Jason Didner, at a Jersey diner.
Jason Didner, who was represented by two songs in NJArts.net’s 350 Jersey Songs series, continues in that vein with his new album, It’s a Jersey Thing, a compilation of songs from throughout his career including those two (“You Can’t Get There From Here in Jersey,” “Jersey Dinosaurs”) as well as other originals, plus a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.” He’ll celebrate its release with a 5 p.m. July 23 performance at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten in Hoboken.
Didner, who lives in Montclair, leads the children’s entertainment band Jason Didner & the Jungle Gym Jam, though most of songs on this album are intended for adults.
“You Can’t Get There From Here in Jersey,” which has been played the NPR program “Car Talk,” is about the frustrations of driving in the Garden State. It’s a Jersey Thing includes both a new studio version and a buoyant live version.
“Jersey Dinosaurs” is about the hadrosaurs who once inhabited the state.
“Cubicle” and “Quit While You’re Ahead” are about office jobs and Atlantic City gambling, respectively.
JASON DIDNER
“Jackals on the Prowl” is a theme song for the Montclair Jackals minor league baseball team. Didner cleverly works in some Yogi Berra sayings, since the Jackals play at Yogi Berra Stadium.
“Summertime Santa” imagines Santa hanging out on the Jersey shore. “Summertime Santa, down the Shore/Serving up treats in the ice cream store/Riding around on his bicycle/Away from the Arctic icicles,” Didner sings.
“Salt and Sand” also has Shore references, but has a more serious theme about following your dreams.
“I hope you found a bit of your sense of humor, your character, your Jersey attitude, grit and determination (no matter where you’re from) in the lines of these tunes,” writes Didner in the album’s digital booklet.
For more on Didner, visit jasondidner.com.
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