News + Reviews
The most exciting and important music news in New Jersey
Dead Newark Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg Gets ‘Reborn’
Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg—born in 1926 Newark, raised in Paterson, died in 1997 New York City at 70—is getting “Reborn” via the November 3 re-release of his 1989 Hal Wilner-produced ‘The Lion For Real,’ now dubbed ‘The Lion For Real, Re-Born’ (Shimmy Disc/Joyful Noise), a double-vinyl doozy of his incendiary words, accompanied by music.
Jersey Greatness To Be On Display at NJHOF Entertainment & Learning Center at American Dream
Due in the spring of 2024, the New Jersey Hall of Fame Entertainment & Learning Center at American Dream on Route 3 in East Rutherford will be open for business.
Asbury Park’s Jake Thistle Drops New Video, Announces Tour
“Brooklyn Can Wait” says the multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Asbury Park, Jake Thistle. He’s busking on the streets of New York City in the clip. On tour, he’ll be singing on proper stages. “I’m really excited to explore some new sounds with this single,” he says. “It was so much fun to put together, and the video is certainly on a bigger scale than the ones we’ve done before.
Bruce Readies New SiriusXM Show
It’s been awhile since we’ve had anything new from Bruce Springsteen’s terrific radio show, “From My Home To Yours,” heard on satellite radio’s SiriusXM. Now that he’s off the road, though, he’s put together some tunes in his role as disc jockey that demand to be heard. This new installment will be broadcast Monday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m., be repeated, and then be available on-demand.
Morristown Musician Samarth Nagarkar To Sing at 24-Hour Live Brooklyn Raga Fest
The 12th annual Ragas Live Festival starts at 8:00 p.m. Saturday October 14 and runs for an incredible 24 straight hours to Sunday October 15 at 8:00 p.m. at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. Morristown musician Samarth Nagarkar will perform. He specializes in Hindustani classical.
White Eagle Hall in Jersey City To Host Jeff Tweedy November 7
Jeff Tweedy—of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo—has a new book out, ‘World Within a Song.’ He will appear in Jersey City at White Eagle Hall November 7 at 8:00 to read passages from the book, answer questions, and play some music.
Al Di Meola Has Onstage Heart Attack
Legendary Jersey City guitarist Al Di Meola, 69, suffered a heart attack onstage last Wednesday in Bucharest, Romania. He was rushed to the Bagdasar-Arseni hospital’s emergency ward where he was treated for a “segment elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI,” according to Associated Press. He is now in stable condition and sent out his own missive thanking fans for the concern.
Bruce Cancels All Shows For The Rest Of The Year
As Bruce Springsteen, 74, deals with his recent diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease, he has been advised by his doctors “out of an abundance of caution,” to not perform again until 2024.
White Eagle Hall in Jersey City To Host Thurston Moore October 24
On October 24, White Eagle Hall in Jersey City will host Thurston Moore of ‘Sonic Youth’ reading from his new book Sonic Life, after which he will field questions and play some music.
12th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival Set For Newark in November
Legendary Montclair bassist-composer-arranger-educator Christian McBride, in his capacity as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Jazz Advisor, has announced the lineup for the 12th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival, to be held in November at NJPAC and other Newark locations from the third to the 19th.
The Feelies, The Bongos and Lenny Kaye To Join the Multi-Genre FREE Hoboken Arts & Music Fest This Sunday, October 1
The sounds of Zydeco, Mambo and more will fill Washington Street between Newark Street and Observer Highway (with a second stage on Washington between Sixth and Seventh) in Hoboken this Sunday October 1 at the free Hoboken Arts & Music Festival from 12:15 to 6pm.
The Dictators Want To Thank You And Wish You A Nice Day
Punk Rock History 101: It’s over 50 years since bassist Andy Shernoff and guitarist Ross The Boss formed one of the most endearing and long-lasting punk bands of them all: The Dictators. They will be performing down the shore at Asbury Lanes on October 29.
The Pat DiNizio Performance Scholarship
Pat DiNizio loved to play rock’n’roll music. He lived for it. Shortly after he died in 2017, at 62, The Pat DiNizio Music Performance Scholarship was created to “make music education accessible to any young person [18 or younger] wishing to enroll in classes at the Count Basie Center for the Arts or any affiliated music program,” according to the Red Bank venue’s website.
Montclair Literary Festival Cancels Jann Wenner Event
In the wake of saying some incredibly offensive and stupid statements, the Montclair Literary Festival has cancelled its September 28 event with ‘Rolling Stone’ publisher Jann Wenner at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Bruce Stumps For African Hospital
Bruce Springsteen was inspired enough to record this video in support of The Lwala Community Hospital Endowment upon meeting some residents of the Kenya area. The much-needed facility opened in 2007 to provide health care and save lives for generations to come.
[CD Review] Anthony E. Nelson, Jr.’s ‘Swinging Sunset’ (Musicstand Records)
When Anthony Nelson was a kid in Newark, and singing in a Plainfield choir, he was taken to a jazz club in Orange to hear keyboard legend Jimmy McGriff. He never forgot that. So after studying clarinet, sax and flute at the prestigious Jazz Institute of New Jersey, and after being a sideman where he would listen and learn, he set on his solo path to perform and record. For his fifth album, this multi-instrumentalist-composer is in tribute to the classic organ trios of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Rachel Ana Dobken’s New Single Is ‘Cruel Cruel Cruel’
While busy working on her new “Acceptance” album for release next year, Asbury Park singer-songwriter-producer Rachel Ana Dobken has unleashed some cruelty in the shape of her new punk-rock single.
Sinatra Goes Platinum October 27
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s seminal Capitol recordings, Universal Music Enterprises and Frank Sinatra Enterprises have teamed up for the October 27 release of ‘Frank Sinatra Platinum.’
Montclair Literary Festival Hosts Rolling Stone Publisher Jann Wenner September 28
It’s book tour time again for Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner. On the heels of his successful ‘Like A Rolling Stone: A Memoir,’ his new book, ‘The Masters,’ will feature his interviews with Bruce, Bono, Dylan, Jagger, Lennon, Townshend and Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead.
YES, THEY CAN DO IT LIVE
We questioned whether the all-instrumental Weehawken combo Royal Arctic Institute can replicate the cool sounds of their vinyl release ‘From Catnip To Coma To Catharsis’ (“BUT CAN THEY DO IT LIVE,” August 4). The plan called for them to hit four record stores last month. Well, they did, and it was a resounding success.