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.


Béla

Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Coyote

Coyote Jack Band with Opener: The Pettis

Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Donna

Donna McKechnie: Take Me to the World The Songs of Stephen Sondheim

Friday, May 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: music


 

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Gaines

Friday, May 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Eaglemania

Eaglemania

Friday, May 16, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008
category: music


 



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





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Steampunk

Steampunk Alchemy Fest Returns to Morris County in June

(BUDD LAKE, NJ) -- Steampunk Alchemy Fest returns June 6-8, 2025 to Budd Lake for its fourth year of celebrating the creativity and innovation of steampunk culture. Steampunk Alchemy Fest, which will be held on the spacious outdoor grounds of Vasa Park (1 Vasa Drive), combines the steam-powered Victorian Era energy of the classic science fiction genre with unique activities and entertainment.



Albert

Albert Music Hall presents the Made in Memphis Show

(WARETOWN, NJ) -- On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Albert Music Hall will present a special "Made in Memphis" show celebrating the rich musical legacy of Memphis. Building on the success of last year's Elvis Show, this year's event expands its focus to honor a broader range of artists who helped shape American music.



2025

2025 Princeton Festival's Opening Weekend - ICONS: The Voices That Changed Music, Renée Fleming, and Melissa Errico

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is set to launch its 2025 Princeton Festival with performances spotlighting beloved superstars of popular music, opera, and Broadway. New Jersey's premier performing arts festival, the Princeton Festival opens Friday, June 6 with ICONS: The Voices that Changed Music followed by Renée Fleming with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, June 7, and Sondheim in the City with Melissa Errico on Sunday, June 8. All three performances take place in the grand performance pavilion on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.



Under

Under Cover Music Fest to Take Place May 31st in South Orange

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Downtown presents its signature event, Under Cover Music Fest, on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm.  The event takes place at the Sloan Street Parking Lot (12 Sloan Street). It features eight cover bands, a beer garden, and food vendors. Admission is free.



Grunin

Grunin Center presents Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon with vibraphonist Behn Gillece and guitarist Brian Betz

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts will welcome vibraphonist Behn Gillece and guitarist Brian Betz to the Prima Studio Theatre for Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 3:00pm. The Grunin Center is located on the main campus of Ocean County College in Toms River.