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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.




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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




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FEATURED EVENTS

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Lee

Lee Brice: Acoustic

Friday, January 23, 2026 @ 8:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Matt

Matt O'Ree Band

Friday, January 23, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concerts - Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More

Friday, January 23, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Light

Light of Day 2026 - Songwriters in the Round

Saturday, January 24, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Outpost In The Burbs
40 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
category: music


 

Lee

Lee Brice Acoustic

Saturday, January 24, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz Room & WP Presents Branford Marsalis Quartet

(WAYNE, NJ) -- Jazz Room & WP Presents Branford Marsalis Quartet on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Shea Center for Performing Arts. Showtime is 7:30pm. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music.



Outpost

Outpost in the Burbs presents Rhett Miller of Old 97's

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Rhett Miller on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8:00pm. Rhett is a revered singer-songwriter known for his more than three decades fronting the popular rock band Old 97's who were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2025 Americana Awards at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.



New

New Jersey Youth Chorus Presents Winter Concert Featuring Young Talent on February 1st

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, invites the community to its Winter Concert on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 4:00pm at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge. Now in its 34th season, NJYC continues its tradition of musical excellence with a program that brings together young singers in a richly expressive and globally inspired performance.



Asbury

Asbury Park Theater Company moves Remember Jones' 20-Piece Mad Dogs & Englishmen Celebration to Count Basie Center

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Join Asbury Park Theater Company as they celebrate Joe Cocker's groundbreaking live album and tour, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, on Saturday, February 14, 2026 on the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre stage at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. The show, previously announced as a two-night event at Ocean Grove's Jersey Shore Arts Center, makes a sudden surprise move to the Basie due to special demand and limitations for audience and production at the OG venue. An exciting move for the growing and evolving theater company, this is the first time Remember Jones will bring this show to the Basie stage.



Carteret

Carteret PAC presents Max Weinberg's Jukebox on March 20th

​​​​​​​(CARTERET, NJ) -- New Jersey rock & roll icon Max Weinberg brings his high-energy, interactive, audience-driven show Max Weinberg's Jukebox to the URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:00pm.