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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 11/20/23


By Lazlo

originally published: 11/20/2023

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 new releases by Pet Rock Olympian, Strange Talking Animals, Jacob Chacko, and Renee Maskin. Plus a look back at "Headlock" by Crewman Number Six.

Pet Rock Olympian - "No Cohesion". "For fans of emo-pop, punk, skramz and anything in between", says the Bandcamp page for Pet Rock Olympian's EP, "No Cohesion", and that does sum it up pretty succinctly. While I am not a big fan of skramz, blended along with the other styles it worked for me.

Strange Talking Animals - "In the Glow of the Coming Dawn". This is the fourth, and final, album in Strange Talking Animals' 2023 FAWM 50/90 collection (writing 50 songs in 90 days). All four albums contain are wonderful collections of prog/chamber/psychedelic/pop rock songs, but if you only have time to listen to one, I think I like "In the Glow of the Coming Dawn" best. Songs like "Model Citizen", and "My Own Worst Enemy", really stick out as great tunes, but there I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album.

Jacob Chacko - "Make It". Jacob Chacko describes his latest single, "Make It", as a song that, "attempts to touch on the delicate subject of mental health and related issues. It tries to portray the struggles one goes through but also the possibility there is light at the end of the tunnel." It also is a beautiful song, and quite possibly my favorite release of his so far.

Renee Maskin - "Shimmer". It is always a glorious day when I receive new music from Renee Maskin. "Shimmer" is the type of album I like to listen to with the lights low, big headphones on, and my eyes closed. Renee's vocals and alt-country/Experimental Americana soundscapes always evoke a journey for me. In fact, the video for "Scrimshaw", shot in black & white Super8, is exactly the type of imagery I visualize when listening to her music. Brilliant!




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Not New, But Memorable Corner

Crewman Number Six - "Headlock".  About 21 years ago I first met the guys in Crewman Number Six, when they were just a hard rock instrumental band looking for a lead singer. They found a special kindred spirit a year later when they found Ross Sandler, as he not only added vocals, but also added a funky-soul sound to their hard rock that has defined them for the last 20 years. "Headlock" is but one of many of their incredible songs.

Side note, any one who ever sees me outside in colder weather will note I am always wearing my Crewman Number Six winter hat (which sadly, I don't think they have sold in a long time)



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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FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

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or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Jax

Jax Hollow

Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

A

A Night of Worship with Bishop William Murphy - Live in Concert!

Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Joanna

Joanna Connor

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Lynette

Lynette Sheard - ​​​​​​​Gatsby Reimagined

Thursday, July 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Back

Back to the Eighties Show with Jessie’s Girl

Thursday, July 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Bergen

Bergen County Parks Department presents Music At The Barn

(PARK RIDGE, NJ) -- Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and the Board of Commissioners invite the public to attend a free music concert featuring The Matt Chertkoff Trio and Houston Person on Sunday, July 27 from 4:00pm – 6:30pm at the Wortendyke Barn Museum, a County Historic Site (13 Pascack Rd, Park Ridge). This is the first concert in the 2025 music series.



71st

71st Annual Choir Festival: The Light of Life to Take Place on Saturday

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association joyfully presents the 71st Annual Choir Festival: The Light of Life on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 7:00pm. Set within the soaring arches of the historic Great Auditorium—an awe-inspiring 6,500-seat space revered as a sacred ground for worship and music—this beloved summer tradition gathers hundreds of singers for a night of profound praise.



Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Jax Hollow on Saturday

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Jax Hollow on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 7:30pm. In a city teeming with some of the world's most talented entertainers, Nashville's Jax Hollow has emerged as a rare triple threat—a nuanced and hard-hitting songwriter, a powerhouse vocalist, and a world-class guitarist. She's a true embodiment of the Music City Trifecta.



Human

Human Wheels (Mellencamp Tribute Band) to Perform at Drew University

(MADISON, NJ) -- Human Wheels, the premier John Mellencamp tribute band, will perform at the Concert Hall at Drew University on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Lyceum

Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts presents Aria Nouveau

(BURLINGTON, NJ) -- On Saturday, August 2, 2025, the City of Burlington, Mayor Barry Conaway, and Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts' co-artistic directors, Barbara Fisher and Patty Howard will welcome Aria Nouveau. This is a classical crossover performance featuring vocalists Laura Auer (soprano) and John Riesen (tenor). Showtime is 11:30am.