Musicians on a Mission and Special People United to Ride present "Come To Your Senses"

On February 3rd, 2023, New Jersey songwriter Sean Faust released the latest in his "Live" album series, "Volume Four - 50/ Fifty." Originally broadcast on BlowUpRadio.com, this is Sean's full set recorded on 9/18/2022 that includes his popular single "Gin Asylum", a return to prog-rock form with his epic "As It Grows", and a solo version of his band MONEY FOR THE TOLL's "Balance".

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band launched their 2023 international tour on February 1st at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida - offering fans a high-energy 28-song set that included live staples like "Dancing In The Dark" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" alongside new material from Springsteen's most recent studio albums Letter To You and Only The Strong Survive. This return to the road marked Springsteen and The E Street Band's first live performance together since the conclusion of The River Tour in 2017, and first in North America since 2016.

Project 18, featuring Monmouth County-based singer-songwriter Dave Vargo, has released a four-song EP, the opener of which, “In the Night,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

“Rob has always done the lyrics and vocal melodies etcetera but I write pretty much all of the music with the band guys," states guitarist Chris Impellitteri of the band Impellitteri. "The line-up is myself; Rob Rock is the lead singer and he's done the majority of all the records. We have James Pulli on bass who's been with us since the late 80s, early 90s; so, pretty much the same bass player and you know we're a bit like Spinal Tap when it comes to drummers. We’ve had drummers who have toured with Slayer and some other hard-core metal bands like The Hollywood Vampires so, we've been all over the place with our drummers but that's pretty much the nucleus of the band and occasionally we'll use a keyboard player at times.” 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "In the Night" by Project 18 featuring Dave Vargo

“Rob has always done the lyrics and vocal melodies etcetera but I write pretty much all of the music with the band guys," states guitarist Chris Impellitteri of the band Impellitteri. "The line-up is myself; Rob Rock is the lead singer and he's done the majority of all the records. We have James Pulli on bass who's been with us since the late 80s, early 90s; so, pretty much the same bass player and you know we're a bit like Spinal Tap when it comes to drummers. We’ve had drummers who have toured with Slayer and some other hard-core metal bands like The Hollywood Vampires so, we've been all over the place with our drummers but that's pretty much the nucleus of the band and occasionally we'll use a keyboard player at times.” 

James Dalton is an Ocean County-based artist who has described himself as "of the scene, but not part of it", but anyone who has performed with as many artists in as many local venues as James is most certainly part of the scene. He created a show called "Asbury Park & Me" last year for the Brighton Fringe Festival and is bringing it to venues in New Jersey. James has performed around the world and wherever he goes the Garden State is always with him, whether in his lyrics or stories he tells on stage. NJ Stage caught up with him to learn more about his plans for the show.

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 Alex Sieira, Old Friends, Today Is..., San Tropez, BYRH, Geb Zurburg, and Solid Bronze.

It’s a drizzly Thursday, January 12, 2023 evening in Red Bank, NJ as music lovers line up outside the Count Basie Center for the Arts’ Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre for a concert by The Immediate Family band.