Like Asbury Park’s MAMADRAMA and Philly’s The Ramoms, Highland Park-based Hair Magic are a punk-inspired outfit consisting of moms who rock. Guitarist-vocalist Jennifer Rector, bassist-vocalist Christine Espiritu and drummer Christie Lutz are a fun, charming trio whose self-titled debut EP is as infectious as it is energetic, as edgy as it is genuine. ... READ ON

When I was a young upstart in the New Jersey music scene during the alternative-rock boom of the late-’80s into the mid-’90s, four bands rattled my spine a bit more than most others: Monster Magnet, Nudeswirl, Big Nurse and Godspeed.... READ ON

Like Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grace Potter, Spin Doctors and Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, Northwest Jersey jam band The Outcrops expressively and joyously scratch a Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band itch with a psychedelic mix of blues, funk, soul and roots music. Their 2019 eight-song debut LP, “Peace of Mind,” is expertly crafted by producer Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, who gets exceptional performances out of the four-piece and their guest musicians in a way that showcases them as a soulful, bluesy jam band, yet compliments their strong songwriting.... READ ON

​​​​​​​Today, boys and girls, we are going to put into the Makin Waves musical blender dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame funkateers Parliament-Funkadelic and overlooked electronica pioneers Tangerine Dream. Ready to give it a whirl?... READ ON

Bob Makin takes a look at the latest releases by Candy Cavity, The Weeklings, and Solace in this month's Makin Waves Record Roundup.... READ ON

Jersey guitarist extraordinare Glenn Alexander, the latest lead guitarist of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, has two relatively new albums out. “Knockin’ on the Door” is the sophomore release of the Jukes-like Glenn Alexander & Shadowland. The September release follows a 2016 self-tilted debut. And “L.A.X.,” the long-awaited debut of LaRue/AleXander, his funky Southern-rockin’ swamp boogie band with Stretch mate and Jersey bass great Dave LaRue of Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band and Flying Colors drooped in November.... READ ON

Montclair-based singer-songwriter Olivia Rohlfs is premiering the new video for her debut single, “June 8th,” with Makin Waves at NewJerseyStage.com. Also featured are The Grip Weeds,  Pino's,  The Clydes, Windows of Understanding, Leah Jenea, Bulletproof Belv, The Beagles, Oh Elis, Mikell’s Plot, Connor Bracken & the Mother Leeds Band, Tyler Veit, Cook Thugless, Jackson Pines, Houston & the Dirty Rats, Ezra Caspi, Jon Caspi & the First Gun, Ella Ross, Howl Peak Productions, Dinosaur Eyelids, and Mike Frank & Friends... READ ON

Gypsy jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt is a masterful musician’s musician who has influenced head Deadhead Jerry Garcia and his bluegrass buddy David Grisman, abandoned Allman Brother Dickey Betts, the classical axe of Julian Bream, session everyman Chet Atkins, and fellow jazz greats Wes Montgomery and Charlie Byrd. In May in little ol’ Maplewood, NJ, that influence once again will be celebrated with Django disciple Stephane Wrembel’s annual Django a Go Go, a guitar gathering that brings together players from all over the world. This year, the six-string summit will culminate in an all-star concert on May 9 at New York City’s Town Hall.... READ ON

Irvington-raised sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph is nominated for his sixth Grammy Awards, which will take place Jan. 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Nominated in the Best Contemporary Blues Album for his “Brighter Days” LP, he is vying for his first win. ... READ ON

Power-poppin’ super-group The Weeklings will celebrate the release of their third studio LP, “3,” Jan. 17 at the Stone Pony in their home base of Asbury Park, the final date on their Light of Day Winterfest tour that includes stops in Montclair, Philadelphia, New York City and Asbury’s Paramount Theatre. ... READ ON