Author: Brian Erickson

Website:

Bio: Brian Erickson is an award-winning vocalist and a lover of all things music-related. When he’s not writing for YDKJ, he’s busy fronting his group The Extensions, or hosting his weekly talk show ‘One More w/ Brian Erickson.’ Former projects include Apple Music’s #1 music podcast, The Great Albums, and long-running Princeton-based band The Paper Jets.

Author Posts:

• 

  Exactly What I Need: Artists We’re Most Excited About in 2021 – 2020 Roundup Part III

  December 19, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 400

  By now, if you’ve somehow missed the first two parts of this three-part series, I really don’t know what to tell you. First...

• 

  What a Mess: Top Albums & EPs – 2020 Roundup Pt. II

  December 16, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 413

  In case you missed the introduction in Part One of this three-part series, we’re highlighting (1) the top songs and (2) top...

• 

  Till My Eyes Fall Out: Top 20 Songs of the Year – 2020 Roundup Part I

  December 14, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 395

  Wow this year sucked, amirite? But before we embark upon this exchange, I’d like to pay proper respect to friends who lost...

• 

  Choose Wisely: Reviewing ‘#AlbumNumber5Sessions’ by Matt Cook

  September 8, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 249

  At this point, the story is well-told. Asbury Park piano man Matt Cook spent the formative years of his musical life out in...

• 

  I’m Sure She’d Hate This: Reviewing ‘Carpe Diem’ by The Foes of Fern

  August 29, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 280

  Foes of Fern head honcho Matt Fernicola begun life in the New Jersey music scene as the consummate foil. He took his Boston-based...

• 

  Pictures I’ll Never See: Premiering “Money Man” (Live) by The Foes of Fern

  March 6, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 510

  Matt Fernicola is a master of controlled chaos; something for which his Foes of Fern have come to be known. Starting initially as...

• 

  From NJ to AU with Love: A Benefit

  January 24, 2020 • Arts & Entertainment, Charity, Music, Newsy Jersey • 472

  You’d be forgiven if you’re unsure what 10PRL is. But if you recall seeing the name Fourth Wave Rehearsal pop up last spring...

• 

  In Waist Deep: Matt Cook Debut’s New Single

  November 30, 2019 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 424

  As 2017 came to a close, Matt Cook released Girasole, his fourth LP in eight years. And while his recorded work is the truest...

• 

  Words Unspoken: Interviewing Lowlight

  March 11, 2019 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 845

  Since 2015, Lowlight has been spinning its self-described “Roadhouse Chic” sound to the tune of an ever-increasing audience,...

• 

  Tell Myself It’s Fine: Introducing Scout’s First Single “Maybe”

  October 20, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 654

  As 2017 wound down, Devon Alana closed up shop on Fun While You Wait. And in just three short years, Alana & Co had gone from...

• 

  Losing My Heroes: Reviewing ‘Eight Million to One’ by Roy Orbitron

  September 13, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 670

  Over the past decade, Conor Meara has become the New Jersey music scene’s quintessential anti-hero. A union representative by...

• 

  Find Our Bliss: Reviewing “Still Frames” by Karma Gambit

  July 6, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 623

  From 2014 – 2017, Rose Boulevard was one of New Jersey’s most promising young acts. And since the group’s split early last...

• 

  Still Golden & True: Lowlight Premieres New Song, Announces Live LP

  June 27, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 694

  On the heels of their latest EP Born to Run and a successful tour with The Pretenders, Lowlight has announced It’s Later Than...

• 

  Makin Music: Local Journalist Sponsors Summer Concert Series

  June 14, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 619

  Thirty years is a long time to be doing one thing. But journalist Bob Makin – who started his Makin Waves column back in 1988...

• 

  Go Gracefully: Reviewing “Run” by Charlie Kupilik

  June 3, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 595

  After helping his former band Modern Crowds release their dazzling self-titled debut last year, drummer Charlie Kupilik got up...

• 

  The Neighborhood is Cold: Bent Knee Comes to Asbury Park

  June 1, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 598

  On Wednesday June 6th, Boston-based Bent Knee will be joining Owel and Gatherers at The Saint along their Paper Earth tour. Since...

• 

  There’s So Much Left to Do: Reviewing “Sun Day” by The Foes of FERN

  May 22, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 664

  If there was true justice in the world, Airacuda’s farewell show in May of 2016 would go down as one of the most legendary...

• 

  One More Time with Feeling: Reviewing Born to Run by Lowlight

  April 3, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 735

  When we last left Lowlight, they were dancing in the gutters of the French Quarter; hearts poured out like cheap bourbon as they...

• 

  I’m Still Howling: Premiering “Wolves” by The Burns

  February 16, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 862

  Since forming last year, Asbury Park’s The Burns have been one of the scene’s most prolific acts, carving out a place for...

• 

  YDKJ SONG PREMIERE: “These Days” by Charlie Kupilik

  February 9, 2018 • Arts & Entertainment, Music • 831

  An acoustic strum, an insistent 1-2-3-4 rhythm, a warm piano line; may as well be the key, the ignition, and the clutch as...