By Bob Makin
originally published: 03/10/2023

“Earth,” the latest video from Jersey-raised edgy roots rocker Carolyn Marosy’s album “Loners, Misfits and Rebels” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY BETH PRELLBERG
Jersey-raised roots rocker Carolyn Marosy wrote all the songs on her new “Loners, Misfits and Rebels” EP but one, “Earth,” which was penned by her late friend Tia “Sprocket” Palmisano, an instrumentalist who toured the world with Luscious Jackson, Ministry and Hank Williams III.
The EP’s latest video is for “Earth,” also the Makin Waves Song of the Week. All proceeds from downloads and streams of the song benefit The Mission Shelter, a homeless organization based in Los Angeles.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Earth” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on March 10 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin or MixCloud.
"This song reaches back to an early connection made while the riot girl and grunge scenes emerged at legendary clubs like CBGB, Maxwell’s and Don Hill’s," Carolyn said. "I met Tia in the early ‘90s, rockin’ the NYC/NJ scene with Sexpod and Sulkweed. Breathing new life into 'Earth' was truly a labor of love and a loyalty of friendship."
The song began as a demo by Tia, released posthumously and discovered by Carolyn after she heard the devastating news in 2017 of the death of her friend. The rock ‘n’ roll world lost another bright light to the scourge of addiction, Carolyn said.
Growing up in East Rutherford, Carolyn played all over New York City and the metro area with her grunge band Sulkweed and the punk-blues band she formed and fronted, RAW. Playing for audiences from Seattle to South Africa, including a jam with The Replacements by invitation from Paul Westerberg, she spent the last two decades as side guitarist for many talented musicians.
But when she decided to go solo and put together her debut EP, she knew “Earth” needed to be a part of the “Loners, Misfits and Rebels” story.
“It is a haunting song, written by someone who could see their own early demise with the clarity of already being on the other side,” she said. “The track is a reflection of that perspective, with a dream-like, epic adventure through the swamps of music and time. The song is the connection between life and death, friendship and love, the sea, the sky and the earth.”
Carolyn will announce tour dates soon. For more, visit http://carolynmarosy.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
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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