Ever hear of the band PANZIE*? Well, my bro, Jonnie Rockit from the band PANZIE*, recently leaked a few new songs from the band’s upcoming new CD, Love and Blood, to me via email, and I have to say, that the tracks that I heard I simply nasty! “Angry Man”, “Dance (Mofo)”, and “Rise” are the epitome of NYC’s dirty street sound with a hint of old school underground NYC punk shining through them. PANZIE* will be releasing “Love and Blood” with a CD release party at The Mercury Lounge on October 28, which is almost sold out, so hit the band up if you want in! You can contact them on their facebook page, facebook.com/PanZRocknRoll. You can also hear “Angry Man” on the latest episode of my internet radio show, Chigger Radio, by logging onto blogtalkradio.com/chiggerradio…….

Speaking of CD release parties; I was recently invited to SCARLET CARSON's at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the release of their latest effort, Foreverless. I have to say, for an unsigned band, these guys seemed larger than life when they hit that stage. They put together a great stage show with much energy ripping through tracks off of the new CD and their first one, but they saved my favorite SCARLET CARSON song, “West Coast Dreamer” until the end of their set. I was totally impressed with their stage show and singer Santino Hollywood’s voice in a live setting was simply fantastic! These guys have something going on. I’m not sure what it is, but if any major label passes up on these guys, there’s definitely something wrong with this industry! These young bucks out Toms River, NJ, are already rock stars. They just don’t know it yet! Or do they? Check out the new SCARLET CARSON now at reverbnation.com/ScarletCarson…….

How about Jimmy Gnecco from OURS jamming with VELVET REVOLVER recently at a benefit in New York City at the Best Buy Theater. In what seemed like a public audition, New Jersey's own, Jimmy Gnecco, who bears a strange resemblance to the late Jeff Buckley with the essence of U2’s Bono, took the reins. Gnecco performed the VELVET REVOLVER hit “Slither”, as well as, the G-N-R classic, “It’s So Easy”. The video footage of this surprise performance can be seen on YouTube…….

And finally, I can’t believe that I even have to write this, but it’s with great sadness that I do. A couple of days ago, the North Jersey music scene lost another brother and a soldier in LOWBUZ guitarist Mike Koenig, when he finally lost his bout with brain cancer. When I started writing North Jersey Notes back in 2001, LOWBUZ was one of the very first bands that I ever featured because I really loved their sound! At the time, I was playing in two bands, SOMETHING JUST and SMOKE STAR when I befriended Mike and his LOWBUZ cronies, who also featured Dave Neabore from DOG EAT DOG on bass. I would eventually branch off and focus more on SMOKE STAR, which is where my bond with Mike Koenig grew stronger as Mike was the engineer and producer of almost all of the SMOKESTAR recordings. It was then that Mike and LOWBUZ singer Jeff Dixon actually became fans of our band, and we soon formed a strong bond playing as many shows together as possible, and sharing the same audiences. In the studio, Mike always became the fifth member of the band with his ear and talent to help arrange a song. When it came time to lay down my bass tracks, he was always a great supporter when I was having a bad day, not to mention, he was a great mentor when he saw that I was stuck on a part. On the stage with his band LOWBUZ, Mike Koenig was a great guitar player and tore it up better than the best of them. He was an excellent songwriter, and when it came to production, some great bands came out of his Crystal Studios in Park Ridge, NJ, like LOWBUZ, SMOKE STAR, HOSTEL INC. (featuring Ray West from SPREAD EAGLE), SIXTY MILES DOWN, STEVE BELLO, BLOW UP DAISY, and YEARS OF STATIC. The list can go on and on. I’m just trying to paint a picture of what an amazing person, LOWBUZ guitarist, Mike Koenig was, and lucky for some of us, North Jersey bands, Mike will be forever immortalized through our music, as well as his own! I know everyone that I knew on the scene that knew Mike was just as stunned as I was to learn of his passing, and I wish that I could’ve seen him, at least, one more time before he passed on, but since I couldn’t this is the only way that I can pay a tribute to his life, in print! So, please! The next time you have a drink or are taking a toke, have one in Mike’s honor because he would’ve wanted it that way! We will all miss you, Mike Koenig, R.I.P.

Oh, and by the way, don't forget to check out my new band from Vineland, NJ, Toil Recording Artist, BLACK OCEAN. Give them a listen at reverbnation.com/blackoceanmusic. Don't forget to listen to my internet radio show CHIGGER RADIO on www.blogtalkradio.com/chiggerradio