New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 7/24/23


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!




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



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.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



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

An

An Interview with Tim Palmieri of Lotus

Lotus was founded between 1998-1999 at Goshen College in Goshen, IN. Now based out of Dever, Colorado and Philadelphia, PA primarily, Lotus continues to bloom as a premiere jamtronica band for over the past 25 years. In 2021, founding member and longtime guitarist, Micheal Rempel left Lotus ushering in new guitarist, Tim Palmieri.



Bergen

Bergen County presents 2nd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular

(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the County Parks Department are excited to announce the full schedule for Bergen County's 2nd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular on July 4, 2025 in Overpeck County Park. Musical groups Super Trans Am, Glenn Roberts Country Band, and Tempo Alegre will take the stage ahead of a performance from the New Jersey Wind Symphony.



Celebrate

Celebrate America! 'Music of the Revolution' at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch

(BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The momentous decision by our founding fathers to emerge from colonization and establish a new nation will soon mark its 250th anniversary. In honor of this historic milestone, join us for Anne and Ridley Enslow's "Music of the American Revolution" at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch on Saturday, July 5, 2025. The event begins at 2:00pm.



Count

Count Basie Center for the Arts presents Graham Nash

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Graham Nash, two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash, will perform at Count Basie Center for the Arts on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Nash will be joined on stage by Todd Caldwell (keyboards and vocals), Adam Minkoff (bass, drums, guitars and vocals) and Zach Djanikian (guitars, mandolin, drums and vocals), performing favorites from across his sixty-year career. Showtime is 7:30pm.



Rick

Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young to bring the "I Want My 80s Tour" to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to revive the spirit of the 1980s! Iconic rock star and eternal heartthrob Rick Springfield, a true emblem of the '80s music scene, is set to take the stage on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Showtime is 7:00pm.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

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


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Crowded House

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Curtis

Curtis Salgado

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

John

John Lee & Friends

Thursday, July 03, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music