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
Good Damage to perform at House of Independents on July 15th
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- New Jersey alt rock/pop-punk band Good Damage will return to the House of Independents on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 supporting American Vanity and Faded 2 Gray. This will be the band's third time playing the venue. Doors are at 7:00pm, music starts at 8:00pm.
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.
FEATURED EVENTS
