BlowUpRadio.com’s New & Notable NJ Music 1/19/26

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Tiny Cities, The Melancholy Kings, Jay Ingstrup, Bamberdost, furiousBall, Evil6, Steam Enginess, Jason Didner and the Drive, Jon Caspi & The First Gun, and Bruce Tunkel. Plus a look back at “M.L. King” by Jon Caspi.

Tiny Cities – “Beginning of the End”. Tiny Cities (Melissa Anthony & Dennis King) keep getting more awesome with each release. Their latest EP, “Beginning of the End”, is 3 songs of warm, harmonious, folk rock, with an old-timey vibe. It is a medicinal balm for your ears and soul.

And do yourself a favor and get the vinyl, which not only gives the songs an even warmer sound, but includes a cover of the Skeeter Davis hit, “The End of the World”, beautifully sung by Melissa.

‘I want to get lost, I want to get high’ on this EP.

The Melancholy Kings – “Her Favorite Disguise”. I love me some good garage-power-pop, and The Melancholy Kings’ album “Her Favorite Disguise” is some electrifying garage-power-pop!

Jay Ingstrup – “Guitar”. I’ve found in doing BlowUpRadio.com for over 25 years, that some people really dislike instrumentals, and it seems like it may be simply because they want songs with vocals.

So what if we stopped calling them instrumentals and call them “audio abstract expressionism”, as Jay Ingstrup describes the improvised guitar songs on his new release, “Guitar”, then would you give this a chance?

You should, as the music is relaxing and hypnotic.

Bamberdost – “Dharmageddon”. Oh hell yes! 13 songs of infectious, high energy, pop punk. That is “Dharmageddon”, the new album from Bamberdost.

furiousBall – “Sunday Stubble”. My understanding is the 4 songs on “Sunday Stubble” are leftovers from furiousBall’s last album, “I’ll Be Your Arsonist”, but these don’t sound like cold leftovers that have been hiding in the back of a freezer for over a year. Now, these alternative songs sound fresh baked and oh so good.

Evil6 – “S.O.S.”. The first new original song in awhile from former Six To Eight Mathematics’ Alana Q, comes in the form of her new band Evil6’s, “S.O.S.” It rocks! Hoping more songs are on the way soon.

Steam Enginess – “Through You”. It has been over 3 years since Steam Enginess’ “Lady of the Lake” album, but if “Though You”, the first single from their new album “Say Your Name”, due out in March, is foreshadowing of the rest of the album, then the time has been to good use. Hunter Guzenski’s songwriting has always been strong, but the production on this song makes “Lady of the Lake” (an album I love) sound lo-fi by comparison. I am stoked to hear the rest of this album, and you should be too!