The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Undertow” from “Breaking Through,” the 2025 debut album of Jersey Shore singer-songwriter-guitarist Redbird, aka Danielle Marrone. PHOTO BY CHRISSY MARRONE
Nestled, now rising from “Breaking Through,” the great 2025 debut album of REDBIRD, aka singer-songwriter-guitarist Danielle Marrone, “Undertow” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
The anthem of Asbury Park preservation groups and their supporters waxes historic to make its protective point.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Undertow” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.
“For decades Asbury Park has inspired generations of artists, poets, and musicians,” Danielle said. “Standing guard on either end of the boardwalk are the famed Convention Hall and the Casino/Carousel buildings. These buildings, a figurative holy trinity, for generations served as the backdrop and inspiration of countless photos, paintings and lyrics. They are true survivors! Beacons of days long gone by, a window to the past of the glory of what was and the promise of what can still be.
“That’s where ‘Undertow’ came from,” she continued. “It’s a postcard of my memories going to Asbury Park in the early ‘80s with my family, returning in the ‘90s to play places like the Pony and the Fast Lane. Then later watching the rebirth, but hoping they wouldn’t take ‘progress’ too far. I wrote the lyrics, and my buddy Dave Vargo wrote the music. If you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll notice these landmarks mentioned, from the Casino, right down to Tillie’s smile itself. It also speaks of the rebirth but with the warning of not forgetting where you’ve come from.”
In her spare time, Danielle is president of Pinelands Cultural & Historical Preservation Society and its Albert Music Hall.
Like most of “Breaking Through,” “Undertow” features her Albert Hall buddies Mick Chorba (bass, electric guitar) and Rob Martin (drums, percussion) of The Successful Failures at producer Mick’s FDR Studios in Chesterfield. The album was mastered by David Downham at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights.
Art and music have truly been the heart of Asbury Park, with the boardwalk’s historic buildings serving as the soul, Danielle said.
“Local Artist John Bass would set up in front of the casino and paint a masterpiece in 15 minutes,” she said. “A lucky spectator could then purchase it for 20 bucks. I am lucky to have two of his beautiful paintings. But this would never be allowed today, he would be told to move. I remember years ago, a fella with a battery-powered keyboard would sit near the casino and play for tips. Asbury, along with the rest of the Jersey Shore, used to be an oasis for families. An escape from reality. It’s fast becoming a playground for the rich.
“Tillie is now the unofficial mascot for Asbury Park, yet he sits in a dark container about half a mile from where he once stood on the Palace Amusements building,” Danielle continued. “We lost the Palace in 2004, now the Casino is in danger of demolition. Madison Marquette filed for a permit to demolish the ‘breezeway’ in January of 2026. The city released a statement saying that MM has breached its commitment and was looking into what legal steps could be taken. In the meantime due to public outcry and grass roots efforts, MM released a statement pledging to preserve and not demolish. Most folks are still leery of this and believe they will still look to demolish it. Let’s hope Asbury won’t give up its soul for dollar signs.”
“Undertow” echoes a wake-up call of a movement to get historic Asbury Park buildings protected.
“It’s so we don’t rob future generations of knowing their history,” Danielle said. “With every swipe of the wrecking ball, the City by the Sea loses a piece of its charm, the very soul that brought folks here to begin with.”
While the Carousel, the Casino, and Convention Hall are being preserved for now, the Asbury Park preservation movement should try to get the historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Danielle said.
You can singalong with “Undertow” when Danielle plays Feb. 13, Portside Bar, Port Monmouth; Feb. 16, Shore Wave Productions Original Artist Night also with Zeke Carey, Al Bazaz, and Pablo Schor, McCann’s Tavern, Lake Como; Feb, 21, John & Peter’s, New Hope, Pa.; Feb. 24, Caffrey’s, Forked River; Feb. 26, The Thirsty Piney, Lanoka Harbor; Feb. 27, Riverside Tavern, Beachwood, and Feb. 28, Needle Creek Farm Brewery, Pennington.
Listen to “Undertow” on Apple Music and Spotify.
I also suggest reading this fantastically informative article about Asbury Park’s historic preservation, among other complexities, by local attorney Thomas De Seno.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
