By Bob Makin
originally published: 03/06/2026
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Open Up the Door,” the latest single from Jackson Pines’ new album, “Wheel.” PHOTO BY MICHAEL KRAVETSKY
“Open Up The Door” is the latest single from Jackson Pines’ new full-length album, “Wheel.”
The tune opens up new territory for the boys from the pines, as it is the first time they have featured a full, Jersey Shore-style horn section. Fittingly, “Open Up the Door” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Open Up the Door” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on March 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 song of empathy and hope was written a few years ago, but it wasn’t complete until Scott Grimaldi (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles) wrote the horn chart,” Jackson Pines’ singer-songwriter- guitarist-harmonicist Joe Makoviecki said. “When I was a kid, I met Scott as a member of my father’s Jersey Shore Sax Quintet. It was only fitting to turn to Scott to add his expertise, as well as play the baritone sax part my father would have played if he were still alive.
“In summer 2025, during the final ‘Wheel’ recording sessions, we tracked the rhythm section and vocals at The Lumberyard in Hammonton — Ace Enders’ studio — and the horns with Joey DeMaio at Shorefire in Long Branch, who’s worked with The E Street Band and Bon Jovi,” Joe continued. “The track features Scott Grimaldi on tenor and baritone saxes, Matt Bilyk on trombone, and Marty Bound on trumpet. Their horn feature is reminiscent of Van Morrison, Chicago, and Tower of Power.”
Joe rounds the song out with a guitar solo and lyrics inspired by Mississippi John Hurt and The Beatles.
Jackson Pines also features bassist-guitarist James Black, drummer-vocalist-pianist Cranston Dean, and fiddler James Herdman.
Most of the “Wheel” was engineered and mixed at The Lumberyard by Tyler Sarfert, but some of the tracks were recorded and mixed by “The Phantom” at The Boghouse, James’ home studio in Jackson. The album was mastered by Dana Yurcisin in his Asbury Park studio and released by Woodstock-based indie Only One On The Mountain Records.
Jackson Pines recently sold out Asbury’s fabled Stone Pony with Ocean Avenue Stompers.
“We did a superjam at the end called ‘The Pine Barrens Stomp’ that combined Jackson Pines, The Stompers, and many scene favorites, including Mark Pender, since we played a bunch of songs from the Springsteen Seeger Sessions during the superjam,” Joe said. “That record turns 20 years old this year. There may be some live releases coming from that later in the year, we'll see!
“My dad's funk-soul group, Blvd. East, played The Pony in 1980,” he continued. “It was a very beautiful circle we closed that night.”
Coming up, Jackson Pines will play March 7 at The Pinelands Short Course, Stockton University, Galloway; March 8, Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Light; April 4, Ocean County Library, Toms River; May 6, Avenel Performing Arts Center with Joe Cirotti Trio, July 17, Thompson Park, Lincroft, and Nov. 21, Albert Music Hall, Waretown.
“Wheel” is available on CD at all concerts, is streaming on all platforms m, and can be ordered at jacksonpines.bandcamp.com.
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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