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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 3/31/25

By Lazlo

originally published: 03/31/2025

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 new releases by Chemical-X, The Porchistas, Renee Maskin, Dante Paulo Tagliani, and Ciara Zwicker. Plus a look back at "Seventy Degrees" by Jonathan Andrew.

Chemical-X - "Daze Of Hate". Hardcore punk is alive and well. Don't believe me, then you have not heard Chemical-X's new album, "Daze Of Hate".

The Porchistas - "Another Sad Esophagus (acoustic demo)". The Porchistas new single, "Another Sad Esophagus (acoustic demo)", fits perfectly with their brand of "Lyrically driven Porch Rock", in this case, the more folk side of it, with lyrics... well, I'll let the band explain it, "From 9/11 to Covid to Trump 2 thru the lens of a first responder with cancer from ground zero exposure."

Renee Maskin - "Is It Real". Prolific singer-songwriter Renee Maskin's latest album, "Is It Real" is described in the press release as, "a collection of songs about ghosts, monsters, and madness, figurately and otherwise". As with all her albums, to me this plays out as a journey... a long drive, or a hike. It is exhilarating, relaxing, exciting, and calming. It is so good!

Dante Paulo Tagliani - "Tiramisu". The Bandcamp page for Dante Paulo Tagliani's"Tiramisu", says, "shhhh this is a secret. temp release", so I probably shouldn't tell you to go now and download this wonderful EP of indie-folk-pop. [The album page has been removed. NJ Stage will add the track when the page is available again.]






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Ciara Zwicker - "The Divided States of America". With a title like "The Divided States of America", do I need to tell you what Ciara Zwicker's new song is about? I will say it is a catchy anthem for our times that you should check out.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Jonathan Andrew - "Seventy Degrees". As I am typing this it is a sunny Saturday and seventy degrees for the first time this year. That always makes me think of Jonathan Andrew's catchy song, "Seventy Degrees". It is a beautiful, though almost deceptively lyrically dark song.

These days you can catch Jonathan Andrew playing with Christina Alessi & The Toll Collectors.



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 be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky)




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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