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.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



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




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky


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.


Paul

Paul Anka

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

The

The Concert: Tribute To ABBA

Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Susan

Susan Werner

Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Shemekia

Shemekia Copeland

Friday, April 17, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Chris

Chris Mitchell: Begging For Sax Tour

Friday, April 17, 2026 @ 8:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 



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





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Grunin

Grunin Center for the Arts presents The Brit Pack on Saturday

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Grunin Center for the Arts presents The Brit Pack on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. They are the most authentic British Invasion experience this  side of the Atlantic.  Limited tickets remain.



Raul

Raul Midón Takes the Stage at the Grunin Center's Prima Theatre on May 16th

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts welcomes Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Raul Midón to the Gia Maione Prima Foundation Studio Theatre on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $35.



Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Alastair Green on April 30th

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Alastair Greene on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:30pm. A native of Santa Barbara,California and now residing in Austin, Greene has ridden his Blues-soaked rock into the 21st century, traversing a constantly changing global (and musical) landscape.



Acclaimed

Acclaimed Organist Chelsea Chen to Perform Solo Recital Concert at Christ Church in Short Hills on May 3rd

(SHORT HILLS, NJ) -- Christ Church in Short Hills will present a solo concert recital by internationally acclaimed organist, Chelsea Chen, on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 4:00pm. The special concert will feature a selection of traditional organ compositions along with contemporary music.



Benson

Benson Boone to Perform at Prudential Center on July 13th

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Benson Boone brings his 2026 U.S. Wanted Man Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. Last year, Boone received his first GRAMMY® nomination for Best New Artist at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, where Boone delivered a show-stopping performance of his breakthrough smash "Beautiful Things."