News + Reviews

The most exciting and important music news in New Jersey

Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

2026 Light Of Day Schedule

The Annual Light Of Day shows have been scheduled for January benefitting efforts to eradicate Parkinson’s Disease and related illnesses. Over the last 25 years, the Light Of Day Foundation has raised upwards of seven million dollars.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Steve Forbert Gets Inside the Heads of John and Paul

Asbury Park icon—by way of Mississippi—Steve Forbert You’d See The Things That I See (The Day John Met Paul).” He announced the song by saying, “While touring England in November of 2010 I was able to (along with Diane) make a visit to John Lennon’s childhood home in Liverpool. All Beatles fans have heard of Mendips.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Nikki & The Skyrockets Follow-Up Impressive Debut

It was 2023 when we introduced you to Nikki & The Skyrockets out of Jersey City. Now the band has released the eponymous follow-up to its impressive Late Last Night debut. Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist Nicole Bozzuto is a force to be reckoned with.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

A New Year’s Lullaby From The New Bardots

The almost-famous Wayne B. Olivieri, from Union County, just finished recording what he’s calling “a New Year’s lullaby” (Bongo Boy Records) at Sky Lab Studios in Monmouth County with his band, The New Bardots—keyboardist John Croot, drummer Johnnie Rago, bassist Dan Skye, guitarist Gar Francis.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rediscovered

He came out of West Orange but made his mark in San Francisco. MoMojo Records/MVD Distribution has released Arrival, the sixth album from The Lucky Losers, Phil Berkowitz and Cathy Lemons. They both sing and write the kind of songs that stick to the mind like a tattoo on the brain.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Phil Berkowitz is a Lucky Loser

He came out of West Orange but made his mark in San Francisco. MoMojo Records/MVD Distribution has released Arrival, the sixth album from The Lucky Losers, Phil Berkowitz and Cathy Lemons. They both sing and write the kind of songs that stick to the mind like a tattoo on the brain.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

AND THE WINNER IS…

The Director of Music & Worship at the APC Church in Monmouth County has recorded and self-released his sixth album, The Book of Enoch Volume #1, his first in eight years. Pianist Enoch Smith, Jr, bassist Kai Gibson and drummer David Hardy convened at Teaneck Sound in Bergen County. The result is a glorious seven-track master class in how to make traditional and modern hymns swing like crazy.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Read ‘The Book of Enoch’

The Director of Music & Worship at the APC Church in Monmouth County has recorded and self-released his sixth album, The Book of Enoch Volume #1, his first in eight years. Pianist Enoch Smith, Jr, bassist Kai Gibson and drummer David Hardy convened at Teaneck Sound in Bergen County. The result is a glorious seven-track master class in how to make traditional and modern hymns swing like crazy.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

There’s a New Woody Guthrie Album

By the time iconic folksinger Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie [1912-1967] came to New Jersey in 1956 to live for six years within the walls of the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris County, he had cemented his reputation. In fact, the opening scene of A Complete Unknown has Dylan visiting him and playing for him a song from his 1962 debut album called “Song To Woody.” Now comes news that 22 of the private 1951 recordings from a stash of 300 songs on 32 tapes will be released by Shamus Records as Woody at Home Volume #1 and #2.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Lips Of Strangers are ‘Too Long For Lovers’

Weird New Jersey magazine once cited New Milford in Bergen County as one strange place. Maybe its vibe nurtured Dream Pop enthusiasts Lips Of Strangers to pursue its highly stylized and synthesized shoegaze nostalgia. Their pop smarts has manifested itself into a second EP, Too Long For Lovers.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Al Di Meola Sets Sights on New Project for the New Year

There are those who say that Jersey City maestro Al Di Meola is the greatest living guitarist in the world today and who are we to argue? He changed the course of jazz-rock fusion in the 1970s with Chick Corea in Return To Forever. Now comes news that Al will kick off the new year by returning to the stage with his acoustic band in a program called “The Guitarchitect.”

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Mike Daly’s ‘Early Miscellaneous’ Finally Released

Originally recorded at a plethora of New Jersey, Maryland and Alabama locations, including a vacant office building, Daly’s Paterson abode, Nu Bleu Studio in Garfield, guitarist Scott Van Sickle’s attic, the producer’s basement, pianist Ray Nissen’s home studio, string arranger Chris Opperman’s home studio, with cover art by Alicia Daly, Early Miscellaneous, by Mike Daly’s Lost N’ Found, is an 11-song treasure with Daly on vocals, bass and guitar, the producer on keyboards, bass and conga, Reynolds on lead guitar, drummers Dave Enyart/Rich Stout, Jim Smith on tympani and guitarist Chuck Daly.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Joe Walsh To Auction Off His Guitars

Who wants to buy one of Joe Walsh’s guitars? Or some of his stage clothing? On December 16 and 17, the biggest rock star to ever come out of Montclair in Essex County, the man who gave the Eagles some balls, will auction off about two dozen rare items at The Troubadour in West Hollywood (and online). Before that, fans can see the items through Dec. 3 at The Hard Rock Café in New York City.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Pete Muller Just Wants ‘One Last Dance’

Last year, Princeton grad and Passaic County resident Pete Muller just wanted “More Time.” This year, on his fourth album, he’s asking for One Last Dance. The singer-songwriter-pianist-producer-philanthropist’s new effort is a gorgeous montage of emotion, reeking with a yearning propensity for true wordsmith smarts.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Celebrate 2026 at ProgStock

New Year’s Eve down the shore in Keansburg sounds good to us! The ProgStock folk will be celebrating the new year for the third year in a row at a new venue, Fish & Sips, with a “Concert Extravaganza” starting at 7:00 p.m. (live music at 8:00) and going for the rest of the year on Beachway Avenue where you’ll eat, drink and be merry right on the waterfront until 1:00 a.m.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Longtime Hoboken Busker Records an Album

Guess he was tired of singing in the street for chump change. Sometimes he’d sing to an audience of one, going up to strangers with a question: “can I sing you a song?” He’d play a bass, kick a drum, shake a foot tambourine, and sing his “Life In Jersey” tune. His venues were parking lots, sidewalks and campsites. But now singer-songwriter Gregory McLoughlin has made an album. His self-titled debut comes out December 12.

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Mike Greenblatt Mike Greenblatt

Francesca Fuentes On The Move

West Long Branch singer-songwriter-author Francesca Fuentes will be performing and partnering with HIP Video Promo on its 25th anniversary to spread some good holiday cheer this Sunday, Nov. 16, at a free 2:00 afternoon food drive in Milltown at Revilla Grooves & Gear on North Main Street. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to support local families in need. Jake Thistle and Sam Tunkel will also perform.

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