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Makin Waves Song of the Week: "So Damn Happy" by Lou Panico

By Bob Makin

originally published: 10/07/2022

Lou Panico’s is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. Lou will play two sets on Oct. 7 at Asbury Park’s Wonder Bar. One will be as a solo performer. The other will be as bassist in his headliner wife Natalie Farrell’s band. PHOTO BY JOSEPH FLANNERY  

Asbury Park rocker Lou Panico seems to be living the title of his latest single, “So Damn Happy.” 

Hopefully, it will make him even happier that the KISS-inspired tune is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. But the tune is much darker and deeper than the title implies. 

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “So Damn Happy” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 7 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you also can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin or MixCloud. 

“‘So Damn Happy’ was inspired by all the KISS I was listening to during the pandemic lock down,” Lou said. “I found myself re-discovering the entire KISS discography when the world shut down. I wrote some pretty vulnerable lyrics in the verses of ‘So Damn Happy,’ reminiscent of a journal or diary entry about the importance of family. I lost my mom a few years ago and her death really rocked my family and I. The tune addresses the dramatically stark difference between what family meant as a kid versus what it means to me now as an adult. When you lose a loved one, especially a mother or father, your entire perspective on life changes. But despite the heavy nature of the lyrics, I still wanted to express how happy my family makes me and the importance of a supportive family dynamic. So I kicked up the tempo and added an anthemic sing-a-long in the choruses to help keep a smile on the face of the listeners.”

 

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Lou recorded all the instruments on his song and played them all minus drums, which were handled by Mike Neglia of Wild Americans. 

The track was mixed by Chris Badami at Portrait Recording Studios and mastered by him off half-inch tape to get more of an old-school analog rock ‘n’ roll feel, Lou said. 

“In an ever-growing digital world, it's important to me to keep the analog recording process alive,” he said. “I'm working on an upcoming album and promise to keep my music as authentic as possible. Real instruments, real players, real rock ‘n’ roll.”

The forthcoming album’s first single was "Heard A Song.” 

You can hear other new Lou tunes on Oct. 7 at Asbury Park’s Wonder Bar where he will open and play bass for his headlining wife, Natalie Farrell. After collaborating for years in two bands with Levy Oaken, Lou is “so damn happy” partnering with the talented, gorgeous Natalie in life and song. 

His other upcoming shows are Oct. 13 at Grace O'Malley in Jersey City and Nov. 5 at The Asbury hotel. 

For more, visit https://instagram.com/loupanico. 

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