Rachel Ana Dobken can do it all. She plays multiple instruments, writes rockin’ tunes, sings ‘em in ball-busting style, produces and entertains like nobody’s business. We covered the first two singles from her upcoming ‘Acceptance’ album, due March 8, last year.

Singer-Songwriter-Producer-Rapper-Author Eric Roberson—born in Rahway 50 years ago—has released a beautiful ballad, “Here For You,” ahead of his spring tour which kicks off next month in Pittsburgh on the 10th

Two of Essex County’s most cherished artists—vocalist extraordinaire Bettye LaVette, 77, and bassist-composer-arranger-educator Christian McBride, 51, will join Aloe Blacc, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paula Cole, Rachael Price and Brian Stokes Mitchell in “A Tribute In Song” February 8 on The Betty Wold Johnson Stage, Prudential Hall, within NJ PAC in Newark.

Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City opened in 1937 and was demolished in 1985. It hosted baseball, football, boxing, soccer and an annual drum and bugle corps competition. It also had some pretty damn good concerts, one of which was Pink Floyd on June 18, 1973.

Although now based in the Washington DC area, Brian K. Pagels hails from Freehold. His Virginian duo partner is Stephen Russ and the two of them wear their Bruce/Tom Petty/Warren Zevon influences on their sleeves. The ‘Killing The Bear’ debut album—by Brian K & The Parkway—doesn’t drop until March 29 but you can hear the first single—“Wind The Clock”—here

Yo La Tengo formed in 1984 Hoboken. The band’s eleventh studio album, in 2006, ‘I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass,’ has been out-of-print for the last nine years. Now, via vinyl distributors Bandbox, the 15-track album, is available again in a double-disc pink and red vinyl format.

The subtle and haunting groove of Bruce Springsteen’s “Addicted to Romance” was one of the six songs nominated for a 2024 Golden Globe award in the category of “Best Original Song Motion Picture.”

New Brunswick’s post-hardcore Thursday will have its 2003 ‘War All The Time Live’ album re-released on CD and various vinyl colors by Velocity Records.

It’s out today. Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)—and former lead guitarist in Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes—has honored Jeff Beck [1944-2023] on his new Wicked Cool Records all-instrumental single, “Rhapsody In Blues (One For Jeff).” It’s a stunning—and quite delicious tribute—to the late British guitarist.

Every year, Stevie Van Zandt holds a vote for his nationally syndicated “Underground Garage” radio show. Here’s who won in 2023.

Multi-Talented Kevin Hill from Brick (Ocean County) will perform with his band Secret Sound at the Highline Arena in Aberdeen (Monmouth County) on January 27 in a special all-Bowie performance. Hill should nail the late legend’s tunes as he can go from a whisper to a scream in seconds. His is a jammy THC-friendly mélange of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Hard Americana, Classic Rock, Alt-Rock, Blues-Rock, you name it.

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.

The latest in Springsteen’s series of shows being packaged for CD consumption continues with the release of ‘Continental Airlines Arena East Rutherford N.J. July 15 1999.’ It was a joyous night. A reunion of America’s greatest band.

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project continues to rebuild the iconic Springwood Avenue Turf Club venue. The Turf Club is the only surviving music venue of the many that housed Springwood Avenue’s music scene, which dates back to the turn of the 20th century.

Los Angeles Singer-Songwriter Cole Gallagher has recorded a cover version of perhaps Springsteen’s least known song. It’s on his new ‘The Confluence’ EP. The song, “Sugarland,” was recorded by the E Street Band in ’83. It had a shot to be included on ‘84’s ‘Born In The USA’ but didn’t make the cut.

The Garden State Parkway has been known for naming its service areas for icons of the state. Among the honorees so far are novelists Toni Morrison and Judy Blume, Sinatra, Latin Legend Celia Cruz, Jon Bon Jovi, Larry Doby (the first Black baseball player to play for the American League), news anchor Connie Chung and actor James Gandolfini. Now, the Vauxhall Service Area in Union will forever be known as the Whitney Houston Service Area.

With all the hoopla surrounding the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, let us not forget that in 1979 an unknown rap act from Englewood in in Bergen County had the very first rap hit single in history, “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. ’Live At The Print Shop’ is a multi-camera, Atlanta-based YouTube monthly live concert series that debuted in 2019 with such guests as Collective Soul, Blues Traveler, Colin Hay, The Mavericks, Marc Broussard and Drivin’n’Cryin, among many others.

The revamped lineup of Pantera—with drummer Charlie Benante, 61, of Anthrax, replacing Vinnie Paul [1964-2018] and Bayonne’s own ex-Ozzy lead guitarist Zakk Wylde, 56, replacing Dimebag Darrell [1966-2004]—have announced their 2024 tour.

Jack Antonoff, from Bergenfield, was always one to put his talent and celebrity to good use. Besides being Taylor Swift’s longtime producer, his band, Bleachers, has been a mainstay of pop smarts. They performed recently at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan on December 19 at the ninth annual talent show to benefit The Ally Coalition, an organization he co-founded in 2013 to help LGBTQ kids.

The sly, insinuating funk of Bettye Lavette’s “What You Won’t Say” is a gem but it was left off the CD version of the Grammy-nominated ‘LaVette!.’ Produced by Steve Jordan, written by Randall Bramblett, accentuating the one-of-a-kind vocals of Essex County powerhouse Bettye, it is only included on the vinyl version of the album. As a public service, we present it here in all its unadorned glory.