Benefit for NJArts.net – Crossroads – March 13
Jay Lustig has long been regarded as one of the leading authorities when it comes to New Jersey music. His latest benefit show will feature artists from NJArts.net’s 350 Jersey songs list, including Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens and Richard Barone of The Bongos.
Lustig is a journalist who has been covering the arts in New Jersey for 31 years and was previously the Arts and Entertainment Editor for the state’s largest daily newspaper, The Star-Ledger. Concert promoter John Scher has called Lustig “the ultimate authority on all things entertainment in New Jersey and the greater metropolitan area.”
Lustig is an entrepreneurial archivist and his latest musical project includes 350 Jersey songs that were posted daily by Lustig, from September 2014 to September 2015. The songs are all about some aspect of the Garden State, or by a Garden State artist, or someone who recorded in the state. The show’s format calls for the artists to perform their song (or one of their songs) from the list, plus a cover of another artist on the list.
“I have been writing about most of these artists for many years—several decades, in some cases,” said Lustig, who lives in Montclair. “It’s a dream come true that they are all donating their services for this once-in-a-lifetime show.”
Lustig’s site NJArts.net has been going strong since its beginning in 2014 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. The site covers artists that play music in the form of country, blues, folk, classical, jazz pop, rock, hip-hop and R&B. Artists as diverse as Accidental Seabirds all the way to Skid Row to Dionne Warwick have been covered.
Here is the event’s lineup (subject to change) in alphabetical order: Richard Barone of The Bongos, Matt Davis of The Thousand Pities, Jason Didner, Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens, Joe D’Urso, Jon Fried and Deena Shoshkes of The Cucumbers, The Grip Weeds, Loretta Hagen, Chris Kennedy and Mike Lustig of Ruth, with Johnny Powers, Dave Kleiner and Liz Pagan, Tris McCall, Scott E. Moore, The Porchistas, Speed The Plough, and Jim Testa.
More information is available at the nightclub/restaurant’s website, xxroads.com. Tickets, priced at $25, can be ordered at ticketfly.com. For more on Jay Lustig, the event or his site, head over to NJArts.net.
Canadian Aboriginal Artist Joyslam Proudly Presents “Set The World,” The First Single From The New I Need Money Album & The Industry Premiere Of The “Re-Invent Yourself” Music Video.
Canada’s premier funk/rock project Joyslam is back with the new studio album, I Need Money, ready to once again conquer radio airwaves coast to coast. They recently contacted me through Bongo Boy as they were appearing on the Bongo Boy TV show.
Since the release of the diversely successful Heat Moon Fyre album, aboriginal artist and Joyslam frontman RJ Martine has been hard at work on the band’s next chapter and is now ready to hit the ground running to celebrate the release of the new single, “Set The World,” the true embodiment of a very powerful funk/rock track with its soaring vocals, precision guitar and pumping bass, delivered from beginning to end with a great ear-grabbing hook and engaging message.
“So much of who and what Joyslam means has gone into making this album,” commented Martine. “We’re lucky enough to have some very loyal fans, and they’re just as much a part of this as we are. They are beyond appreciated. We couldn’t be more proud to share this music with them.”
“Set The World” was produced by Martine and long-time Joyslam creative collaborator and friend Bryant Didier (B Musique Studios). The two have worked together right from the start on Joyslam’s Heat Moon EP, the full-length Heat Moon Fyre, and the newest album creation, I Need Money.
“Joyslam has delivered another fantastic song,” said Joe Wood from RDR Music. One of the new album songs, “Misfortune,” has even managed to put a smile on the face of multi-Juno award winner Joao Carvalho, of Joao Carvalho Mastering. Not an easy feat to accomplish but, Joyslam did it.
I took a listen to the new single and I can honestly say that the hype lives up to the music. Utilizing guitar heavy riffs and runs, “Set The World” is a fast-moving musical journey through funk-inspired rock songwriting along the lines of Prince or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rhythms pound metered goodness as singer RJ Martine delivers solid melodic vocal lines as well as keyboards and percussive enhancements. If you’re looking for something different than the usual folk rock hipness of the present day, Joyslam is the musical key for your listening pleasure.
I Need Money is out as we speak and is available for radio and digital purchase through the CD Baby distribution network and digitally through iTunes, Amazon, and numerous other networks.
The band also released a video for the song “Re-Invent Yourself.” The video was a filmed collaborative effort of Martine and up-and-coming videographer Matt Kelly. Part of the new album, this is another song worth checking out. You can preview the video here: youtube.com/watch?v=Hy5L1tpCciU
Joyslam’s music is now receiving airplay on radio stations throughout North America, Australia, UK, Europe and Asia, as well as Multi Music Professional DJ Series, Hott Traxx CDs—sharing disc space with Rihanna, T.I. and Simple Plan. And Hott Roxx CDs—sharing disc space with Black Label Society, Death Cab For Cutie & Metric.
Joyslam has played several major festivals including opening for Rock Icon, Burton Cummings of the Guess Who to a crowd of over 5,000, and at the Worldfest Multicultural Festival with musicians from Australia, South America, United Kingdom & Africa.
Fans can visit joyslam.com for this news and all of the latest and greatest Joyslam happenings.
