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 High., Sunshine Slackers, bronwyn, Happy Joe, The Grip Weeds, Cut The Kids In Half, Jon Caspi & The First Gun, and Rich Lancia. Plus a look back at "Winnebago" by The Wailing Kids.

High. - "Come Back Down". the debut album from High., "Come Back Down", is some mighty fine shoegaze/noisegaze. Lie comfortably with some big headphones, and enjoy.

Sunshine Slackers - "I'll Meet You Down There". Sunshine Slackers' press release states their, "sound is the product of over a decade of musical chemistry between Jack Linden (Karma Gambit), Deirdre Padric (American Stereo), and Chris Dubrow (Karma Gambit), who’ve played in something like five music projects together." It also describes their EP, "I'll Meet You Down There", as having "themes of loneliness, anger, and longing for comfort amidst chaos."

If it were early/mid 90's I have no doubt that their music, self described as, "grungy hooky alternative rock", would be all over mainstream rock radio... but those stations don't really exist anymore... a real shame because this music is outstanding! At least BlowUpRadio.com is here to play it.

bronwyn - "Uno (& friends)". According to the liner notes "Uno (& friends)" was recorded in bronwyn's bedroom, so in that sense it does qualify as "bedroom rock". Yet, calling it that seems incongruous, as this is no lo-fi recording. The 8 songs on this collection (4 regular tracks plus 4 bonus tracks) are fully fleshed out shoegaze indie rock, and engaging ones at that.

Happy Joe - "Primitive". Happy Joe (AKA Joe Canzano) last release, "Big Mouth", came out 15 years ago, so it is not surprising that the new album, "Primitive" is 26 songs. Is a 70 minute album too much of a good thing? Not to my ears. Happy Joe's "rowdy guitar rock" (his perfect description of his music) is a great soundtrack to the crazy times we live in.

The Grip Weeds - "Early Clues EP". The Grip Weeds have been a mainstay in New Jersey for over 35 years, putting out one release after another of killer power-pop. Their latest release, "Early Clues EP", continues the tradition with 3 pieces of ear candy for your enjoyment.

Cut The Kids In Half - "What We Became". "What We Became" is the debut album from Cut The Kids In Half, and it is a fascinating debut. Their alt-rock/indie-rock is hypnotic, with the less rocking songs having an almost Leonard Cohen-esque feel to them.

Jon Caspi & The First Gun - "On The Way Now". Jon Caspi & The First Gun's latest single, "On The Way Now" is my Earworm of the Week! It also may be the most relatable song I've heard this week, described by the band as being about having, "a friend that needs help and then when you try to help, they make it impossible".

Rich Lancia - "Look What I Found". Do like jangly, roots-pop-rock music? Then you need to check out the latest single from Rich Lancia, "Look What I Found", and then you can tell your friends, "hey, look what I found, an awesome song by Rich Lancia".

Not New, But Memorable Corner

The Wailing Kids - "Winnebago". The Wailing Kids were a, "Three piece existential rock/dream punk from Trenton". To my ears, they also dabbled in shoegaze with a hint of psychedelia. I was, and still am, a huge fan of this band. Hard to believe their "I Saved Latin" album, which contained the song "Winnebago", came out a decade ago.

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 at https://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio (and bridged on BlueSky)

FEATURED EVENTS

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Wakeman & Son

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music

 

¡Cubanismo!>

¡Cubanismo!

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

 

Ari Hest

Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

 

The Ten Tenors – 30th Anniversary World Tour

Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

 

Wooden Ships Band

Friday, March 27, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

 

 

EVENT PREVIEWS

West End Arts Center presents An Evening of Elton John

(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company's West End Arts presents An Evening of Elton John on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 7:00pm in the West End Arts Center Auditorium. Broadway and cabaret's rising stars celebrate the legendary, Grammy-winning icon Elton John in an evening of his greatest hits.

Cryptid Records launches "Surviving the Music Industry" series

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Philly-based Cryptid Records is a label where community matters, artists thrive, and contracts don't come with fangs. The team of professionals that run the operation – Jessie Bonney-Burrill, Sean Bonney-Burrill, Maddy Rose Weisman and Gabe Banford – have diverse backgrounds in music, visual art, mental health, and business strategy. Their passion for working with musicians and artists is evident in the album roll-out for Burning at Both Ends, the forthcoming LP from the label's first signing, rising independent artist Hit Like a Girl.

SOUP CAN Magazine to Celebrate Five Years With a Monumental Canniversary Event

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- On Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:00pm, SOUP CAN Magazine will mark five years of magazine magic byhosting its annual "Canniversary" with a night engineered to feel like a main‑stage, stadium‑level celebration of the community that built it. Wild Air Beerworks will host the event, but the scale of the evening reaches far beyond the venue — this is a full‑force thank‑you to the readers, performers, and neighbors who transformed Soup Can from a DIY idea into one of New Jersey's most vibrant creative movements. In a show of collective power, the Canniversary aims to break their standing record of food donations by gathering over 1,100 pounds in a single night, all to benefit Mercy Center of Asbury Park.

Killer Queen to Perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium

(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- Killer Queen, the award-winning UK-based Queen Tribute featuring the incredible Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. The group's ambitious twelve-week 2026 US Tour runs from April 16 to October 23. 

Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night? Eddie Skuller to bring the Ballads of Tom Waits to Hoboken

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Jersey City based singer Eddie Skuller will perform a personal tribute to the songwriting of Tom Waits on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the 503 Social Club. Eddie returns for a night of classic Waits songs, interpreted by this skilled, masterful singer. A moving experience guaranteed!