New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Rolling Away" by Jake Thistle


By Bob Makin

originally published: 08/23/2024

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Rolling Away” from Asbury Park singer-songwriter Jake Thistle’s new “Live From The Transparent Clinch Gallery” album. Also pictured at right is the LP’s producer-guitarist Gordon Brown of Williams Honor acclaim.  PHOTO BY JOEY “JO3YDONUTZ” CARIDE

Based on personal experience, no good deed goes unpunished. Yet, Asbury Park singer-songwriter Jake Thistle proves that theory completely wrong.

Helping to raise more than $100,000 for a variety of local charities, the 20-year-old Jackson Browne-inspired boardwalk bard is makin some serious waves.

On the eve of a Northeast mini tour with UK counterpart St. Lundi, Jake released his third album, “Live from the Transparent Clinch Gallery,” then immediately followed that tour with 90.5 the Night’s Songwriters on the Beach alongside Texas songwriter Rhett Miller.

Jake is just rolling away with opportunity and accomplishment, so the Makin Waves Song of the Week fittingly is “Rolling Away” from the “Transparent” live outing.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Rolling Away” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 23, 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 live album was produced by longtime Asbury scenester Gordon Brown, who also serves as Jake’s David Lindley with some really sweet slide and steel playing.

Like its studio predecessor, “The Half Left Out,” “Live from Transparent” was released by Gold’N Retriever Records, the indie of veteran major label exec Joe Riccitelli. The live LP features all seven tracks from “The Half Left Out,”    including “Rolling Away”; “Lines on the Road” from his 2021 debut “Down the Line”; four unreleased tracks — “Better that Way (The Loser),” “I Fly Low,” “Half Beats Nothing,” and “Silver Bullet Sky” — and a cover of Don Henley’s “Heart of the Matter” featuring Gordon’s Williams Honor band mate Reagan Richards.

“Playing live is such a major part of my life, so getting to share a bit of that experience on this record is incredibly important to me, especially at such a legendary and unique place as The Transparent Clinch Gallery,” Jake said. “I'm thrilled to take these songs with me on the road!"

See Jake live Aug. 28 at Light of Day Songwriters Circle at Parker Press Park in Woodbridge with James Maddock, Miss Emily, Danielia Cotton, and Joe D’Urso; Sept. 1, Woodbridge High School Concert Field with his Jackson Browne tribute band Late for the Sky; Sept. 21, Mitchell Farm Music Festival, Salem, CT, with Late for the Sky; Sept. 29, Cliffwood Garden, Metuchen; Oct. 4, Avenel Performing Arts Center, in a tribute to John Prine with Joe D’Urso & Friends; Oct. 10 to 12 at Tom Petty Weekend at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, FL; Nov. 16, Jersey Shore Arts Center, Ocean Grove, with Brian Dunne; Dec. 7, Ringside, Caldwell, and Dec. 8, Luka’s, Bogota, with Jon Herrington, Tony Garnier, Anton Fig, Jonny Rosch, Mark Whitfield, and Leslie Mendelson.

For more about Jake, visit https://jakethistle.com.

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



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.



Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



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.


Choral

Choral Concert

Sunday, December 07, 2025 @ 4:00pm
Kean Stage - Enlow Recital Hall
215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205
category: music


 

Cherish

Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 07, 2025 @ 3:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Choir!

Choir! Choir! Choir!

Tuesday, December 09, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Engelbert

Engelbert Humperdinck “A Winter World of Love”

Tuesday, December 09, 2025 @ 7:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Engelbert

Engelbert Humperdinck “A Winter World of Love”

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Gregory

Gregory Burrus Productions Presents Singer, Actress and Broadway Personality Tina Fabrique at Mt Zion AME Church Blues and Blessings

(MILLBURN, NJ) -- On Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 11:30am – 1:30pm) Mt. Zion AME Church will come alive with music, faith, and community as acclaimed singer, actress, and TV personality Tina Fabrique headlines First Sunday Blues and Blessings. Led by Rev. Eyesha Marable and curated by Gregory Burrus Productions, this unique gathering blends the power of gospel-inspired music with the warmth of fellowship, offering audiences a soulful Sunday experience unlike any other.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Six-Time Tony Award (R) Winner Audra McDonald on May 3rd

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald will play a one-night-only concert at bergenPAC (Bergen Performing Arts Center) on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 7:00pm.



New

New Jersey Symphony returns with its holiday tradition: Handel's Messiah

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- New Jersey Symphony will present three performances of George Frideric Handel's Messiah. The Symphony will perform all three parts of the oratorio. The performances will take place Friday, December 19, 2025 at 7:30pm and Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 7:30pm at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton; and Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 7:00pm at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents Kenny G - The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour 2025

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Kenny G's The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour 2025 on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:30pm. Selling over 75 million records worldwide, the King of Smooth Jazz, Kenny G, is bringing his Christmas show to STNJ.



Christian

Christian McBride Has Two Week Residency at Village Vanguard

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Nine-time GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride has a two-week residency from December 2nd to Sunday, December 14 with show times at 8:00pm & 10:00pm at Village Vanguard located at 178 7th Avenue in New York City.