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
Sinatra Celebration Concert To Swing in Ocean Grove This June
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Sinatra Celebration Concert, a theatrical special event to honor the legendary career of musical icon Frank Sinatra, is being presented by producer Karen Morris of Sand Castle Communications and The Rat Pack Music Alliance.
Broadcast Legend Sid Mark to be Remembered at Ocean Grove Event on June 7th
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Sid Mark, the popular and iconic radio host, sadly passed away four years ago, on April 18th, 2022. Sid’s son Brian Mark, Executive Producer of Orange Productions' nationally syndicated radio program The Sounds of Sinatra with Sid Mark, will be a very special host/guest speaker, at a musical event which will highlight the legacy of his father and celebrate the 70th Anniversary of The Sounds of Sinatra broadcast program.
Prudential Center presents Mexican superstar Carín León on June 7th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Mexican superstar Carín León entered a bold new chapter of his acclaimed career with the release of Muda - his new studio album and one of the most eclectic of his catalog. See for yourself when he performs at the Prudential Center on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Showtime is 8:00pm.
Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra presents "Music in Bloom" on June 7th
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) will present its Spring Concert, Music in Bloom, on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. The performance will feature GPYO's top ensembles in a dynamic program of orchestral works by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and John Philip Sousa. Showtime is 3:00pm.
The Vogel presents Jeffrey Gaines & Josh Joplin on June 7th
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Jeffrey Gaines & Josh Joplin on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 7:00pm. NOTE: This show was originally scheduled for May 14. All tickets will be honored on the new date.
Orion Weiss Returns to South Jersey on June 7th
(SEWELL, NJ) -- Music at Bunker Hill welcomes pianist Orion Weiss in his third appearance on their series on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3:00pm. Weiss is a "brilliant pianist" (The New York Times) with "powerful technique and exceptional insight" (The Washington Post).
Mahwah Museum to host Les Paul 111th Birthday Celebration: "The Les Paul & Mary Ford Tribute Show with Tom & Sandy Doyle" on June 7th
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Raise a toast to a legend. Celebrate Les Paul's 111th birthday with an unforgettable Les Paul & Mary Ford Tribute at The Mahwah Museum performed by Tom & Sandy Doyle on Saturday, June 7, 2026 at 2:00pm. Cake will be served as they toast the birthday.
Anderson Brothers to Play 'Best of Berlin' at June Jersey Jazz LIVE! Concert in Madison
(MADISON, NJ) -- In March 2025, multireedists (and twin brothers) Will and Peter Anderson released an album on the Arbors Records label entitled The Best of Berlin, performing 13 tunes composed by Irving Berlin.
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.
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