The Holy Goats bring back the essential ingredients of rock and serve them up with a straight shot of blues. With soul-driven vocals and harmonies added to raw riff rockin' guitars, The Holy Goats kick Power Blues Rock into overdrive, taking retro rock to the next level. Described by media as “Crowes meets Zep,”
The Goats have opened for such national acts as Paul Rodgers, Foghat, Peter Frampton, The Outlaws, Marshall Tucker, Little Feat, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm, Jorma Kaukonen, David Johansen and Gary US Bonds. The Goats receive airplay from commercial radio and college stations and have received critical acclaim from radio, press and media in the US and Europe.
Radio and press named the Goats among the top rock bands in NY, NJ, PA metro area. "Consistently named Top Rock Band in the tri-state area," writes Al Muzer in the Aquarian Magazine. Both the Stone Pony Asbury Music Awards and The Home News nominated "The Holy Goats" debut release as a "Top Rock Release."
The Hawk (105.7FM) selected the Goats to open up the last 3 year for their "Wingstock Concert Series" featuring Paul Rodgers, Foghat, Little Feat & Marshall Tucker at First Energy Park, NJ. The Hawk also selects the Goats to headline their premiere entire broadcasted concert series “Live at the Stone Pony” featuring The Holy Goats.
WDHA (105.5FM Greater Media) radio selected The Goats twice for the station's best NJ band. WDHA has also picked the Goats to headline at their festival shows and "Rock & Ride" motorcycle fests.
The Holy Goats have been selected three years straight to be featured by WZZO (95.1FM Clear Channel) radio in Allentown, PA. Station showcases included the Bethlehem Musikfest, the Greater Allentown Fair and WZZO's May Fair Fests. WZZO also selected the Holy Goats as best "ZZO Band."
The Goats are putting the finishing touches on their follow up release. The Goats' 2009 tour will include many special events, fairs, and motorcycle fests.
For more info plus new upcoming CD song clips please visit:
www.myspace.com/theholygoats for upcoming NEW SONG CLIPS, detailed press, photos, etc....
e-mail at theholygoats@comcast.net
........READ WHAT CRITICS SAY ABOUT THE GOATS............
“Shades of Humble Pie, Bad Co., Crowes and the Stones color the hard-rockin' boogie-blues delivery of guitarist/vocalist/bandleader and Chris Robinson-esque (Black Crowes) frontman Todd McCullough. Raunch rawk riffs, gut bucket vocals, great stage command, solid songwriting, soaring leads and a super tight low-end. Consistently named top rock band in the tri-state area." - Al Muzer’s Quick Cuts, The Aquarian Magazine.
“The American quartet have produced a blues rock debut and have forged them into a strong set of songs, over which those who aspire to be the Blackest of Crowes would cast an envious eye. "On Your Knees" has a sass and good infectious riff, and the harder-edged "Nothing To Lose" showcases Todd McCullough's whiskey-soaked vocals well. Solid retro songs, well played." - Steve Swift- Power Play Magazine, England.
"Has a smoky, slinky groove to it, and might have you thinking of the Black Crowes and the familiarity of '70s rock, a mix of acid rock, southern rock, and Texas blues hits home, the kind of sound that sticks with you for a long time. – Bill Ribas, NY Street Review.
“This New Jersey-based quintet brings back that hard driving blues-rock sound in a big way. This disc boast(s) thick slabs of smoky, rootsy romp and stomp rock ‘n’ roll… bursting with tasty guitar licks, rollicking bass lines, and throaty vocals, encompassing retro rock to the hilt. The Holy Goats bring the bell-bottom blues of Humble Pie and The Faces back to the forefront.” - Mike SOS, Skratch Magazine, NYC
“ The Holy Goats take you on a trip back in time when good old fashion rock-n-roll ruled the airways. When the singers had soul and the rhythm section was tight but still walked with a groove. When the guitar players played more than just chords, they were LEAD instruments. All hail The Holy Goats! Bill Rowen, The Rocker Magazine CA
Amazing Debut!
How this amazing debut release from The Holy Goats got overlooked just blows me away! Blending rich and soulful vocals, impressive blues-inspired guitar riffs and solos, a tight rhythm section, and a 12 pack of great songs, that will get your rock n roll juices flowing in no time flat! This is a rock n roll band whose music must be heard . Sounding like the second coming of Bad Company with a dash of Zeppelin and Grand Funk,
The Holy Goats prove to be worthy of comparisons. Serving up great rockers, soon to be classics, like “On Your Knees” “Presence of Mind” “Nothing to Lose” “Rock n Roll”.
The Holy Goats are the type of rock n roll band you’d go see and there would be nothing fancy, just a bunch of guys in t-shirts with some Marshalls and their instruments, they’d plug in and they’d blow you away! If you love listening to good ol’ rock n roll with attitude and want to tap the steering wheel harder on the way home, The Holy Goats are just what the doctor ordered. I for one am dying to hear what the band comes up with next. Tony Sison, All Access Magazine, DRP, Atomic Chaser
GOAT ROCKIN' BLUES -
The Goats bring their "Crowes meets Zep" sound to rock the Clearwater Fest. Chris Barry, Aquarian Magazine
HAIL THE HOLY GOATS! - "The Holy Goats, fans of classic blues and blues-rock remain ever hopeful about a revival in popularity of the forms. Listening to the Holy Goats' debut CD, the songs are about loves won and lost, to be sure a blues theme, but the music is also punctuated by high energy dueling guitar solos, energetic bursts of drums and throbbing bass, and great vocal and harmony singing. Every track on the album is a winner. Their success is due to fans seeking a return to a more traditional blues-rock sound that hearkens back to the great blues-rock bands of the 1970s like Humble Pie, Foghat, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company and other Brits who brought the emotion and excitement of blues back to largely white American audiences in a modified format, often called blues-rock." - U.S. 1 News by Richard Skelly
A cross between Humble Pie, the Rolling Stones and Blue Cheer, The Holy Goats will appeal to fans of the Black Crowes. As far as vocals, harmony, lyric writing and lead guitar playing go, they're better than the Crowes. - The Courier News - Bob Makin
"Sacrifice The Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Aerosmith, Bad Company and the Black Crowes into a blender and the zesty result will be The Holy Goats. Yet, their sound is original and their fire and enthusiasm take the classic rock sound to the next level. This band from central New Jersey are committed musicians who play a great brand of power-rock blues. Their music is a mix of soulful vocals, powerful percussions, raw vigorous guitars and heavy bass lines that are part of their trademark sound.
The self-titled debut is a twelve-song collection of roots rock, lusty playing and raw forceful blues. The CD opens with 'On Your Knees' with its strong bass lines, funky groove, scorching guitars and deep moving vocals by singer/songwriter McCullough. This fluid song is followed by 'Presence of Mind' another heartfelt soundscape complete with impressive jams. 'Satisfied' is filled with smoldering dynamic guitar chords, high voltage beats, kick-ass keys and expressive vocals. 'Satisfied' is fulfilling and just one of many top-notch tracks. A smoldering bluesy cover of the 'Stray Cat Blues' follows it. The Holy Goats are a rock and roll revival filled with revelry and high-octane music!." - Laura Turner Lynch, Kweevak’s Music Portal
"If your style leans toward southern rock, a New Jersey band is about to hit the UK that will suit your taste. “If you put The Holy Goats CD on, what you'll hear is rock and roll with a straight shot of blues. Raw, riffing guitars that will make you smell the tubes burning from the amps. Vocals that pour rock and soul into your ears and melt in your heart." That's how band visionary Todd McCullough describes the music of The Holy Goats, and it's an accurate description of one of the areas most in-your-face, straightforward guitar rock bands. The group has been a mainstay in the New York, New Jersey music scene in recent years. Radio station WDHA has selected them for their "Homegrown Spotlight" showcase the last few years, and they have also featured by WZZO at the station's showcase at the Bethlehem Musikfest and at the Greater Allentown Fairs." - Power Play Magazine, UK Stateside Cuts, Hal B. Selzer
"After checking out the various displays and talking with interesting people, we settled in our chairs to catch The Holy Goats at the main stage. Right from the first note The Goats were smoking with dueling guitars, distinct heavy rhythms and discernable percussion. The Holy Goats have one powerful male vocalist and a backing female singer. They have a strong stage presence and are first-rate musicians. The Holy Goats played an energized set of songs from their debut album and forthcoming new CD that is due out this year." -Clearwater Music Festival Review, Kweevak’s Music Portal Rich and Laura Lynch
"The debut album of the American band, The Holy Goats, surely represents one of the most pleasant surprises when talking about a band’s first release. The basic style of this band is rock with roots in the 70’s, in the tradition of bands like Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Bad Company, the Faces, the Rolling Stones, etc. This retro attitude has an improved, modern production, and not for one moment could it be said that the band’s music is passé. The Holy Goats have a natural, direct and assured way with their material, which is based in rock and blues, with slight soul variations. The Holy Goats are band with big possibilities and respectable quality. Their album has consistent material, and there is not a weak moment. The Holy Goats are a band to be reckoned with in the future." - Branimir Lokner, Rock Express Magazine
"The Holy Goats are from New Jersey, but after listening to their southern-fried, blues based, classic rock, you'd swear they were from the south. Their website says their sound is a blend of their influences the Stones, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Humble Pie and Bad Company and they're not lying. The group features biting, solid guitar riffs and tightly constructed songs that maintain energy throughout. But you also hear shades of the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd in the twang-tinged guitar riffs and the upbeat vocals of Todd McCullough (guitar, harmonica)." - Ted Power, Demorama
BOLTING FROM THE HERD
Review from: The East Coast Rocker & Aquarian Weekly
Reviewer: Chris Barry
The Somerset-spawned Holy Goats got it together in 1999 to play the edgy kind of roots-rock and roll they wanted to hear but couldn't find anywhere else on the local scene. Indeed, this band isn't peddling any "flavor of the moment" or riding musical bandwagon #9; but instead are fueled by power blues vocals that are just to edgy to be called "blues rock" and too purely song-oriented to be lamely tagged as a "jam band".
All the Goats' songs are written by lead singer Todd McCullough, who also plays rhythm guitar, blues harp and a few well-chosen leads. Deek Mason plays lead guitar and backing vocals, with Steve Crawley on drums, while vocal harmonies and bass come from Michelle Eckert.
The band recently released their first self titled 12-song CD on the Goats' Frontal Groovity Records and most tunes on the disc clock in at a radio-friendly three or four minutes. Halfway through, I was singing along to the crunching bluesfunk lowdown of "If I Could Speak My Mind," while the Allmans meet Uncle Tupelo tang of "Keep It Rollin"' got things jumping with the singer's rousing "life goes on" credo backed by a hooky "Keep It Rollin'" chorus.
And you know you've got the blues when you ain't got "Nothing To Lose," a pick cut that puts classic generic blues riffing into a coolly primed pop tune. A snug fit. But I became a true convert to the Goats' catechism with the band's cover of the Stones' old "Stray Cat Blues," a bolder, more boogie-spined effort that adds a whole new riffing subtext to the Jagger-snarled ode to jailbait groupies.
The pure dynamics of frontman Todd's vocals shine on the downbeat uplift of the conga/acoustic drifting "I'm Still Missing You." Overall, the guitars also shine throughout the vocal mix. This is an impressive first effort, and shows off the craft and talent of a seriously focused band who didn't run into the studio the first time they felt a kinetic riff together.
GREAT YEAR FROM MUSIC
Review from: Home News Tribune
Reviewer: Chris Jordan, On the Road
Musical people from Central Jersey were very busy. Jaheim, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Midtown all released albums for major labels in the past year. . .
Unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on your point of veiw -- most musicians aren't on a major label. Below is the ON THE GO TOP-10 picks from among local releases:
THE HOLY GOATS, "The Holy Goats" -- Real rawk with strong melodic lines and a smart, retro edge form this Somerset band.
:WHO'S IN THE GOAT HERD:
The Holy Goats are an original band with songs written by lead singer, Todd McCullough. Besides songwriting and luminous rock'n'soul vocals, Todd contributes rhythm guitar, harp and a few well-chosen guitar leads.
Pete Scott's lead guitar sears with urgency and inspiration.
Glenn Sorino delivers high-powered drums,along with Bob Willow's bass help to kick the Goats'into their groove.
Daphna Elroy add rich soulful harmonies giving the Goats their hard driving blues rock sound.
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