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 Jacob Chacko, Kathleen Elle, Chitinous Mandible, operants, Silver06, Vincent Brue, Cathedral Ceilings, Marty I'm Afraid, and Walkinghorse. Plus a look back at "Don't Come to Maryland" by Logs In The Mainstream.

Jacob Chacko - "Much Sublime". If you are a regular listener of BlowUpRadio.com (and I hope you are), you've been hearing us playing singles from Jacob Chacko for over a year now. With the final single, "Stay On", the entire "Much Sublime" album is now complete and available on his website (https://jacobchacko2022.com). His songs are catchy singer-songwriter pop-rock, that to my ears falls into the more upbeat side of Yacht Rock.

Kathleen Elle - "Callin You Mine". Are you looking for a post-breakup song, that is also a fun, upbeat pop tune? Then look no further than Kathleen Elle's new single, "Callin You Mine". It has the potential to be an anthem for those getting over being dumped and moving on.

Chitinous Mandible - "Pattern Sensor". Chitinous Mandible has been putting out a series of singles this year that have been fascinating. The latest, "Pattern Sensor", may be my favorite so far. It is a chill, lo-fi pop gem!

operants - "Mass Monomania". There is always a reason to be joyous when there is new music from operants, for they are masters of post-punk rock. Their latest EP, "Mass Monomania", is a great collection of songs.

Silver06 - "Labyrinth II". I know fall doesn't officially start until September 22nd, but Silver06's new album, "Labyrinth II", is a decidedly fall album. A melancholy, synthwave album, this is not the album to blast on a sunny day, but a perfect album to listen to on a gray day as the leaves start to wither and die on the ground.

Kickapoo, Volume 1 by Vincent Brue">Vincent Brue - "Kickapoo, Volume 1". "On August 15th, 2024, Vincent Brue, ventured out into the desert for a lil vision quest with his boy Rocky.", says the description of his new album, "Kickapoo, Volume 1", released 8 days later on his Bandcamp page. I would call the desert excursion a success, as the 8 songs on Volume 1 traverse indie-alt-folk-pop-rock. I'm impatiently awaiting Volume 2 (and 3, if we should be so lucky).

Cathedral Ceilings - "La La La... Whatever". Cathedral Ceilings, "La La La... Whatever", is a high energy fusion of garage, punk, and power pop. What more do you need to know? Go! Enjoy!

Marty I'm Afraid - "(my best friend's) the axolotl". Earworm alert! Marty I'm Afraid's, "(my best friend's) the axolotl", will get stuck in your head, but it is such a fun power pop tune about their cat's favorite toy, that I'm glad it does. The song makes me happy.

Walkinghorse - "Walkinghorse". The self-titled debut album from Walkinghorse is a powerful album. Musically it lies somewhere between folk rock and indie rock, lyrically it feels very personal... almost as if singing about things helps to work it out... there is something very compelling and moving in that intimacy.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Logs In The Mainstream - "Don't Come to Maryland". How do I describe Logs In The Mainstream... They were a rock band, and they had great pop melodies, but they were also eclectic, fusing different styles and sounds. Some of their songs were funny, and some were serious, but I loved them all! "Don't Come to Maryland", from their "The Ridiculous and the Sublime", may not be their best song, but it is a fun song and an earworm.

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

FEATURED EVENTS

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Yellow Brick Joel

Saturday, April 04, 2026 @ 8:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music

 

Bernard Purdie With The Keyes-Bergson Hooks Band

Saturday, April 04, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

 

Collective Soul

Tuesday, April 07, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

 

Tuesday Night Record Club - Tom Petty, Damn the Torpedoes

Tuesday, April 07, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music

 

Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once

Wednesday, April 08, 2026 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music

 

 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Bassist Martin Wind Adds Piano to His Gravity Trio for Area Performances

German-born bassist and composer Martin Wind has built an extensive résumé with more than 20 albums as a leader or co-leader and performance credits with legends such as clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, guitarist Pat Metheny, alto saxophonist Phil Woods, harmonicist Toots Thielemans, and many others. He has regularly performed at some of the top jazz venues in the world. Upcoming performances include release performances for his newest record September (2026, Laika Records) with his Gravity Trio and special guest Glenn Zaleski on piano -- April 9 at Smalls Jazz Club in New York; April 10 at the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, NJ; and at the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA, April 11.

Monmouth County Park System presents 2026 Creative Arts Festival on May 9th

(LINCROFT, NJ) -- The Monmouth County Park System is hosting its annual Creative Arts Festival on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Thompson Park. This celebration of the arts features more than 50 specially selected artists in a variety of mediums such as pottery, painting, jewelry, and more. This family-friendly festival also includes live music, engaging art demonstrations, and children’s art-based activities.

Boots in the Borough to Take Place April 18th

(WASHINGTON, NJ) -- With country music and line dancing kicking all day, it'll be a family friendly fun-filled day of dancing, dancing and more dancing when Washington (Warren County) hosts Boots in the Borough on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The free event, which will take place in Downtown Washington from 11:00am to 7:00pm, is the first of its kind in the region.

Five-time GRAMMY Winner Angélique Kidjo Comes to McCarter Theatre Center on April 11th

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Angélique Kidjo comes to McCarter Theatre Center on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm for an electrifying evening of music spanning her extraordinary career. The performance is part of a limited six-city U.S. tour before Kidjo continues to Europe for a series of international festival appearances.

Westminster Conservatory Faculty Recital on April 10th to honor Galina Prilutskaya

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30pm, Westminster Conservatory of Rider University will present a faculty recital to honor the memory of Galina Prilutskaya, a long-time member of the Conservatory's piano faculty who died on October 11, 2025. The recital will take place in Hillman Performance Hall in the Marion Buckelew Cullen Music Center (101 Walnut Lane) in Princeton. The recital is open to the public free of charge.