New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 6/24/24


By Lazlo

originally published: 06/24/2024

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 Alibi, Szwei & Marat, Somebody Club, Mixolydian Dreamer, KLOUTMISFIT, The Mediocre Friends, and Tide Bends. Plus a look back at "In My Yard" by Mr. Reality.

Alibi - "Pretty To Think So". Alibi's Bandcamp page bio says, "music for the spring of the summer of love", but to these ears their new album, "Pretty To Think So" sounds like a Fall album, or maybe early Spring album. That is not a knock on the album, I enjoyed it immensely, but people should go in expecting a mellow acoustic album with a maudlin vibe, not a fun, poppy summer album.

Szwei & Marat - "Moonlighting". Carol Szwei and Nick Maratta are Szwei & Marat, and their debut single, "Moonlighting", is an exquisite piece of chamber-pop. Looking forward to hearing more form them.

Somebody Club - "The Epilogue of Unmade Plans". Somebody Club's latest release, "The Epilogue of Unmade Plans", is a lush electroacoustic folk rock album.

Mixolydian Dreamer - "mending!". Self described as, "Artsy prog rock", Mixolydian Dreamer only leaves out in their bio description that their music is absolutely beautiful and that "artsy" does not mean inaccessible to those with more pop sensibilities.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



KLOUTMISFIT - "2". "2" is a nice slowcore, alt-pop album from KLOUTMISFIT. Check it out.

The Mediocre Friends - "So, this is it?". Four musicians from the scene, who are also friends, join together to put out a 4 song EP of excellent power-pop rock songs. Each member (Bill Cederroth, Chris Dickscheid, Mike Eckhart, Gay Elvis) wrote one song, but the EP is cohesive, possibly because they play the same instruments through, and Gay Elvis sings lead on all of them. Highly recommended.

Tide Bends - "Say Yeah". The Tide Bends' bio refers to their sound as a blend of "Brit rock, alternative, and shoegaze influences". I could not have put it better myself. Their new EP, "Say Yeah", is magnificent!

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Mr. Reality - "In My Yard". The year was 1992 when Mr. Reality released their self-titled debut (and only) album, on SBK Records. Their blend of harmonies with acoustic pop, brings as much joy to me today as it did 32 years ago when it came out. "In My Yard" is a classic, nostalgic summer song to 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




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



 

FEATURED EVENTS

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

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Wakeman

Wakeman & Son

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


 

<s¡Cubanismo!>

¡Cubanismo!

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


 

Ari

Ari Hest

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


 

The

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

Wooden Ships Band

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


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Grunin

Grunin Center for the Arts presents Brass Queens on Saturday

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grunin Center for the Arts presents Brass Queens on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 7:00pm. Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.



The

The Growing Stage presents: A Baroque Spring Concert for the Whole Family

(NETCONG, NJ) -- Join The Growing Stage as they welcome Conductor & Music Director Robert Butts, and The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, as they perform a selection of pieces designed to introduce their young patrons to classical music. The acoustics of the muraled walls and antique tin ceiling of their home, The Historic Palace Theatre, truly sing when live music is presented.



Songwriters

Songwriters in the Pines Series Returns to Albert Music Hall on Sunday

(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Local songwriters will take the spotlight at Albert Music Hall on Sunday, March 29, 2026, when the venue's Songwriters in the Pines Series returns for an afternoon dedicated to original music. The show brings together regional performers sharing original songs and some of the stories behind them, offering audiences a relaxed setting to experience new music and perhaps discover a new favorite local artist.



West

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

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.