Newsletter 9-29-08

Hey Everyone,

First off, a reminder that there is a very important election coming up in just over a month. If you are not already registered to vote, make sure you register now.

Here in New Jersey, the deadline to register to vote is October 14th. You can go to the link below to download the registration application:
http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voter-registration-application.html

If you live in other states, please seek out your local registration information.

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I’ve been busy working on BANDING TOGETHER: A BENEFIT FOR THE SPONDYLITIS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, the big 48 hour webathon taking place Friday October 17th through Sunday October 19th. The show, as previously announced, will be broadcast on BlowUpRadio.com and ThePenguinRocks.com. I am proud to announce today that www.DrainoRadio.com will also simulcasting Banding Together.

You can read the full press release at this link:
http://blowupradio.tripod.com/news48.html

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And the Saturday before the webathon, October 11th, a live benefit concert will take place at Buddie’s Tavern (277 Johnsons Lane, Parlin, NJ). This show will feature live sets from the rarely seen live punk rockers, The Comrades, the new band featuring Scruff (Kohuff, Vacationers), The Tea & Whiskey, the recently returned to live performance shenanigans of Logs In The Mainstream, and a special acoustic set by The Chilling Details frontman, Frank Bressi . All proceeds raised that night will also benefit the Spondylitis Association Of America.

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As many of you know, it's been some time since I have posted any new reviews. Between planning "Banding Together", and a host of other things going on, I just haven't had the time. But there are always things I see and hear that I think people should know about, so I have started a new column on LazlosDen.com, "Lazlo's Cool List". On it you will find a list of things I think are cool and noteworthy, be it a new CD or song by a band, or a Movie, DVD, or TV show. And note that not everything on there has to be new, for instance the list currently includes Sugar's amazing debut album, "copper blue". The album came out over 15 years ago, but it's still one of my favorites and well worth mentioning.

I hope you will check out "Lazlo's Cool List" on LazlosDen.com. I plan to update it regularly.

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Concert Picks of the Week

Lazlo (BlowUpRadio.com)
Wednesday night Crewman Number Six will play at the Whiskey Bar in Hoboken. If you like hard modern rock with intelligent lyrics and a lead singer that does not stand still, then do not miss this show.

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Jim Testa(Jersey Beat)
Monday, September 29
BENEFIT TO SUPPORT NEUMANN'S LEATHERS TENANTS ASSOCN. with Yo La Tengo, Outpost, Jeremy Wallace Trio, Bob Bert's Five Dollar Priest - Maxwells, 1039 Washington St. Hoboken - 7 pm, $25, all ages

The Neumann's Leathers building is one of the last standing vestiges of Hoboken's industrial past. The building is currently being used by artists and musicians as a low-cost arts center, but of course gentrification has reared its ugly head again and the building is in danger of being taken over by developers and turned into more luxury condos. This benefit aids the legal aid fund fighting the takeover.

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Gary Wien (Asbury Music)
Picks for the week include a pair of shows in Asbury Park. On Friday, Dramarama makes a return to the state with a show at the Wonder Bar. Then on Saturday, Last Perfect Thing and The Milwaukees are on a bill with The Mulch Brothers from Nashville at the Saint.

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And now it's time for this week's Pissed Off!

No politics this week, nor any commentary on the economy, not even a remembrance of Paul Newman (although like so many others out there, I was extremely saddened by the news of his passing). Instead this week I want to talk about karma.

Karma. An Eastern philosophical term central to both Buddhism and Hinduism. The term is defined as, "The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny."

These days we often think of it as a do well on to others will generate good karma, while doing bad on to others will generate bad karma.

I always try to do the right thing and be good on to others, but I know I am far from perfect and have likely angered people over my 35 years of life. But I have no idea what I did to anger someone so much that would vandalize my car.

A couple of months ago I woke up one Sunday morning and went to my car to find that my windshield wipers had been ripped off, and that my car antenna had been bent upwards. What was most disconcerting to me about this incident was not knowing who did it, or why. If someone is pissed off at me, they should come up and tell me they are pissed off at me and explain why. Maybe I did something wrong that I needed to apologize for, but since this person chose to just vandalize my car, I have no idea what led to this situation.

Now here's where karma comes in, and I truly hope the person who vandalized my car reads this part.

The windshield wipers that were ripped off my car were 3 years old and desperately needed to be replaced, so thanks go out to the vandal for making me finally replace the windshield wipers.

Oh, and the car antenna, while I wasn't able to bend it back, it turns out I don't want to as I can now clearly get in my favorite NPR station from Philadelphia (WXPN), that I was unable to get in clearly before the vandalism. So thanks again to the vandal for "fixing" my radio antenna.

It's funny how karma works out, isn't it?

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That's all for this week folks.

Peace,
Lazlo
www.BlowUpRadio.com