The New Bardots’ new holiday single, a cover of The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

All-star veteran outfit The New Bardots have remade a modern take on The Band’s 1977 holiday classic, Christmas Must Be Tonight,” that cranks up the energy and brings home the spirit of season with a well-produced, upbeat, contemporary sound.

Fittingly, the holiday chestnut is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Christmas Must Be Tonight” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 8 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and MixCloud.

“I was discussing The New Bardots looking to do a Christmas song remake with my girlfriend, Vicki, one night over dinner,” co-founding front man Wayne Oliveira said. “Being a longtime personal friend of the guys in The Band — she was one of their guest at ‘The Last Waltz’ — she suggested I listen to Rick Danko doing ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight.’ I had never heard the song before, but after listening, I heard the potential for us to put our spin on it.

“I brought the song up at our rehearsal that week, and we all decided to do the remake,” Wayne continued. “Considering the recent passing of (song composer) Robbie Robertson, it seemed a fitting thing to do. A week later, we were back in Skylab Studios — our home away from home — and knocked it out in a day.”

The New Bardots — also Gar Francis, guitars and vocals; Dan Skye, bass and vocals; John Croot, keyboards, and Johnnie Rago, drums and percussion — are finishing up the last batch of new tunes for their next LP. Expect an early 2024 release with slew of gigs to follow.

For more about The New Bardots, visit them on Facebook.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at makinwaves64@yahoo.com.