By Bob Makin
originally published: 09/09/2022
A Makin Waves Bassist of the Year winner, Johnny Zabe, right, is heading in the direction of his native New Jersey with the South Florida mystical metal of Mason Pace, left. Mason’s new single, “Mister Van Gogh,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY RAYNA LEIGH
As the co-founding bassist of the psycho-funk band Experiment 34, Hamilton-raised Johnny Zabe made plenty of waves, including a Makin Waves Bassist of the Year Award.
Now based in South Florida, Johnny is heading in the direction of home laying down his typically insanely thick slabs of slapping rhythm on the Starry Night Tour of his current band led by the popular mystical metal singer-songwriter-guitarist Mason Pace. The tour is in support of the irresistible new single “Mister Van Gogh,” which is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Mister Van Gogh” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 9 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.
“I joined the band after searching on BandMix for a long time after moving down to Florida,” Johnny said. “The first track I heard was ‘King of Hearts,’ and I instantly fell in love with the sound. Mason’s killer pipes and hard riffs reminded me so much of Ghost, a modern Black Sabbath, that I needed to reach out to audition for them. Luckily for me, their bassist had just left, and they were in need of someone new. After a few jam sessions with Mason, the chemistry and everything felt amazing so I was invited to join them on this tour, and I’m very excited where we go from here.”
When the world shut down in 2020, four walls and a sense of solitude became a muse, Mason said. From the agony of the lockdown’s isolation came “Mister Van Gogh.”
Written, recorded and produced by Mason and his band — also drummer Alex Abbasi — the single does what its namesake became renowned for: bringing emotional anguish to life and transforming it into intricate art. The song recalls Mason’s state of solitude and repetition, descending into a sense of insanity. As the mind twists, Mason beckons listeners to step inside his mind akin to the tortured artist.
“It’s quite a damning song,” Mason said. “Vincent Van Gogh unfortunately, yet perfectly embodied modern struggles. I’m publicizing the internal hardships of Van Gogh, a (then) unrecognized artistic genius riddled with mental difficulties; a victim of not only seclusion from the world he lived in, but his mind that he couldn’t escape from. It shows that someone as complicated and befuddled as Van Gogh can still bring beauty and contribute so much to the world.”
“Mister Van Gogh” follows Mason’s well-received sophomore album,“King of Hearts,” and the 2018 debut LP, “Whateverland.” Endorsed by Gibson Guitars, he has opened for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts Cheap Trick, Joan Jett and Phil Collins.
The 17-city Starry Night Tour includes stops Sept. 14 at The Fire, Philadelphia; Sept. 17, Lucky 13, Brooklyn, and Sept. 18, Pianos, New York City, then continues down the coast to Baltimore, Raleigh, Savannah, and back home to Florida.
For more info, visit https://www.masonpacemusic.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.
EVENT PREVIEWS
WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach series presents Nicole Atkins on Thursday
(BRADLEY BEACH, NJ) -- WBJB's Songwriters on the Beach presents Nicole Atkins on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:00pm. Cory Blair will open the night. The free outdoor concert takes place at the Newark Avenue Beach in Bradley Beach.
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul to Headline Concert at ParkStage on July 17th
(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul will headline a concert at ParkStage on Friday, July 17, 2026 that fans of Jersey music will love. The lineup includes Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Jake Clemons Band, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Gary U.S. Bonds, and The Weeklings. Showtime is 4:00pm.
Scottish Rite Auditorium hosts An Evening with Patty Griffin & Kathleen Edwards
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- The Scottish Rite Auditorium hosts An Evening with Patty Griffin & Kathleen Edwards on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. The concert is presented by the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
LoMotion Live Presents America at 250: A Celebration in Song to Benefit Elks Army of Hope
(PARSIPPANY, NJ) -- LoMotion Live invites the community to an inspiring evening of music, storytelling, and patriotism with America at 250: A Celebration in Song, a special benefit cabaret on Friday, July 17, 2026 at the Parsippany Arts Center. Showtime is 7:30pm. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Elks Army of Hope, a charitable program dedicated to providing assistance to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families during times of need.
The Menzingers to Celebrate Album Release at Stone Pony on Friday
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Stone Pony presents The Menzingers' Album Release Show on Friday, July 17, 2026. The band will be celebrating the release of "Everything I Ever Saw". At this point, the Philadelphia punk legends are an absolute institution.
Grounds For Sculpture and Third Way Cultural Alliance to Present an Intimate Evening of Art and Music on July 18th
(HAMILTON, NJ) -- Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) and Third Way Cultural Alliance announce a special evening celebrating the power of creative freedom through music, art and conversation. "Creative Freedom: A Salon Experience featuring Marshall Allen, Salvador Jiménez-Flores and Jamaaladeen Tacuma," will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.
bergenPAC presents Swingtime Big Band on Saturday
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- New York's high-powered Swingtime Big Band returns to Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Saturday, July 18, 2026 to celebrate America250 by showcasing the popular music that kept Americans dancing for decades—from the Lindy and Fox Trot to the Cha Cha to the Twist! Showtime is 8:00pm.
DePue Brothers Band to Bring "Grassical" Music to Sewell
(SEWELL, NJ) -- Music at Bunker Hill welcomes the DePue Brothers Band on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00pm. In a departure from the series' customary chamber music fare, the DePue Brothers Band has long coined their music with the term "grassical," the combination of bluegrass with jazz, blues, rock, folk, and classical.
Albert Music Hall's "Back to Our Roots" Benefit on Sunday to Support Preservation of Pinelands Music History
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Albert Music Hall will present Back to Our Roots, a special fundraising concert on Sunday, July 19, 2026, inviting music lovers to enjoy an afternoon of live performances while helping preserve an important piece of New Jersey's musical heritage.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Heather Maloney & Hayley Reardon on Sunday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Heather Maloney & Hayley Reardon on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm.
FEATURED EVENTS
