New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Album of the Month: "Promises" by The Well Wish


By Bob Makin

originally published: 09/20/2023

I love the romance of Asbury Park-based The Well Wish. Two singer-songwriters, PJ Angeloni and Anya Schildge, become musical partners, fall in love, and also become life partners.

The Angelonis’ marriage permeates some of The Well Wish’s long-awaited EP, “Promises,” a five-song affair that is a follow-up to the three-song 2016 debut, “Of Heart and Mind,” and the 2019 stand-alone single, “Peace - Love - Truth.”

Each track on the new outing chronicles a promise of one kind or another, as well as the complicated intricacies of relationships. The poppy jangle ‘n’ mash of the opening “Here When You Call” is about the steadfast loyalty and trust required of any lasting relationship, especially a marriage.

The sweet, rootsy pickin’ of the soulful, driving title track builds into a surprising but energetic break up song about broken promises. A different direction than the opener allows The Well Wish to mix things up nicely.

An ocean allegory about the depth of true love, “Follow Me Down” has a beautiful haunting guitar akin to late Chris Isaak guitarist James Calvin Wilsey, but PJ’s take on “the King of Slow” features one of Anya’s best vocals.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



The obsession chronicled in the unrequited girl group nod “Everywhere I Go” and the Sarah McLachlan-like closer “Nothing But a Lover” close out the all-too-brief collection, every track of which deserves as much adult contemporary and adult album alternative airplay as possible. I especially like Anya’s Roy Bittanesque piano run that ends the EP.

Joining the creative and seemingly happy couple on “Promises” is another Asbury husband-and-wife team: backing vocalist Sarah Berardi and drummer-percussionist Rich Berardi. Rich stands out most on the rhythmic feast of “Everywhere I Go,” while Sarah’s strong harmonies makes Anya’s delightful lead vocals even more impressive. Helping to hold down the rhythm throughout is bassist Prash Singh.

Recorded and mixed at Retromedia Sound Studios in Red Bank by Adam Vaccarelli (The Successful Failures, The Ribeye Brothers) and mastered at Daughterboard Audio by Elaine Rasnake, an acclaimed singer-songwriter in her own right, “Promises” can be heard live at two tasty gigs. On Sept. 30, The Well Wish will play Asbury Park Porchfest at 3 p.m. at 830 Dunlewy St. Donations collected at Porchfest will benefit Mercy Center, a nonprofit guided by the social justice tradition of the Catholic women’s organization Sisters of Mercy to alleviate generational poverty in the Greater Asbury Park area with services, programs and education, and Asbury Park African-American Music Project, a volunteer-run, community-driven project that celebrates the stories of Springwood Avenue through historical research and interviews, educational outreach, and public events.

The Well Wish also can be enjoyed 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at Transparent Clinch Gallery, also Asbury Park. For more about the quintet/duo, visit https://www.thewellwish.com.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at makinwaves64@yahoo.



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.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Oldies

Oldies but Goodies Mother’s Day Concert Benefiting Families in Greater Union County

Sunday, May 11, 2025 @ 5:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Knuffle

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical (Sensory Friendly Performance)

Sunday, May 11, 2025 @ 2:00pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: music


 

Béla

Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Coyote

Coyote Jack Band with Opener: The Pettis

Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Donna

Donna McKechnie: Take Me to the World The Songs of Stephen Sondheim

Friday, May 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

2025

2025 Princeton Festival's Open Weekend - ICONS: The Voices That Changed Music, Renée Fleming, and Melissa Errico

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is set to launch its 2025 Princeton Festival with performances spotlighting beloved superstars of popular music, opera, and Broadway. New Jersey's premier performing arts festival, the Princeton Festival opens Friday, June 6 with ICONS: The Voices that Changed Music followed by Renée Fleming with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, June 7, and Sondheim in the City with Melissa Errico on Sunday, June 8. All three performances take place in the grand performance pavilion on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.



Under

Under Cover Music Fest to Take Place May 31st in South Orange

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Downtown presents its signature event, Under Cover Music Fest, on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm.  The event takes place at the Sloan Street Parking Lot (12 Sloan Street). It features eight cover bands, a beer garden, and food vendors. Admission is free.



Grunin

Grunin Center presents Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon with vibraphonist Behn Gillece and guitarist Brian Betz

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts will welcome vibraphonist Behn Gillece and guitarist Brian Betz to the Prima Studio Theatre for Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 3:00pm. The Grunin Center is located on the main campus of Ocean County College in Toms River.



Newton

Newton Theatre presents An Evening with Joanne Shaw Taylor

(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents An Evening with Joanne Shaw Taylor on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 8:00pm.



The

The Who Announce Shows in NJ, NY, PA for The Song is Over North America Farewell Tour

One of the greatest bands in rock history, The Who, have announced their bittersweet final tour of the US and Canada as a truly grand finale of their illustrious six-decade career. Fans will have several opportunities in the tri-state area to see the band one last time. Local shows include August 19th at Prudential Center in Newark, August 21st at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, August 23rd at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and August 30th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.