The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Crash” from Kanak’s Ed Stasium-produced EP, “On the Outside.” PHOTO  BY STEPHANIE KANACH

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Tom Kanach is a Jersey Shore veteran of such all-time great local bands as Mischief and Well of Souls.

Yet, despite that success, the Middletown-raised rocker never had performed in California before. Well, that recently changed when his latest band, Kanak, played shows at The Viper Room in L.A. and Derby’s Bar & Grill in Hemet at the end of last month. Not only did they play those tasty gigs, but they also nabbed Cali airplay for “Crash,” the latest single off their Ed Stasium-produced EP, “On the Outside,” and the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Crash” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 7 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.

The band had recorded, “On the Outside,” at Ed’s studio near San Diego, but Tom was really excited to make his long-awaited live debut on Cali stages.

“We had an amazing show at the legendary Viper Room for Matt Pinfield’s birthday,” Tom said. “It was awesome! We loved playing there, and it was my first time playing in California, so I was really excited. And then we played in Hemet at Derby’s Bar & Grill. And we closed the show with our latest single, ‘Crash,’ which is a really great song that I love to play. It has a really good groove, and I really like the theme of it. The theme is about somebody who is afraid that they are going to spiral out of control, and they’re trying to fight their demons.”

In addition to being the birthday boy at the Viper Room, the great Jersey-raised DJ & TV personality Matt Pinfield served as executive producer of “On the Outside.” His support has been invaluable to the band.

Kanak — also bassist Joey Rowley, drummer Steve Brown and guitarists Pete Wood and Johnny Rao — next will perform in Jersey on June 21 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park with Vakili Band and Jem recording act The Cynz.

For more about Kanak, visit https://www.kanakmusic.com.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].