News + Reviews
The most exciting and important music news in New Jersey
Stevie Van Zandt Puts On A September 15 Sea. Hear. Now. After-Party
Leave it to Little Steven to put on one of the most anticipated after-parties of the decade. After the two-day Sea. Hear. Now. music festival starring Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, “Asbury Park A Go-Go” at Asbury Lanes as presented by “Little Steven’s Underground Garage: Maximum Rock and Soul!” will rage on for four hours starting at 10:00 p.m.
Skid Row’s Scotti Hill Joins This Wild Darkness
Guitarist Scotti Hill, 60, from those favorite sons of Toms River, Skid Row, has lent his considerable talents to This Wild Darkness on its debut EP, 'The Notorious Memphis Rains,' due October 25.
Stone Temple Pilots Hit The Road
With three shows on the current tour already under their belts, Stone Temple Pilots continue their tour with +Live+ tomorrow in Houston, Friday in Dallas, and Saturday in Arkansas. Montclair-born STP guitarist Dean DeLeo plays on the first new +Live+ tune in six years, “Lady Bhang (She Got Me Rollin’). +Live+ founding member Ed Kowalcyzk described DeLeo’s contribution to the song as “mystical slide guitar styling.”
The Bonnie Parker Band Revs It Up Again…Decades Later
An all-new, all-female version of The Bonnie Parker Band (with guitarist/keyboardist Denny Colt and drummer Hillary Blaze) will play its first gig at My Father’s Place on Long Island in Roslyn, New York, October 5.
Tom Lucas is Sad About Girls
He’s worked with members of The Cucumbers (Hoboken), The Catholic Girls (Union), The Bongos (Hoboken) and The Accelerators (Union) but mostly Tom Lucas is Sad About Girls (South Orange). Singer-Songwriter Palmyra Delran (Princeton) has been playing the new Sad About Girls song, “She’s Not Here,” on her show at SiriusXM’s “Little Steven’s Underground Garage.”
Final Lineup Set for Sea. Hear. Now. Festival
It’s already sold-out. The sixth annual Sea. Hear. Now. festival lineup for all three stages has been announced for September 14 and 15 on the beach in Asbury Park and in that town’s Bradley Park venue.
Lenny Kaye and Tammy Faye Starlite Will Perform a Benefit Concert for NJArts.net
December 14 is the date for the Lenny Kaye/Tammy Faye Starlite concert to benefit www.njarts.net, a non-profit one-stop for everything cultural in our great state. Our friend Jay Lustig has helmed this site for 10 years, offering free content, based on his previous decades as a trusted Jersey journalist. The show will take place in Montclair at Outpost in the Burbs.
Blue Grape Music Signs Bike Routes
October 14 is the date that Blue Grape Music will release ‘Rush Of Energy’ by Bike Routes. Call it indie-alternative. Bike Routes is David Lawrence Osterhout from a sleepy Burlington County hamlet called Evesham Township. The single/video is “You Want It You Got It.”
Rapper 973tony Will Return Home After Serving America In The Army
The Passaic County rapper known as 973tony, currently stationed in Arizona working on F-16 fighter jets, will return home at the end of the year to resume his music career. He self-releases, self-produces and engineers his own music. He even painted the album’s cover.
Eddie Trunk To Host 2024 “Bowl For Ronnie” Benefit
Rock’n’Roll celebrities will “Bowl For Ronnie” November 14 to benefit the Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up And Shout” cancer fund at the PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City California. Eddie Trunk—from Madison in Morris County—will host.
the dt’s Bust Out ‘Cherry’ Today
Asbury Park power-pop band the dt’s drop their “Cherry” today right here and it’s a punchy rocker that we can’t seem to stop playing over and over again. David Cacciatore and Tom Losito have fashioned an exquisite sound that channels the raw urgency of punk with the tuneful joys of pop music. Their current EP, ‘Live at Lakehouse Studios,’ released in April, is also a solid listen.
Christian McBride’s Latest Project is With Fusion Guitarist Mike Stern
The late New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint once wrote “everything I do gon’ be funky from now on.” The same could be said for one of the world’s greatest living bassists, Christian McBride of Montclair. Fresh off performing in ‘The Jersey Sound’ documentary currently free-streaming on Tubi, the bassist-composer-arranger-educator has shown up on the new album by jazz-rock fusion legend Mike Stern. E’choes And Other Songs’ won’t be out until September 13 but we have an advance listen of one track, “Stuff Happens.”
Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth Sets Eclectic Lineup
In 1865, the building on East Jersey Avenue in Elizabeth was known as the Drake Opera House. The Marx Brothers, George Burns, Jack Benny, Ray Charles, Harry Chapin, Maya Angelou, Chaka Khan, Rodney Dangerfield, Miles Davis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin have all graced its stage. Now, the accent is on esoterica with a slate of action-packed shows that will percolate with percussion including Salsa, Soul, Reggae, Mexicali, Worldbeat and Samba.
The Newest Duo: Felix and Dolly
Rascal Felix Cavaliere has teamed up with Tennessee superstar Dolly Parton to aid victims of the Maui fire for a remake of his 1968 song “My Hawaii.” Maui, a year later, is still reeling from the devastating effects of a monster wildfire that killed over a hundred people and has crippled the state’s tourism economy. 100% of the proceeds to purchase the digital download of “My Hawaii” will go to the Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund.
THE POWER OF SONG
Soldier Mike Archer had to take time and write a letter to Tommy James thanking him “for weaving and tapestry of peace and tranquility through your music, offering solace to those who sought refuge from the chaos.” He put in the subject line that “you may never know the profound impact your song had on a young soldier fighting a war (Vietnam) far from home, but your music will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition Now Accepting Entries
In a quest to find the next great jazz singer, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is now accepting entries for the 13th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.
Lost In Society Release New Single
The new song from Asbury Park band Lost In Society is “Pascal and Sabine.” Produced by Pete Steinkopf of New Brunswick band The Bouncing Souls, it’s off the new Lost In Society EP, ‘The Distribution Of Comfort’ (California’s Wiretap Records) due August 9.
Walter Parks Will Open ‘Fletcher’s Listening Room’ in Montclair August 10
Longtime Jersey City resident Walter Parks will inaugurate the new “Fletcher’s Listening Room” in Montclair. Ministers and congregants of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair (UUCM) put the new series with a coffeehouse vibe—according to Cindy Stagoff at njarts.net—into effect.
Eric Roberson Gets Behind His ‘Mask’
Singer-Songwriter-Producer Eric Roberson—born in Rahway 51 years ago—is putting on his “Mask” to continue a vow to release a new song at least every other month. He co-produced and co-wrote this song that he says, “was probably my hardest song to write and record this year. Even though I didn’t feel it was my story, I dove deep into the character. I cried throughout the entire process. I hope it connects with someone who needs it.”
New Jersey Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees
Eighteen New Jersey greats will be inducted into the 10,000 square-foot new home of the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream on Route 3 in East Rutherford. It’s the 16th annual such celebration and it will take place on a pre-taped November 13 televised broadcast on Fox 5 and My9 as well as social media. The 18 in their categories are…