The Radio Garden State Roadshow Brings Jersey’s Weirdest to Obal’s Inn
On January 30th, 2025, the Radio Garden State Roadshow took over Obal’s Inn in Bloomfield, NJ, delivering a packed night of local legends, Jersey music, and straight-up weirdness. Hosted by Mike Ham, the show featured Mark and Mark from Weird NJ, plus Obal’s owner Kenny James, as they dove into some of the Garden State’s strangest stories, rare underground tracks, and legendary folklore.
A Night of Jersey Stories and Sounds
From the moment Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman hit the mic, the crowd was locked in. As the masterminds behind the legendary Weird NJ magazine, they’ve spent decades unearthing New Jersey’s strangest haunts, urban legends, and untold histories—and last night, they brought that energy live.
The night’s discussions took us deep into Jersey’s weirdest spots, including:
🔹 Shades of Death Road – What’s up with that name, and what’s the deal with the mysterious Polaroids found there?
🔹 Midgetville – The truth behind one of New Jersey’s most talked-about urban legends.
🔹 The world’s first air show (1909, North Arlington) – A piece of Jersey history most people don’t know.
🔹 Mary Ellis’ grave in a New Brunswick parking lot – A tragic love story that turned into a roadside oddity.
🔹 Prohibition tunnels and ghost sightings at local bars – Including some spooky encounters right at Obal’s.
The Soundtrack to Jersey’s Weirdest Stories
Throughout the night, the show featured music straight from Weird NJ’s cult-classic compilation CD, The Sounds of Weirdness—a collection of rare tracks from local bands inspired by the state’s folklore and legends. Some standout songs included:
🎵 "Anarchy in Midgetville" – Head Wound – A punk anthem about the many rumored Midgetville communities.
🎵 "Shades of Death Road" – The Accelerators – A song as haunting as the road itself.
🎵 "The New Jersey Devil" – Primal Smell – A rock track celebrating our most famous cryptid.
🎵 "The Ballad of Clark Westfield" – David Kleiner – Parkway Exit 135 has never sounded so poetic.
🎵 "Jenny Jump" – The Blung – Inspired by the eerie tale of Jenny Jump State Forest.
🎵 "The Ballad of Fred the Five-Legged Frog" – Ong’s Hat – Yes, New Jersey did have a mutant frog.
Ghosts, Legends & Obal’s Inn
Obal’s Inn was the perfect setting for a night like this. A true Bloomfield institution, Obal’s is packed with history—and maybe a few ghosts.
Owner Kenny James shared some of the bar’s mysterious past, including:
👻 Basement weddings during Prohibition – Because nothing says romance like hiding from the cops.
👻 Creepy encounters – Staff members have reported feeling an unseen presence in the basement.
👻 A chef who got spooked – One cook felt something behind him and refused to work downstairs alone. Kenny had to tell the spirit: "Give the guy a break, he's just trying to work!" After that, no more problems.
A Huge Thank You to Everyone Who Came Out
This was Radio Garden State’s biggest live audience yet, and the energy in the room was unreal. The crowd was fully engaged—grabbing drink specials (shoutout to the Jersey Devil cocktail), asking questions, and rocking out to Jersey’s weirdest soundtrack.
To Mark and Mark, Kenny, and everyone at Obal’s, we can’t thank you enough for being part of this. This is exactly what Radio Garden State is about—bringing New Jersey’s stories, music, and culture together in a way no one else does.
