By Lazlo
originally published: 07/04/2022
Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online 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 Chris Tiedemann, Deviant Youth, Sammy Kay, Well Wisher, Classic Traffic, and Driving Underwater.
Chris Tiedemann - "Small Secrets" - Psst... let me tell you a small secret... Chris Tiedemann has crafted an epic rock album that you should check out right now. Why? Because all 12 songs on this album are amazing, and diverse sounding. I love this album!
tara, just tara - "graduation day" - Folk-Punk/Poet tara, just tara, gives us seven songs & a spoken word piece on her new album, that have an intimate, like reading her diary, feel to it.
Donnie Aarons - "Early World Maps" - Donnie Aarons's latest album is chock full of mellow to mid-tempo, synthy-pop, with a light airy feel and a sound that would be just as at home in the 80's as it is today.
Deviant Youth - "A Promise I Can't Keep" [single] and "The Art Of Letting Go" [single] - Two new singles from Deviant Youth showcases different styles of emo-pop-punk rock. "A Promise I Can't Keep" is an excellent emo-rock song that starts of acoustic and builds to its full band crescendo, while "The Art Of Letting Go" sounds like it would fit well side by side with one of Blink-182's more melancholy songs (ex. "Adam's Song").
Sammy Kay - "Aid & Abet - a single to benefit WHO OHIO" - Folk-Punk Sammy kay returns with two new songs, one a contemplative original "letter to my former self", the other a cover of Bad Religion's "don't pray on me", that really let's the lyrics shine with his acoustic, but no less intense, rendition. Those two songs alone are a great reason to buy "Aid & Abet", but knowing that 100% of the proceeds go to Women Have Options Ohio, "to help aid and abet abortions in the state of Ohio", makes this great music for a great cause.
Well Wisher - "Need You Around" [single] - "Need You Around" is a perfectly crafted pop-alt-rock song. It is endlessly catchy and upbeat, while lyrically, by the band's own statement on the single, is about "fragility and the need for others’ love." This is the first single from their forthcoming album, "That Weight", out on September 16th.
Classic Traffic - "Classic traffic" - No not a Traffic tribute band, Classic Traffic is some beautiful power-pop! Every one of the 8 songs on this album could be a hit sigle. I hope to hear more from these guys soon, if they can continue to utilize a certain music store's return policy to their advantage (see liner notes on their Bandcamp page). This is also a reminder that if you like an artist's music, purchase it to support them so they can continue to make their music without having to have to "game the system."
Driving Underwater - "One Sided Conversations" - One sided conversations can be frustrating, expecially to the listener, but Driving Underwater's "One Sided Conversations" is a emo/indie-rock album well worth listening to.
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
EVENT PREVIEWS
Telegraph Quartet to Perform on the Morris Museum's Back Deck to Kick Off Its Celebrated Summer Outdoor Concerts Series
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the Telegraph Quartet will return to perform for the Morris Museum's seventh annual Back Deck season. This outdoor concert series began during the pandemic, and The New York Times describes it as "Live Music Splendor in a Parking Lot." Showtime is 7:30pm.
Carteret PAC presents Jo Dee Messina
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Chart-topping country music icon Jo Dee Messina will perform at The URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Friday, June 12, 2026. Messina is known for her powerful vocals and extensive catalog including nine number-one hits, 16 Top 40 songs, and awards and nominations from the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and the Grammys. Showtime is 8:000pm.
SOPAC to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Gala 20: Featuring Max Weinberg's Jukebox
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Friday, June 12, 2026 with Gala 20: Featuring Max Weinberg's Jukebox — a venue-wide celebration from 5:00pm–11:00pm.
Trenton City Museum presents Art & Song: A Musical Gallery on June 12th
(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum presents the concert Art & Song: A Musical Gallery on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 6:30pm. Versatile vocalists Tom Chiola and Pam Jorgensen, accompanied by the George Sinkler Trio, will delight audience members with selections from Broadway, Blues, Jazz, and more. Transformed into a stylish jazz café, the museum will also provide delicious food and beverages amid the art of the just-opened Ellarslie Open 43 exhibition. Doors will open at 6:00pm.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Jason Ricci on Friday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Multiple award winning jazz, funk and blues harmonica player, singer, songwriter Jason Ricci comes to the Lizzie Rose Music Room on Friday, June 12, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm.
French Montana to Headline Grand Opening of Dream Live Performing Arts Center
(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) -- American Dream will celebrate the region's opening World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco with the debut of its newest venue, the Dream Live Performing Arts Center, with a postgame concert by French Montana on June 13, 2026 at 9:00pm.
Outlaw Country Comes to the Jersey Pines at Albert Music Hall on Saturday
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- The outlaw spirit of classic Country music will ride into Albert Music Hall on Saturday, June 13, 2026, as the historic Waretown venue presents a special evening dedicated to the songs, stories, and the independent spirit of Outlaw Country.
Sergio Mendes' Wife, Gracinha Leporace, Brings His 'Best Band Ever' to New Jersey
Sixty years ago, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (A&M Records) emerged as both a masterful artistic statement and a major commercial breakthrough album. The record helped introduce the sophisticated rhythms and cool elegance of Brazilian bossa nova and samba to a truly global audience, blending Brazilian musical traditions with American pop, jazz, and contemporary studio production and repertoire.
Marc Ribler & Friends to perform Paul McCartney birthday tribute "When I'm 84" at Axelrod PAC
(DEAL, NJ) -- As a tribute to Sir Paul McCartney's upcoming 84th birthday in June, Jersey Shore musician Marc Ribler has put together an all-star lineup to perform "When I'm 84" at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Levoy Theatre presents Paul Thorn on June 18th
(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Paul Thorn on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. When it comes to songwriting, less is more, and simplicity is strength. Just ask Paul Thorn, who’s spent three decades turning soulful grooves and small syllables into songs that pack a big wallop.
MORE EVENTS
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