The Holy Goats by The Holy Goats

WZZO also picked the Goats for their best "Back Yard Bands" contest and showcase.

The Goats are hard at work in the studio w/Engineer Dave DiPietro finishing up on their follow up release which WILL be worth the wait! For more info including "The Holy Goats" debut CD, reviews, photo's, song clips & more, visit www.theholygoats.com

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. Deek Mason's lead guitar sears with urgency and inspiration. Seve Crawley delivers high-powered drums. Kevin Fenlon's bass kicks the Goats'into their groove.

The Holy Goats can be visited on the web at: www.theholygoats.com e-mail at theholygoats@patmedia.net

REVIEWS,REVIEWS,REVIEWS,REVIEWS,REVIEWS,REVIEWS,REVIEWS

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THE HOLY GOATS

NYC Skratch Magazine Review, , Mike SOS

If you close your eyes and listen to The Holy Goats eponymous release really close, you’d swear The Black Crowes were reunited. Alas, this is not the case, but what is true is that this New Jersey-based quintet brings back that hard driving blues-rock sound in a big way. The 12-tracks that adorn this disc boast thick slabs of smoky, rootsy romp and stomp rock ‘n’ roll, as tracks like “Satisfied” and “Clear” are 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

Review from: Rock Express Magazine

Reviewer: Branimir Lokner

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. In the 90's, fellow Americans, The Black Crowes, had a similar style and philosophy, and many comparisons could be drawn here.

The Holy Goats are based in rock and blues, with slight soul variations. Not for one moment could it be said that the band's music is passé.

The Holy Goats are band with big possibilities and respectable quality. Their album has consistant material, and there is not a weak moment. The Holy Goats are a band to be reckoned with in the future.

A Holy Goats Groove

Reviewer: Al Muzer, NJ Newsbeat-Aquarian Magazine

A churning [quintet] of Humble Pie-influenced Black Crowes-friendly blues rock, consistently named among the top rock bands in the tri-state area.

The Holy Goats

Power Play Magazine-UK “Power Plays” by Steve Swift

The Fist time I heard this album, I thought it had a real sence of cool. The American quartet have produced a very pleasant 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.

Power Play Magazine, UK Stateside Cuts, Hal B. Selzer

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.

Review from: The Courier News

Reviewer: - Bob Makin

A cross between Humble Pie, the Rolling Stones and Blue Cheer, The Holy Goats will appeal to fans of the sorely missed Black Crowes. As far as vocals, harmony, lyric writing and lead guitar playing go, they're better than the Crowes.

Quick Cuts

Review from: THE AQUARIAN / NJ Newsbeat

Reviewer: Al Muzer

12 Shades of Humble Pie, Foghat, Bad Company, Grand Funk, Robin Trower, Savoy Brown, the 'Stones (the 'Goats do a nice job on "Stray Cat Blues"), the Doobies and early Steve Miller color the hard-rockin', funk-fortified, 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, a super tight low end, make this a kegger band of your dreams.

THE HOLY GOATS - THE HOLY GOATS:

Review from: Kweevak

Reviewer: Laura Turner Lynch

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 five-piece 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 only female in the band, adds rich harmonies to Todd McCullough's soulful lead vocals.

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! Go to the Site...

Recommended Tracks: (1,2,7)

REVIEW FROM: Demorama

REVIEWER: Ted Power

THE HOLY GOATS

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 four-piece group features biting, solid guitar riffs and tightly constructed songs that maintain energy throughout. But you also hear shades of CCR, the Allmann Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd in the twang-tinged guitar riffs and the upbeat vocals of Todd McCullough (guitar, harmonica).

U.S. 1 News

by Richard Skelly

Hail! The Holy Goats-Holy Goats! It's real music!

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 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.

N.Y Rock Street Review

by Bill Ribas

The Holy Goats

The first number, "On Your Knees," begins with that funky, oft-played sharp ninth chord, which immediately brings to mind Hendrix. And sure enough, the song continues in that vein, so much so that you'll feel bands of gypsies whirling around your head. Following that is "Presence of Mind," which 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, Texas blues, and just a dash of hippy sentimentality like CSNY, hits home. This is rock and roll that fits like a pair of old blue jeans, comfortable, the kind of sound that sticks with you for a long time.

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 in 2003. 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 2003 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.

Average Customer Review: