records). The song "On & On" was on both releases, and was a fan favorite.
Side note: Outcry indirectly led to BlowUpRadio.com, but that is a longer story I have told elsewhere, possibly in an interview on the "About Us" page on BlowUpRadio.com)
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://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio
EVENT PREVIEWS
WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach series presents Nicole Atkins on August 27th
(BRADLEY BEACH, NJ) -- WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach presents Nicole Atkins on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 7:00pm. Cory Blair will open the night. The free outdoor concert takes place at the Newark Avenue Beach in Bradley Beach. ** The show was rescheduled from July 16th due to the Air Quality Alert issued across New Jersey.
51st Annual New Jersey Folk Festival to Take Place August 29th
(SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Jersey Folk Festival (NJFF) is back for the 51st year on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Davidson's Mill Pond Park in South Brunswick. The event is free and open to the public. It runs from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
The Strand presents Matt Stone as Elvis on August 29th
(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Most 22-year-olds are chasing the next trend, scrolling through TikTok, and binging Love Island. Matt Stone has spent the last decade looking in the opposite direction.
McCarter Theatre Center presents Mei Semones on September 4th
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Mei Semones in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:30pm. Drawing on her background in jazz guitar and her Japanese heritage, she blends inventive harmonies, intricate rhythms, and bilingual lyricism into a sound that is both intimate and exploratory.
51st NJ Clearwater Festival to Take Place Labor Day Weekend in Asbury Park
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Friends of Clearwater invites everyone to start their Labor Day Weekend at its free 51st Annual Clearwater Festival Saturday September 5, 2026, a late summer, family-friendly celebration of great live music, Mother Earth and more in Sunset Park near the ocean in Asbury Park.
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at The Newton Theatre on September 5th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Machine Performs Pink Floyd on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at the Newton Theatre. The band has forged a nearly 40 year reputation of extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. Showtime is 8:00pm.
MPAC presents Melissa Etheridge: Rise Tour on September 9th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents Melissa Etheridge: Rise Tour on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7:30pm. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America's favorite female singers for more than two decades.
Prudential Center presents Ella Langley on September 10th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- It's been a landmark year for Ella Langley. Fresh off a sweep at the ACM Awards where she won all seven awards she was nominated for, two recent American Music Award wins, and being the soundtrack of the summer for a trio of German fans on Twitter traveling through America during the World Cup. Ella continues one of the most dominant runs in music. She brings The Dandelion Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark on September 10, 2026 at 7:00pm. Special guests ERNEST and Gabriella Rose will open the night.
The Soundtrack of Resilience: Explore Music's Role in Post-9/11 America at the Lacey Library
(FORKED RIVER, NJ) -- In honor of Patriot Day, the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library will host "The Soundtrack of Resilience: Music and 9/11" on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Tony Award Nominee Joshua Henry to open Kean Stage's 2026-2027 season
(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage is thrilled to announce that Joshua Henry, three-time Tony nominee and star of Lincoln Center Theater's Ragtime, will open their 2026-2027 season with two performances of his show Get Up, Stand Up! on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside.
FEATURED EVENTS
