New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Fantastic Cat Releases a Pair of Christmas Covers

originally published: 10/23/2024

It's never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, and this year, Rolling Stone's "supergroup-you-need-to-know" Fantastic Cat is kicking off the festivities by gifting us a pair of songs they didn't even bother to write: "Holiday Road" and "Feliz Navidad," out via Missing Piece Records.

The four instrument-swapping, cat-mask wearing, folk-rocking, singer-songwriters transformed Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” into a Yuletide masterpiece full of ringing sleigh bells and chiming piano. Now we know what you’re thinking: Lindsey Buckingham, who is she? Well, according to Wikipedia, he is the only artist to ever have a song in the soundtrack to National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985), National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation (1997), and National Lampoon’s Vacation (2015). Not too shabby.

As if that wasn’t enough (it wasn’t—the band checked and the label specifically told them they needed a second song), Fantastic Cat takes it up a notch with a riotous version of “Feliz Navidad,” performed with members of the Queens-based Mariachi Corazon De Mexico. Joyous and frenetic, the track offers up a festive, bilingual blend of Latin American holiday cheer and freewheeling garage-rock chaos that’s sure to be the perfect soundtrack as your office Christmas party goes completely off the rails.

"When Kesha released her cover of 'Holiday Road' last week, we thought, 'Great! We'll promote her version and she can promote ours,'" the band explains. "But no one from her team has gotten back, and we're beginning to think we have the wrong email address."

The holiday singles follow Fantastic Cat’s critically acclaimed sophomore album, Now That’s What I Call FantasticCat, which earned the band a return to national TV earlier this year with an appearance on CBS Saturday Morning. It also garnered praise everywhere from Rolling Stone, who called the record “gloriously fun” and a “breath of fresh air,” to The Village Voice, who dared to ask,“Is Fantastic Cat the Wu-Tang Clan of folk rock?” Most recently, the band was the subject of a feature in No Depression, while their track “So Glad You Made It,” featuring Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows was named one of the Top Songs of Summer 2024 by The Boston Globe.




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



Featuring four different instrument-swapping singer/songwriters who’ve appeared everywhere from NPR’s Tiny Desk and the New York Times to Bonnaroo and Cayamo, Fantastic Cat—lead singer Anthony D’Amato, lead singer Brian Dunne, lead singer Don DiLego, and lead singer Mike Montali—first came together in 2022 for their debut, The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat, which Rolling Stone dubbed “a wildly satisfying collection” and “equal doses of Dylan and Springsteen.”

Now pour yourself a glass of eggnog, throw some more chestnuts onto the fire, and enjoy Fantastic Cat’s “Holiday Road” and “Feliz Navidad.”



Fantastic Cat Tour Dates:

11/1 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center For The Arts

11/2 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony

12/11 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage

12/12 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live

12/13 – Northampton, MA – The Iron Horse

12/14 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House

1/26-31/25 – Miami, FL – The Rock Boat XXIV




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.


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - The Band, Music from Big Pink

Tuesday, January 06, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

New

New Jersey Symphony Presents Randall Goosby Returns

Thursday, January 08, 2026 @ 7:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

James

James Maddock

Friday, January 09, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concerts - Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, January 09, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Yellow

Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert

Friday, January 09, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

The

The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Crys Matthews

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Folk Music Society presents an evening of country, Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass music with award-winning troubadour Crys Matthews on Friday, January 16, 2026 at Christ Congregation Church. Showtime is 8:00pm.



Prudential

Prudential Center presents Rascal Flatts with Openers Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane

(NEWARK, NJ) -- On the heels of their sold-out return to touring this year, country music icons Rascal Flatts will hit the road again for their Life Is A Highway Tour in 2026, including a stop at the Prudential Center on Friday, January 30, 2026. The Live Nation-produced, 21-stop trek will bring "the harmonies and charisma that made them one of the biggest country groups" (American Songwriter) to fans nationwide. Fellow country stars Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane will continue to support the trio across this new run.



Music

Music Box at the Borgata presents Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 8:00pm. With his signature beard and African headgear, Gibbons is instantly recognizable and best known as the centerpiece of ZZ Top.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents Grammy Winner Avery Sunshine

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Avery Sunshine, an extraordinary singer known for her captivating music that resonates with audiences everywhere. Join in the celebration of Avery's GRAMMY® win on Friday, January 16, 2025, at 8:00pm as she performs in the Victoria Theater.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents a Spring Season of Jazz

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Spring Season of Jazz with free monthly jazz jams at Clement's Place and two special concert events inside the Victoria Theater. This series, running from September through June, is co-presented by NJPAC's Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers University–Newark's Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS). Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the players’ and listeners' minds.