Jersey City-based C.R. and the Nones’ third single, “Home,” precedes the Nov. 6 release of their debut LP, “Living in Fear,” on the New York City indie Favorite Friend Records. Pictured is frontman Chris Gennone, who released five albums with his previous band, C.R. and the Degenerates. ... READ ON

Prolific Central Jersey singer-songwriter Bruce Tunkel has released two records since late summer, an LP entitled “Us” and the new EP, “American Patriot.” ... READ ON

​​​​​​​Jersey-raised, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Foxanne premieres with Makin Waves and New Jersey Stage her latest video for “Opportunity,” her heartbreaking tribute to the lost Mars Rover.... READ ON

​​​​​​​After building a strong following with their Strokes-esque strut and George Thorogood-like blues ‘n’ boogie crunch behind the 2016 debut LP, “The Light in the Day,” Asbury Park-based Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band empicably have coalesced and solidified that sound and their lineup with a who’s who of the Jersey music scene. Complimenting Connor’s lead vocals and guitar and longtime drummer Rich Seyffart’s mighty chops are bassist Chris Dubrow (The Burns, Tara Dente, Avery Mandeville) and guitarist Jeff Linden, who front his own band, the Black Spot Society, and has played in a couple with his older brother, Jack.... READ ON

One of the most supportive national outlets of independent music is National Public Radio (NPR). When a Jersey band gets NPR exposure, it’s a big deal, and that happened this summer for the awesome Asbury Park outfit Well Wisher led by the multi-hyphenated talent of Natalie Newbold, formerly of the Makin Waves Award-winning band dollys. With her dollys band mate Erik Kase Romero, two-time winner of the Makin Waves Producer of the Year Award, Natalie recorded six acoustic songs as three singles, releasing them on Well Wisher’s Richmond-based label, 3161 Records, which dropped the band’s acclaimed debut album, “This Is Fine,” in 2018. NPR added the beautiful “Halfway Heart” to its New Music Friday Spotify playlist in early September. ... READ ON

Mark Bodino has been a veteran of the Central Jersey music scene for many years. I remember writing about him during Makin Waves’ first run in the Courier News, which means it had to be before 2005. Six years later, he formed Broken Darling, a harmonic female-fronted folk-rock outfit whose dreamy new anthemic single, “Creamsicle Sun,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.... READ ON

For the second time in as many weeks, I’m reviewing an album written, performed, record and produced by a single artist: New Brunswick-based Keith Beck’s latest LP, “Scorpio.” The 12-song collection is Keith’s sixth album since 2004 on Central Jersey-based Lump’N’Loaf Records, but first without his band, Zingman Bird. Given the diversity of music styles and layers of 24 tracks, especially the harmonies and drums, it’s hard at time to believe “Scorpio” is all one guy recording in his house.... READ ON

Asbury Park-based The Foes of Fern premiere in Makin Waves the video for the title track of their “Carpe Diem” debut LP on Telegraph Hill Records. It is the LP’s sixth clip and the third in a storytelling series lensed by Andrea Morgan, Bart Lentini and Rob Ciano and starring Ava Serene Portman and namesake band leader Matt “Fern” Fernicola.... READ ON

In my opinion, two of the most unsung heroes of rock ‘n’ roll are Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, both of whom should be a lot larger than life than they are. That’s why it warms my musical heart to hear Mike Montrey and his sweetheart of the rodeo, Jen Augustine, sing duets because their soulful, pretty, bittersweet harmonies remind me so much of Gram & Emmylou. ... READ ON

Bob Makin reviews the latest releases from The Milwaukees and Morningside Lane in this month's Makin Waves Record Roundup.... READ ON