By Bob Makin
originally published: 07/19/2024
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Kerosene Mountain,” from the new Mint 400 Records split EP, “Chansons de lune,” by Son of Dov and Renee Maskin.
Mint 400 Records label mates Son of Dov and Renee Maskin have a great mutual artistic admiration that has spawned the fantastic new split EP, “Chansons de lune.”
The four-song outing features two songs written by each artist, but they perform together on all four. The crafty colab includes Son of Dov’s “Kerosene Mountain,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week, which was inspired by and features a duet with Renee.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Kerosene Mountain” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on July 19 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
“When I first saw Renee play in a tiny Central Jersey coffee shop, I was all in,” said Son of Dov, aka Dennis King. “A special voice with riveting songs I could connect with. Fast forward a few more years or so, and we've become friends with a passion for writing songs. I think it was Renee who said we should do something together. I was so motivated by the prospect that I spent some time looking over her photos by John Decker and started strumming the verse for ‘Kerosene Mountain.’ Two days later, I sent her the finished song rough, and she was down. Soon enough, we began working on the full project.
“‘Kerosene Mountain’ means nothing and everything to me,” he continued. “I feel safe writing with analogies and metaphors. The supernatural world and natural world motivates me.”
Named by Renee and translated from French as “Songs of the Moon,” the EP also features Renee’s “Jacques Cousteau,” a twangy but ethereal tribute to oceanography and at long last love, and the surging “Jungle Green,” and Son of Dov’s sad pine “Wild Winds,” featuring pedal steel guitarist Joe Palmisano, the only other musician on “Chansons de lune.”
While the multi-instrumentalists likely won’t play as many instruments as they do on the EP, Son of Dov and Renee can be seen live Aug. 10 at Factory Records with Part-Time Custodian.
Son of Dov also will play Sept. 28, Asbury Park Porch Festival; Oct. 20, Edenville General Store, Warwick, NY, and Oct. 25, The Sanctuary, Butler, with Tom Barrett.
Renee also will play July 18, Salvation, the rooftop bar of The Asbury hotel in Asbury Park; July 19, The Paseo, Rahway, as part of the city’s Summer Music Series; July 20, Bread & Roses Film Fest Fundraiser, Art 629, also Asbury, with Martin Howth; Aug. 16, Long Play Cage, Pittsburgh, with Morgan Erina and Casey Catone; Aug. 18, Edenville General Store; Aug. 23, Sweet Side Records, Glens Falls, NY, with TJ Foster and James Mullen; Aug. 24, Cafe Improv, Princeton; Sept. 24, Art in All Dimensions festival, Rahway; Sept. 26, Pet Shop, Jersey City, and Oct. 19, Elephant Talk Indie Festival, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Atlantic City.
For more about Mint 400 Records, visit https://www.mint400records.com. Click https://sonofdov.com/home for more about Son of Dov. And Renee can be found online at https://www.reneemaskin.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
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.
New Jersey Symphony to Make Rowan's Marie Rader Series Debut with "Life & Liberty" on July 22nd
(GLASSBORO, NJ) -- The Marie Rader Series will launch its 2026-27 season, entitled "Life & Liberty," with the New Jersey Symphony's Rowan University debut. On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players featuring Rowan University Strings Faculty & Alumni will perform at Pfleeger Concert Hall. Showtime is 7:00pm.
The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Blues For Greeny and the music of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Blues For Greeny - The Music of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Dude Cervantes & The Panchos will open the night. Doors are at 7:00pm, music starts at 7:30pm.
Shinedown to Play Shows in Newark and Philly in July
(NEWARK, NJ) -- One of the biggest bands in the world, Shinedown, will be releasing their brand new studio album EI8HT on May 29, 2026 (via Atlantic Records) and released the new song "Outlaw." In addition, they announced their massive Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour, taking the band to 11 countries across 54 dates, including local stops at Prudential Center in Newark on Tuesday, July 21st and Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 23rd.
Middletown Arts Center presents Reina Williams + The Remedy
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents a concert featuring Reina Williams + The Remedy on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Special guest performers Renee Maskin and Patrick Bamburak will open the show. Enjoy an evening of original music spanning reggae, hip-hop, soul, folk, Americana, and indie rock from some of New Jersey's most talented musicians. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Harmonium Choral Society presents "I Dreamed Last Night" on July 23rd
(MADISON, NJ) -- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Harmonium Choral Society presents I Dreamed Last Night. Directed by Lennie Watts with music direction by John Fischer, I Dreamed Last Night is a one woman show with Gloria Bangiola. There are songs and stories about dreams, hopes, wishes, ambitions, fantasies, nightmares, impossibilities and that big ol' American one we are all still working to make real. Showtime is 7:00pm.
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