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.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



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




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here


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.


Matthew

Matthew Morrison: Rhythms & Revelations

Sunday, March 01, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Kate Bush, Hounds of Love

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Bean

Bean an tí

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Lyle

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt – Together on Stage

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Brit

Brit Floyd

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 



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





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Outpost

Outpost in the Burbs presents Josh Joplin and Jeffrey Gaines on March 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Josh Joplin and Jeffrey Gaines in a co-headlining show on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church of Montclair. Showtime is 8:00pm.



Princeton

Princeton Symphony Orchestra presents International Award-Winning Erinys Quartet at Trinity Church

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents the Erinys Quartet on its Chamber Series at Trinity on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 7:00pm. Earlier this season, the ensemble won the 13th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway.



Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: ELO Lives On with The Orchestra's Blue Skies Forever Tour

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Troyer and Dave Scott-Morgan of The Orchestra. This may be one of my favorite chats because I felt like a fly on the wall watching two very talented friends catch up. A somewhat talkative fly, but a fly nonetheless.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents Diana Krall on March 20th

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Diana Krall – Tour 2026 on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:00pm. Diana's unique artistry transcends any single musical style and has made her one of the most recognizable artists of our time. As The New York Times recently noted, Krall possesses "A voice at once cool and sultry, wielded with a rhythmic sophistication."



Blues

Blues Traveler Expands 2026 Tour

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Multi-platinum rock band Blues Traveler are expanding their 2026 touring slate with a new run of headline dates, adding to a banner year that features festival appearances like Bonnaroo and a continuation of their iconic annual Fourth of July show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre — where this year they'll be joined by special guests Better Than Ezra and The Record Company. Collectively, these performances reaffirm the band's enduring dominance as a formidable force on the live music circuit. The tour comes to Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and New York City in August.