Within less than a year, prolific award-winning Morris County-based alt-folk singer-songwriter Sonofdov has followed his Mint 400 Records label debut LP, “Towers,” with an EP, “Battle Lines,” for the North Jersey indie.... READ ON

Bob Makin takes a look at the latest releases by Brian Fallon, Debra Devi, Dinosaur Eyelids, and Gooch & the Motion in this month's Record Roundup.... READ ON

New Brunswick-originated jazzadelic rap act Cook Thugless premiere their latest video, “California,” which chronicles their love of their new state... READ ON

Less than two weeks before graduating from Rowan University with a degree in music technology, Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Stella Mrowicki self-released her EP, “Pine Trees and Wildflowers,” a follow-up to last year’s self-titled debut.   ... READ ON

Jersey City rapper Murdock and childhood friend Jack Blerry have collabed on the new album, “I Finally Feel Alive,” the title track to which is the Makin Waves Song of the Week making its video premiere here.... READ ON

This week also features Ellen Berman's Corona Classic Concert Series, Jammin’ for Jaclyn, Jersey Rock Home Showcase, Rock for the Nurses, Tom Costello, Christian Beach, Steven Wright-Mark, Amanda Rose Riley, Jackson Pines, Wayne Olivieri, Wyldlife, Roulette, Traffic on Washington, The Grip Weeds, Roadside Graves, Reality Suite, Makin Waves Song of the Week and Makin Waves Fest... READ ON

​​​​​​​Debra Devi is a singer-songwriter-guitarist from Jersey City who combines some of the best blues slide-guitar playing the great State of New Jersey’s rich and fertile music scene has to offer with a pop-rock sensibility. Imagine a cross between Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. ... READ ON

The all-female Jersey Shore outfit Tight Lipped make punk rock sexy again, yet inject it with as much attitude as it’s ever had. The frisky four-piece led by scene veteran Joy Vay of TV Tramps infamy had been working hard in support of an excellent seven-song debut EP, “So Tight,” and will do so again hopefully soon. In the meantime, Joy is working on a new TV Tramps project, as well as a new band, Death Rattle, with TV Tramps bassist Sweet Tooth, and opening the House of Trash boutique in Asbury Park. On behalf of her Tight Lipped bandmates -- co-founding bassist-vocalist Samantha Slick, lead guitarist Lauren “Blue” Fox and drummer drummer Kat DaVille -- Joy talked about these plans, which hopefully will include a spot with Black Clouds, 19DRT and VSSLS on May 30 at the Brighton Bar as part of Makin Waves Fest 2020 if the Brighton can reopen by then.... READ ON

​​​​​​​The intense trio of Jersey Shore scene veterans 19DRT make a wonderful racket they call noisy sludge punk. Fans of drummer Reg Hogan's other bands -- Defiance Engine, Solarized, Freak Theater and Daisycutter -- definitely will dig it, as will fans of vocalist-guitarist Frank Burdynski and bassist Dean Monjoy's other band, Dab Nebula, as well as Frank's Coffin Void. So will fans of sludge metal acts High on Fire and Neurosis. ... READ ON

Good as Quality Living’s self-titled 2016 full-length debut was, the new sophomore LP is even catchier, more harmonic and, well, better, especially the Brian Wilson-like symphonic pop that laces many of the 11 well-structured tunes. Standing out among them is the latest single, “Quiet (rest),” which is the Makin Waves Song of the Week at ThePenguinRocks.com and its “Radio Jersey” show. That means the charming reggae-tinged lyrical pop tune can be heard at 5 and 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and midnight daily through Wednesday, as well as 6:45 p.m. on Monday and Friday on “Radio Jersey.” ... READ ON