Everynight Charley recommends the following 80+ concerts in the New York City area this weekend. Contact the venue or the artists’ social media to confirm ticket availability, show times, age restrictions, COVID compliance, and other updates. Friday, May 3 Laufey, Wasia Project at Radio City Music Hall Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith at the Brooklyn Academy of Music deadmau5, BSOD, HAYLA, Kiesza, LIGHTS, WTF? at Brooklyn Mirage BoyWithUke, Arden Jones at Terminal 5 Panchiko, Weatherday, Wisp at Brooklyn Steel The Decenberists, Ratboys at the Brooklyn Paramount Stiff Little Fingers ..read more

Except where noted, all photos are from Veronica Rajadnya’s personal collection of memories, music, and Monmouth station days. She’s the best. College radio is the best. New Jersey is the best. Like music, college radio is big in New Jersey. For decades, stations like WRSU (Rutgers), WSOU (Seton Hall), WBJB (Brookdale), and WBZC (formerly Burlington County at Rowan, which won me many free concert tickets before it was bought out by Christian formatting) have rocked local (and global now, with streaming) airwaves with up-and-coming bands, music news, and stories not seen (or, heard) anywhere el ..read more

Games We Play, the punk outlet for 24-year-old Emmyn Calleiro, put on a performance at First Unitarian Church that was an electrifying display of energy, comedy, and raw talent. From the powerful anthems like “Petty Enemy” to the intimate solo ballads such as “Round and Round,” Emmyn proved to be a versatile artist capable of captivating the audience with every note. What sets Emmyn apart from other acts that Games We Play could get grouped in with, was his engaging banter between songs. He had the crowd in stitches throughout the night as he effortlessly interacted with everyone in the ..read more

“Write what you know,” goes the standard advice, and longtime singer/songwriter Chip Taylor has taken that suggestion to heart on his new album, Behind the Sky. He has done so even though what he knows most keenly now – the experience of grappling with throat cancer – must be difficult to dwell on. In this CD’s intensely personal liner notes and lyrics, Taylor details his diagnosis, his radiation treatments, and their side effects. And he does that with impressive candor, a lack of self-pity, bravery, and, at times, even a bit of lightness. Several of these 12 affecting songs ..read more

Welcome to the latest edition of AQ’s #THROWBACK series featuring our 1987 cover story with John Cougar Mellencamp, featuring a Mötley Crüe live review and more! Mötley Crüe are scheduled to perform in Atlantic City on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, to a pair of sold-out crowds. (More info here!) Being back in New Jersey this weekend means highlighting this live review from right up the coast almost 40 years ago at the Brendan Byrne Arena (more recently known as the late, great Izod Center). It was there that we wrote the below review, and most ..read more

When I think of dynamic musical duos, three come to mind instantly – John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Each of the six is legendary in songwriting and performing in their own right, but together they are magical. Such is the case with the pairs who co-host a trio of captivating music podcasts.  Ray Koob and Markus Goldman have 50+ years of rock and roll radio experience. Many readers know their voices from Philadelphia’s mighty 93.3FM WMMR where they continue to spin records that rock our worlds. However, their combined ..read more

When Taylor Acorn told us to ‘Stay Emo,’ we took it to heart, and with her guidance, we have stayed energized and emotionally charged. When we saw she was hitting the road and taking over the gorgeous Fillmore Philly, we had to go and be emo with her – rock, mosh, sing, shout, and tear the communal space up (then clean it up after, because Acorn is also a sweetheart). On April 21, we got our talented punk-loving bud Anthony Cosentino out to the highly-anticipated show. As expected, it was everything and more from start to finish with both Taylor ..read more

Although the metalcore band took their time on the LP and were strategic about such, they were still quick to take a good handful of the new songs on the road. Nine years since the harrowing bus accident that killed their driver and those in the 18-wheeler their bus collided with, The Ghost Inside have returned to touring full time. Such a traumatic event can cause anyone to quit, butThe Ghost Inside spent years persevering, and it shows through their performances. The band has spent their whole career working towards this moment of triumphant as both determined, genuine people and ..read more

Everynight Charley recommends the following 70+ concerts in New York City this week. Contact the venue or the artists’ social media to confirm ticket availability, show times, age restrictions, COVID compliance, and other updates. Monday, April 29 Ty Segall, Sharpie Smile, Kamikaze Palm Tree at Webster Hall Wisp, Photographic Memory at the Bowery Ballroom Stephen Day, Blake Ruby at the Gramercy Theatre Prof, GRIP, Futuristic at Racket NYC Bilal at the Blue Note James Maddock at the Bitter End Richie Cannata’s Monday Night Jam at the Bitter End Mona’s Monday Night Bluegrass Sess ..read more

A Canadian Songbook (TPR Records) by Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop (a solid sextet with a monster front-line of alto and tenor sax plus trombone) has the esteemed drummer/composer/publicist leading his crew for the fourth time, this time on songs only by Canadian Artists (including “When I Fall” by Barenaked Ladies). It’s a freewheeling carnival of unexpected delights as the arrangements are sharp and crisp with syncopated surprise and dramatic swoops of both in-the-pocket ensemble playing and daring/inventive soloing.    Tenor saxophonist-composer Willie Mo ..read more