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Makin Waves Song of the Week: “No Way to Live” by Colossal Street Jam

By Bob Makin

originally published: 11/26/2021


In anticipation of “No Way to Live,” Colossal Street Jam’s next album early next year, the title track is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. 

You gotta have faith to be a musician. Faith in your music, faith in yourself to pull it off, and faith in the music scene to do right by you. No band I know — and I’ve known this one since 1989 — have more faith than Colossal Street Jam.

Twenty years after the drag of adulthood ground the popular Jersey Shore rockers to a halt, they had the faith to launch the most successful comeback of an unsigned band I’ve ever seen. Albums, videos, international tours followed, then wham! Illness strikes, and it strikes hard. But the Street Jam continue to have the Colossal faith to continue. Then blammy, the whole scene shuts down from Covid. But, of course, Colossal’s faith makes them one of the first acts to start working steady again.

While illness recently struck once more, and a couple of shows had to be canceled, Colossal’s faith in their music, themselves, and the scene keeps plans right on track for a late January release of a single, video, album and new website. That work will follow and allows me to catch up with the title-track single from the forthcoming LP, “No Way to Live,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “No Way to Live” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 26 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. 




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No word yet when Colossal will be able to hit the road again, but I have faith it will be soon, and I know they do too. Watch here for another Song of the Week by them along with a video premiere on Jan. 21, as well as an Artist of the Month Interview in April to preview another international tour. 

For more, visit https://www.facebook.com/colossalstreetjam.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected]. 

PHOTO BY CONNIE FREESTONE
About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.




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EVENT PREVIEWS

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.

 

FEATURED EVENTS


Choir! Choir! Choir! Hallelujah”: An EPIC Anthems Sing-Along!

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ


Always Jovi with special guest, Shot of Poison

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ


Margarita Rovenskaya, piano

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Grunin Center - Bösendorfer Recital Room
Toms River, NJ


Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
Princeton, NJ


The Chris Pinnella Big Band Project

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ


Shemekia Copeland with special guest JB Barnes Blues Band

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ



 

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