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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 8/14/23

By Lazlo

originally published: 08/14/2023

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 LIVIA, LKFFCT, Better Weather, Cinema Star, Matt Wade, Vincent Brue, and ghost in the washing machine. Plus a look back at "My Reign" by Michelle Vecchione.

LIVIA - "By a String". LIVIA's latest single, "By a String", is hypnotically-dreamy-chamber pop. Composed by Stephen Masucci and lyrics from Mollie Israel (both of the band The Lost Patrol), this song is lovely, moody, powerful, and kind of feels like it would be right at home in a playlist with Julle Cruise.

LKFFCT - "Shake me out of the dream". LKFFCT return with two new indie-power-pop tunes to wake me up and, "Shake me out of the dream".

Better Weather - "'Please disregard all previous weather.' EP". "Some friends wrote some songs and these are those songs.", says the liner notes to Better Weather's, "'Please disregard all previous weather.' EP". I hope these friends write some more songs because their EP is 4 rock songs that deliver.

Cinema Star - "Touching Down". When "Touching Down", the new single from Cinema Star, hits the first chorus I was like, "hell yeah, this is some anthemic alt-rock!"




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Matt Wade - "I Don't Love You Anymore". Matt Wade's first new single in some time, "I Don't Love You Anymore", is amazing! It has a retro-synth-pop-funky vibe, while sounding complete fresh and modern. I'm told this is the first of several new songs coming soon. I can't wait to hear more!

Vincent Brue - "Vinsomnia". You would think a song described as being about waking, "up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep and have a bunch of anxiety", would be a long and rambling song, but you'd be wrong in this case. Vincent Brue's, "Vinsomnia", is a peppy one minute and forty-one seconds of power-pop-punk-rock fun!

ghost in the washing machine - "canine demo leftovers". I don't know much about ghost in the washing machine, though based on their Bandcamp page they are an offshoot of the canine 10. What I do know for sure is that "canine demo leftovers" is some high energy, garage-power-pop, and I like it!



Not New, But Memorable Corner

Michelle Vecchione - "My Reign". In 2005 Michelle Vecchione released an incredible album of blues infused singer-songwriter tunes. 18 years later I still enjoy listening to "My Reign", and the song below, "Darling Don't", shows her vocal prowess, and it is one of many of her songs that perpetually is stuck in my head. I don't know what happened to Michelle. I know for a while she was going by Michelle V, but around 2010 she stopped performing in the area and updating her social media pages. I hope she's well.

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




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EVENT PREVIEWS

(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Wednesday, September 22, 2026 at 7:00pm. This year marked 33 years since the band arrived on the music scene.
NJPAC presents Salsa icon Tito Nieves on September 26th

NJPAC presents Salsa icon Tito Nieves on September 26th

(NEWARK, NJ) -- The internationally celebrated Salsa icon, Tito Nieves - affectionately known as "El Pavarotti de la Salsa" - is set to electrify the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 8:00pm with his tour, "50 Años La Historia... Continúa." The performance will take place at NJPAC's prestigious Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage.
New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2026 Includes a Concert Featuring Two Bands of Rutgers Students

New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2026 Includes a Concert Featuring Two Bands of Rutgers Students

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Hanging Coats and Lawns, part of New Brunswick's basement music scene, take the stage for an audio-visual performance on October 2 , 2026 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. A Rutgers student is injecting some sonic youth from the New Brunswick music scene into this year's New Jersey Fall Film Festival.
CarteretPAC presents W.A.S.P. with "1984 to Headless" Tour

CarteretPAC presents W.A.S.P. with "1984 to Headless" Tour

(CARTERET, NJ) -- W.A.S.P. brings its "1984 To Headless" Fall North American Tour to the Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band will pay tribute to their 1st Four Albums... Live! The lineup includes Special Guest KK's Priest.
Outpost in the Burbs presents James Maddock on October 11th

Outpost in the Burbs presents James Maddock on October 11th

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents James Maddock on Sunday, October 11, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. Maddock's status as a fixture on the Folk and Americana scene is confirmed with every listen of any song in his prodigious catalog. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels on October 30th

Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels on October 30th

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels on October 30, 2026 at 8:00pm (doors at 7:00pm). The concert will take place at the First Congregational Church (40 South Fullerton Avenue) in Montclair.

CarteretPAC presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



UB40: The Unstoppable Tour 2026

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


Decade - A Neil Young Tribute

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Maximum Queen

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ


Maximum Queen

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ