Doing It Themselves
New singles from Jason Didner, Modern Holiday, and the Baghdaddios' Kenn Rowell
JASON DIDNER & THE GSP’s - “D.I.Y.” (Self-released)
Jason Didner’s always been one of those Jersey songwriters who can’t sit still — one minute he’s tackling segregation in Asbury Park or unraveling existential angst, the next he’s penning a novelty gem like “You Can’t Get There From Here In Jersey.” But this time, he plugs in and cranks up with fellow troubadour Jon Caspi, and the result is pure punk-rock. “D.I.Y.” is exactly what it says on the label: a no-frills, three-chord salute to the make-your-own-damn-fun spirit that built our whole indie scene.
It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s catchy, and it’s got that wide-eyed conviction that makes you want to grab a guitar, a stapler, and your best friend and start a band or a zine. Most importantly, Didner and Caspi don’t treat this like nostalgia; they’re reporting from the trenches, still fighting the good fight for basement shows and self-released singles. Punk rock meets Peter Pan — the eternal youth of believing you can still do it yourself. Hey ho, let’s go.
MODERN HOLIDAY - “Goodbye Grand Street” (Self-released)
After fifteen years in the same apartment, Jameson Edwards finally packed up and moved on — and that’s all the story he needed for “Goodbye Grand Street.” The front man of Modern Holiday (the Brooklyn/Queens lifers formerly known as Bloody Your Hands) turns that bittersweet transition into an anthem that’s part farewell letter, part self-portrait. The track rings with the huge, echoey sweep of U2, but traded down from stadiums to the cozy corners of Bar Freda — big feelings with local club energy. Edwards’ lyrics tip their hat to the nights, the loves, the losses, the bones broken along the way, with a wistful nod and a reluctant acknowledgement that “it’s time for a fresh start.” It’s the sound of closing a door you loved walking through, and Modern Holiday makes sure the goodbye feels worth it. Modern Holiday has a sister act, The Vibrant Colors, with bassist Billy Gray singing lead. You can check out their latest single here.
KEN ROWELL - “Goin’ To Hell” (Self-released)
Ken Rowell (of the Baghdaddios) has - like a lot of us - had it with the corruption, incompetence, war mongering, and autocratic overreach coming from the White House. “Goin’ To Hell” is his response, a fiery protest song in the classic folk tradition, just an angry man and an acoustic guitar. A Dylanesque rant punctuated by searing harmonica, Rowell’s anger and disgust are palpable, urgent, and convincing. Give it a listen.
VISTA BLUE - “Batting Around” EP (Self-released)
Mike Patton’s Vista Blue cranks out new music the way some folks keep scorecards — obsessively and joyfully, one for every occasion. This time, it’s baseball season, and “Batting Around” arrives right on schedule for Opening Day. Patton, the prolific Nashville-based pop whiz, has filled his Bandcamp page with seventy-five (!) releases celebrating everything from curling to Christmas, each packed with the same sugar-rush melodies and smart-aleck hooks that make Vista Blue such a treat.
On this quick-hitting EP — four songs in six minutes flat — Patton sticks to the fundamentals. The sound is pure Ramonescore: fastball tempos, three-chord jangle, and enough harmony to make Joey Ramone smile from the dugout. “Batting Around” is for when your team just can’t make an out, “Good Reputation” serves as a pep talk for that player that everybody in the clubhouse likes (but who doesn’t cost the club a lot of money,) while “What’s Your Favorite Lockout?” turns labor disputes into a 30-second pop-punk singalong. By the time “I Don’t Wanna Be DFA’d” wraps it up, you’ll be ready to lace up your cleats and step up to the plate yourself.
Vista Blue always finds the sweet spot between clever and sincere, and “Batting Around” is another solid hit in a long streak of pop perfection. Now step up to the plate — and yeah, let’s go Mets!