He came out of Toms River in Ocean County and has been in Nashville for years. Mark Mulch is but one of a growing list of artists who call their music Trop Rock. Now it’s a certifiable genre with its own radio stations, charts and audience. Like Americana, it’s an umbrella under which good vibes, strong melodies, sunny scenes and sand between your toes vie for optimum feelgood listening.

Jem Records will release The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985 on CD May 23. Recorded at The Tradewinds in Sea Bright, this sole Bongos live album was originally intended for an RCA Memorial Day ’85 release but has somehow remained unreleased until now.

British legend Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is a guest vocalist on the solo debut of Hoboken singer-songwriter-guitarist James Mastro (The Bongos). ‘Dawn Of A New Error’ (MPress Records) will be released February 21.