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Makin Waves Song of the Year: “Even Now” by Alexander Simone & the WHODAT? Live Crew

By Bob Makin

originally published: 12/23/2022

Asbury Park-based Alexander Simone & the WHODAT? Live Crew are the winners of the Makin Waves Song of the Year with the Joe Pomarico-produced “Even Now” on Telegraph Hill Records. Alexander & Crew are pictured at the Wonder Bar, where they’ll return Dec. 30 for Telegraph’s annual What a Wonderful World Music Festival. PHOTO BY DOUG DRESHER

Since it dropped in early February on Telegraph Hill Records, Alexander Simone & the WHODAT? Live Crew’s soulful anthem “Even Now” has topped songs released by independent Jersey artists in 2022.

In an encore Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Even Now” also is the Makin Waves Song of the Year.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Year, “Even Now” also can be heard between 6:00pm and 8:00pm on Dec. 23 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.

“Even Now” is an absolutely stunning track about God’s mysterious love, which remains abundant even though we don’t deserve it. Believing that “even now God is with us” despite all our enraging, frustrating differences in the face of hopelessness, Alex produced the gospel-enriched track with Joe Pomarico, an Atlantic Records senior engineer-producer who owns Telegraph Hill, and WHODAT? guitarist Jules Drucker, who adds greatly to the song’s sacred vibe. 




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Another way to say “God with Us” is “Emmanuel,” and there’s no better time to say that than Christmastime! One of the most soul-stirring tunes I’ve heard come out of the New Jersey music scene throughout 42 years of covering it, “Even Now” can be heard live on Dec. 30 at the second night of Telegraph Hill’s annual What a Wonderful Year Music Festival at Asbury’s Wonder Bar, where King Ramses, The Foes of Fern, Pamela Flores, Dan Apy, Blaise, Karma Gambit and more will share the bill. 

For more about Alexander Simone & the WHODAT? Live Crew, click https://linktr.ee/Trulyasimone. 

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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EVENT PREVIEWS

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



Shemekia Copeland with special guest Peter Karp

Thursday, November 05, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Choir! Choir! Choir! Hallelujah”: An EPIC Anthems Sing-Along!

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
40 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ


Art Garfunkel: What a Wonderful World Celebration Concerts

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Always Jovi with special guest, Shot of Poison

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


Margarita Rovenskaya, piano

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Grunin Center - Bösendorfer Recital Room
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


 

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