Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Outside" by Kanak

By Bob Makin

originally published: 11/03/2023

Jersey Shore rockers Kanak will celebrate the release of their new Ed Stasium-produced EP on Nov. 4 at Crossroads in Garwood. The first single and video, “Outside,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. The band is pictured with Ed in his Southern California studio.

Jersey Shore rockers Kanak will celebrate the release of their Ed Stasium-produced/engineered EP, “On the Outside,” on Nov. 4 at Crossroads in Garwood.

“Outside,” the quasi title track, first single and video, is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Outside” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and MixCloud.

The edgy psychological pop of “Outside” runs throughout the EP, singer-songwriter-guitarist Tom Kanach said.

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“Many of the songs are about loss and not fitting in,” Tom said. “I guess all of us, and maybe creative people in general, feel like outsiders. All of us have been on the fringes our entire lives so I think alienation, that comes across.

“We all grew up listening to early guitar-based rock, and then, as we got older and became disenfranchised, we all separately gravitated toward punk,” he continued. “We all love well-written power-pop songs with an edge. Now, we don’t always agree on what is well-written.”

On the outside to others, Kanak is very much a band of brothers seasoned with chops earned from an impressive collective resume, including David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, Dramarama, Well of Souls, and Mischief.

Bassist Joe Rowley, drummer Steve Brown, and guitarists Peter Wood and Johnny Rao had a blast recording with Green Brook, N.J.-raised legendary producer-engineer Ed Stasium in his studio near San Diego. The fellow Jerseyan’s credits include The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Replacements, The Smithereens, The Misfits, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.

“Ed is a very funny guy, also from New Jersey, so we all had a similar sarcastic sense of humor,” Tom said.

The EP was mixed at House of Vibes in Highland Park by Kurt Reil, whose great band, The Grip Weeds, will open the release party at Crossroads along with Dogpile on the Rabbit. The show also will include a special guest performance by the EP’s executive producer, legendary Jersey DJ Matt Pinfield.

For more about Kanak, read the recent Makin Waves interview here. And visit their website at https://www.kanakmusic.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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