In age when the most daring bands seem afraid or indifferent about taking a stand against social injustice, environmental despair and the nightmare remnant of the American Dream, Asbury Park-based Experiment 34 have done that with the debut full-length, “What Dying Feels Like.”... READ ON

Matty Carlock follows several hip-hop singles with a return to his punk and singer-songwriter roots on his debut full-length, “The Jailbirds.” In his debut full-length, Carlock captures the Jersey Sound of anthemic punk rock and rootsy songwriting. ... READ ON

Influential Asbury Park collaborators Bulletproof Belv & Matty Carlock talk about their new albums, their plans in support of them, and how working together help unify the City by the Sea’s rap and rock music scenes and bring more hip-hop to its live stages. Bulletproof Belv and Matty Carlock will perform together on Feb. 16 at Asbury Lanes.... READ ON

The edges of Jersey City-based trio Cyclone Static’s debut full-length, “From Scratch,” for the nurturing Mint 400 indie are sharp and very well-crafted in the tradition of Husker Du, The Pixies and Nirvana.   ... READ ON

Jersey Shore hard rock band Vextion return with their long-awaited sophomore EP, “Vindictive,” their first record in nearly eight years.  They will celebrate the release of the five-song EP on Feb. 2 at The Brighton Bar in Long Branch... READ ON

Having recently released a new single, “On the Run,” Levy & the Oaks have followed up with a video for title track of their summer EP, “Sound of the City,” which premieres here at Makin Waves. On Jan. 26, the band will record a live concert video at Asbury Park Yacht Club.This week also features Caroline Chambers, Blud Red Roses, JAHK, The Naughty Clouds, The Brothers Union, TUSK. Zack Morrison, The Stone Pony, Ezra Caspi, Pyrenesia, “One Step Back,” and New Jersey Live.... READ ON

New Brunswick acoustic trio Cold Weather Company tap into the talents of several Rutgers pals to expand their harmonic acoustic sound their third LP, “Find Light.”... READ ON

Bob Makin takes a look at recent releases by Rachel Ana Dobken, Jackson Pines and Bulletproof Belv.... READ ON

The talented Jersey Shore couple Franke Previte and Lisa Sherman once again have joined forces on the new production “Calling All Divas,” the musical tale of how an audition turns into a singing group that’s “stronger together.” Co-produced by Previte, an Oscar winner for “Dirty Dancing,” and starring Sherman, star of Broadway revivals of “West Side Story” and “Evita,” the show will make its Philadelphia area debut on March 2 at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa. ... READ ON

The mighty Vansaders mellow with their outstanding new acoustic LP, "Standstill." They will celebrate its release on Jan. 19 with three shows in Asbury Park, all of which are a part of Light of Day Winterfest and two of which are a part of its edition of Asbury Underground.� ... READ ON