By Bob Makin
originally published: 02/06/2026
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Anything at All,” the first single from Jersey Shore singer-songwriter-guitarist Dave Vargo’s forthcoming fourth album, “Ghost Towns.” PHOTO BY JOHN DECKER
Asbury Park hero Dave Vargo will drop his fourth album, "Ghost Towns" on March 27.
The first single, "Anything at All," is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Anything at All” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Feb. 6 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.
“This is the last song that I wrote for the album,” Dave said. “Like 99 percent of my songs, the music came first. I then chisel away until the lyrics reveal themselves. I had some notes on my phone — dust, gonna miss this view, hopping fences — that kind of fit together about the end of a relationship. When it’s over, do you miss anything at all?”
Once again, the singer-songwriter-guitarist teamed up with Tim Pannella (Ray LaMontagne, Nicole Atkins, Paramore) at Asbury’s Lakehouse Recording Studios with Tim on drums, Todd Lanka on bass and Danielle Marrone on backing vocals.
Dave’s guitar skills continue to run the gamut from technically difficult licks and sweet solos to warm melodies that stay with you long after listening to them.
A New Jersey native had his eye on the guitar from an early age. A graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Dave’s musical career has a winding path of notable experiences, including solo recordings and performances, group collaborations, session work, and performances with Phoebe Snow, Rupert Holmes, and Vonda Shepard, as well as touring with musical sensation Whitney Houston. All have led to his current proclivity as a singer-songwriter who embraces a unique blend of Americana, country, rock, and folk.
“Ghost Towns” will follow 2016’s “Burning Through,” 2019’s “Spaces In Between,” and 2022’s “Crooked Miles,” which garnered Dave the Makin Waves Songwriter of the Year Award.
“I am not a prolific writer,” Dave said. “It takes time for the songs to emerge. It takes even longer for a collection to come together. I’m not really sure where the songs come from most of the time. But I’m sure happy when they do. I feel really good about this collection of songs and stories. I can’t wait to share them.”
Dave’s “2forTuesday” series on Facebook has garnered a substantial following. Started during the pandemic to give singer-songwriters a chance to perform, the program is still running strong at 295-plus episodes and counting! Feb. 10 will feature Allie Kenny; Feb. 17, Rich Lancia, and Feb. 24, Chuck DeBruyn.
Listen to “Anything at All” on Apple Music and Spotify.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
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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