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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 5/13/24


By Lazlo

originally published: 05/13/2024

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 Chris Tiedemann, Cut The Kids In Half, The Ratchets, Mike Herz, Estrogents, and JD Burner. Plus a look back at "There's A Hope" by Val Emmich & The Veeries.

Chris Tiedemann - "Chemical Grudge". On "Chemical Grudge" Chris Tiedemann brings power-pop hooks to modern rock/hard rock/metal tunes. It is wonderful!

Cut The Kids In Half - "A Good Man Died". Cut The Kids In Half may be a teenage duo from Rahway, NJ that named themselves after the bridge of Radiohead's "Morning Bell", but their second single, "A Good Man Died", doesn't make me think of Radiohead. The song has their own catchy modern rock thing going on.

The Ratchets - "Swagger With Kindness". The Ratchets have always excelled at creating rock anthems. Their latest, "Swagger With Kindness", is described by the band as "encouraging self-acceptance and authenticity". The B-Side is a chilled out, percussive based remix from Strawberry Zaiquiri.

Mike Herz - "River in the Rain". "It's a tune about mindfulness and recognizing happiness when you are in it", says Mike Herz of his new single, "River in the Rain". This beautiful singer-songwriter tune was 4 minutes and 20 seconds of pure happiness for me.




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Estrogents - "Low Voltage". Estrogents showcase another side of themselves by stripping down four of their songs for bonfire acoustic versions. The EP may be called "Low Voltage", but low voltage does not mean low energy. These songs still rock.

JD Burner - "Something's off Here". JD Burner describes themselves as, "an acoustic punk comedy duo from North Cape May". Their debut EP, "Something's off Here", showcases that while their songs are witty and amusing, they take songwriting seriously, as these songs are legit.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Val Emmich & The Veeries - "There's A Hope". Back in 2011 multi-hyphenate artist (singer-songwriter, actor, author), Val Emmich, released "Aide Memoire", his only album backed by The Veeries.

Look, to me you can't go wrong with Val's music. He writes catchy songs of varying rock/folk/pop genres, with introspective lyrics, but there is something special about the songs on "Aide Memoire". No song stands out more than the album's closing track, the epic eight and a half minute "There's A Hope".  The song slowly builds, and becomes more impassioned. Sometimes when I feel beat down, I turn to this song and it reinvigorates me.

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




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FEATURED EVENTS

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

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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.