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 releases by Hubbell Benson, BreakTime, Marc Ambrosia, The Vaughns, Andrew John, LIVIA and a look back at SSRi's "Go! Fight! Win!"

Hubbell Benson - "Gimme All You Got". Four months ago in this very column I was calling Hubbell Benson's single, "'Cept For Him", "quite the catchy earworm". Their new single, ""Gimme All You Got", is another earworm, this time with an upbeat funky soul rock vibe.

BreakTime - "Motor City Mama/Be Mine". Two new songs from BreakTime just in time for the summer."Motor City Mama" is a fun ditty with a 60's West Coast surf rock sound. "Be Mine" sounds like a lost Lennon/McCartney song from The Beatles early days. 

Marc Ambrosia - "Gay and Proud". Marc Ambrosia has just released what is likely his most personal song, "Gay and Proud", which the press release says is, "a celebratory song for him officially coming out of the closet." It truly is a beautiful, uplifting song, with an anthemic chorus!

The Vaughns - "Gizzards". "Go on try to box me in but I’ve got the scissors", sings Anna Lies on the new The Vaughns single, "Gizzards". While that lyric is not about trying to box in the band's sound, it is fitting of a band whose music is all over the indie-rock spectrum.

Andrew John - "Songs from an English Garden". Just a couple of minutes into the opening "Overture" of Andrew John's new album, "Songs from an English Garden", I knew I was going to like this album. Even though an instrumental, the opening song showcases some lovely baroque rock music, which when complemented by Andrew John's vocals on later tracks, and some forays into psychedelic rock, makes for a beautiful & wonderful EP.

LIVIA - "Playground". "Playground" is another beautiful, melancholy, orchestral piano based indie song from LIVIA.

And now for a new section of our column...

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Spotlighting music that came out some time ago, but is well worth revisiting (or visiting for the first time for many of you)

SSRi - "Go! Fight! Win!" (2003). In the early 2000's SSRi was a band that did original power-pop and pop-punk songs. Their only release, "Go! Fight! Win!", came out 20 years ago, but is still a go to summer album that brings me joy. Look, I'm not going to say that all of their songs were deep and meaningful, that was not what this band was about. This band was about having fun.

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 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://mstdn.social/@BlowUpRadio

FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.

The West Point Concert Band

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

 

Tuesday Night Record Club - Led Zeppelin, IV

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music

 

MAC Jazz Orchestra

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 3:30pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: music

 

Bywater Call

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

 

Experience Hendrix

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

 

 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Get the Led Out to Play Three Nights at Scottish Rite Auditorium

(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- Get the Led Out (GTLO) takes over the Scottish Rite Auditorium for shows April 24-26, 2025 at 8:00pm each night. From the bombastic and epic to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The concerts are presented by the Camden County Board of Commissioners.

Split Level Concerts presents Rod Picott and Anya Hinkle at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Critically acclaimed singer/songwriters Rod Picott and Anya Hinkle will co-headline a performance at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Showtime is 8:00pm. The show closes out the 2024-25 season of the Split Level Concerts series which highlights renowned Americana and contemporary folk musicians in a uniquely intimate setting. The series will resume in the fall.

HOT 97's Summer Jam 2025 to Take Place at Prudential Center

(NEWARK, NJ) -- HOT 97, New York's #1 station for Hip Hop, is again turning up the heat with Summer Jam 2025, the ultimate one-night-only celebration of the culture. Produced by The Black Promoters Collective and part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival, the biggest names in Hip Hop will take the stage on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Prudential Center.

Freedom Mortgage Pavilion to host the 92.5 XTU Anniversary show headlined by Luke Bryan

(CAMDEN, NJ) -- Freedom Mortgage Pavilion will host the 92.5 XTU Anniversary show headlined by Luke Bryan on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 7:00pm. The lineup includes George Birge, Ashland Craft, Adrien Nunez, and DJ Rock.

WDHA presents Ace Frehley at Starland Ballroom

(SAYREVILLE, NJ) -- WDHA presents Ace Frehley on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Starland Ballroom. Support comes from Mainline, Rahway, and Ten Ton Mojo. Doors are at 6:00pm, showtime is 7:00pm.