the holy ghost : rock 'n' roll

LIVE.

THE HOLY GHOST
live at MERCURY LOUNGE
THURSDAY, JUNE 8
9:30 PM SHARP
with
BARDO POND (10:30)
and
THE WINTER PAGEANT (8:30)
$10 advance/$12 at the door
tix available now

RECORD.

The Holy Ghost — "Welcome To Ignore Us"
released in the US by Clearly Records, 2005
released in Europe by Fargo Records, 2006

PRESS.

"Nervous, excited, but distinguished and singular. It should be hoped that the music of this crowned phantom does not remain one of the best kept secrets in American rock n' roll (grade: 9 out of 10)."
—Sefronia Magazine (France)

"The Holy Ghost is as if George Clinton had penetrated Jimmy Page from the backside."
—Froggy's Delight (France)

"WELCOME TO IGNORE US is thick, chewy, sexy rock and roll so down and dirty you'll have to take a shower afterwards. It's not just their paeans to sexual deviation ("Genghis Khan"), insurance fraud ("Chez Paree") or visiting Loser Street ("Graciana Ole") that make this grittily compelling. It's the mildly psychotic lyrics, the ZZ Top guitars, the heel-tapping hooks, the actual songcraft itself that makes you want to hear it again and again. Sleazy, blowzy, but still hot. They say it best themselves: "Downtown Seattle in a dress." Best thing I've heard in months."
—Hitch Magazine

"It's punk, dance, and some other conveniences: get into it. 'Commercial' isn't the name of this game, but it's the title of The Holy Ghost's contribution. Incessant but tuneful, it's a surefire hit first time through: boy vocals that wanna fight your face sliding sexily into girl vocals that wanna take you to bed just to rob your trouser pockets raw as they lie on the floor."
Drowned in Sound (UK)

"The Holy Ghost may well be the discovery of the year. The race is played in New York, between the untamed guitars of Television, the concentrated attitude of the Strokes and an irrepressible desire for dancing. The Holy Ghost excels in the jump of obstacle, thanks to the surprisingly flexible and muscular rhythm section, both rigorously rock n' roll and terribly funky. When the drummer and the bass player of The Holy Ghost are tired of rock n' roll, they should reconvert to making the music of pure dance. Christopher Dean Heine, the jockey-singer of the group, is a ball of nerves which makes rodeo on the songs without ever biting dust. Between post-punk, rhythm & blues (even horns), and rich power-pop personal melodies, The Holy Ghost puts everyone in agreement — on their knees."
—Inrockuptibles (France)

"It's astonishing that this Brooklyn band has not yet received the same attention as some of their colleagues. They should become famous, very famous."
—munnezza.it (Italy)

"Welcome To Ignore Us is the soundtrack for Bill Clinton's oval office."
—Alternative Press

"Even while being ironically invited to do it, it will be very difficult to ignore the third album of The Holy Ghost. I can't see what could stop this combo: the voice is more than convincing, and the group likes to mark its own paths while inserting lucky finds of iconoclastic production. The sky is thus the limit, and it should not be long before The Holy Ghost is the talk of Europe."
—Live in Marseille (France)

"Excellent third album by The Holy Ghost. With them, we fall on an improbable meeting point between Liars (other New Yorkers), The Walkmen, and The Black Keys. Indeed, these Americans come with simplicity and control, finding perfect balance between all of these components ("Commercial" and "Did I wear U Out"). The principal asset of The Holy Ghost is its capacity to put forward melodies that are simple and direct with often subtle arrangements, of which a richness is hidden under tablecloths of breaking electricity. And when it slows down the tempo, the result is often very beautiful ("Pyramid"). It is perhaps time to take notice of this seizing, incomparable modern pop. With "Welcome to Ignore Us", their hour has perhaps finally arrived. That depends only on you and the rest of us."
—i-muzzik.net (France)

"Like an oddly chosen accessory in a vintage apartment, The Holy Ghost's music is hardly what you call predictable. What's great is that this feature is so unexpected (I'll admit, it's easy to judge a CD by its cover). Welcome to Ignore Us opens with a particularly bouncy tune "Commercial," which is complete with the expected hooks needed to draw in indie audiences. The song appears run-of-the-mill, and then leaps into drummer/vocalist Angela Webster putting her own two cents into the song. The finished result is ineffably delightful, energetic and playful. Rockin' until the very last drop, it's easy to become saucy and carefree when indie-hipsters tell you to "Shut up and Play." "Did I Wear You Out?" asks The Holy Ghost. Yes, yes maybe a little, but it certainly was fun while it lasted."
—Allalom (UK)

"Holy Ghost? Holy Shit Rather! One arises noticeably shaken by these nearly forty minutes of interpretation of indie rock. The Holy Ghost, taken along by Christopher Dean Heine (vox) and Angela Webster (drums), understands the Holy Scriptures of rock n' roll and only adds to them with Welcome To Ignore Us, a polysemous endeavor. Twelve pieces and almost twelve orientations — with one common vector: an electric power which one cannot ignore."
—A Decouvrir Absolument (France)

"If there is any justice in the world, then The Holy Ghost will be the band on everyone's lips by the end of the year. Endless touring, and the fact that they write some fabulous music, has been getting people all hot under the collar and turning to their dictionaries for superlatives. There is no doubt that The Holy Ghost are probably the next big thing to come out of New York. With The Strokes misfiring dramatically on their last outing, The Holy Ghost have the muscle, and the songs to break out to a larger audience."
—LosingToday (UK)

"Noticed in the American indie circle with a gust of albums in 2002, New Yorkers The Holy Ghost are finally distributed in France (thanks to Fargo). With the third album of this quartet, Welcome to Ignore Us is fifteen years of indie rock wrapped up in one tight package. Influenced by Television, these twelve titles intertwine between Pavement, roots rock, and well digested blues — a true puff of youthful air. With Commercial, The Holy Ghost even has a hit made for radio."
—Tomorrow Never Knows (France)

"These guys can definitely do everything. There is little left to throw on this proclaimed rock n' roll flamer."
—Pinkushion (France)

"On this right powerful hook and jab, The Holy Ghost scores big once again. Vocalist Christopher Dean Heine channels a younger, more energetic version of U2's Bono, while guitarist Alec Ferrell proves ever inventive in tracks such as "Commercial" and "Genghis Khan," playing when he needs to and exhibiting uncommon restraint at other times. It probably helps that these two are backed by the hot pooh droom-and-bass section of Kent Heine (bass) and Angela Webster (drooms). Accessible, intelligent and, in a word, classic, Welcome to Ignore Us pushes this band one step closer to the big, big spotlight."
—CopperPress Detroit

"This is one of these albums I had to listen to more than 10 times to get behind the music, but now I think I got behind the magic of The Holy Ghost and I can tell you...this band is worth checking out. With a really nice blend of Alternative-Pop and Garage, The Holy Ghost creates nice sound journeys which make The Strokes look like f**ing wimps...everything comes over really fresh, but with a sentimental undertone...The Holy Ghost also reminds me a bit of Beck. All in all, a cool release to think and to dance to."
—Daredevil

"If it has not already happened in America, here in France these treasures are surely to go from the shade to the light more quickly than anyone could expect."
—Stars Are Underground (France)

"Get your stomp on...THE HOLY GHOST sends me "Welcome to Ignore Us." Sickly sweet rock-n-roll, a wanderlust beat that makes ya want to party. Beautiful songs with a touch of insane, powerful and passionate."
—New York Waste

"Commercial, it's got a nice hip shaking feel but still maintains an over punkish feel. Then you are hit with a sexy female vocal out of nowhere, instantly accessible and it reeks of a big hit."
—Comfort Comes (UK)

"On their third year of existence, after achieving considerable critical acclaim with previous efforts, The Holy Ghost are clearly positioning themselves for greater things — not as clichéd saviors of the rock 'n' roll cadaver we've been kicking around since the first PiL album, but as stylish purveyors of intense sound."
—Splendid Ezine

"New York City's the Holy Ghost is off to a quick start, with its fourth release since forming in 2001. Bassist Kent Heine and drummer Eric Willhelm's loping rhythms leave ample room for Alec Ferrell's jagged, angular guitar riffs; their interplay is immediate and physical. Frontman Christopher Heine spins literate, stylish, almost surreal tales — "Ghettobird" evokes a Tarantino-esque landscape populated by Yakuza and CIA, while southern gothic undertones lace "Clarice and the Schoolboy." "What If We Never Change?" is a toss-off — a kind of bratty, bar-clearing tantrum set to a Gary Glitter beat — but it's still good fun. And the driving, anthemic "Or Dead" more than covers the damage. If the Holy Ghost keeps this pace up, they just might become New York City's next great band. Maybe they already are."
—ROLLINGSTONE.COM

"Oozing with coolness, The Holy Ghost's six-song EP brings to mind sold out shows at small clubs, wall-to-wall hipsters hoping to discover the next Strokes, White Stripes, or Walkmen. Too clean to be garage rock, too rocking to be bastardized blues, the music on this EP is the equivalent of a $3 martini — crisp, refreshing, and righteously hip."
—75orless.com

"Dancing agitation stirs up throughout the album, finding unexpected moments to make you want to move your feet. On tracks like "Did I Wear U Out?" and "Chez Paree," this notion can even introduce a little glam to the mix. While this could be read as conventional, especially in an age of omnipresent dance-punk, the distorted cheerleader chants and eccentricity of each are endless reminders of how artistic the Holy Ghost truly is. Welcome to Ignore Us has taken their cool, inventive post-punk and dipped it in an attention-grabbing, attractive sheen."
—Lost At Sea

"After three great releases, the band has just now put out what is arguably its best release yet with Welcome to Ignore Us. Hopefully this record garners The Holy Ghost the major attention the band's deserved for a few years now. It's become obvious that they have entered the realm of stalwart indie-pop bands...disgustingly catchy — recommended to the highest degree."
—Delusions of Adequacy

"It would be sad indeed if the lead track ("Commercial") does not become a huge hit...because the tune is absolutely KILLER. This band really has it all. Alec Ferrell provides constantly challenging guitar licks. Christopher Dean Heine's vocals are absolutely hypnotic and intense. Angela Webster can certainly pound most male drummers into the pavement. And Kent Heine's solid bass lines hold the entire package together. A lot of alternative snobs probably won't like The Holy Ghost because they aren't noisy enough, weird enough, and strange enough...but those folks will be the sad losers because they will be missing out on one of the very best bands of the past few years."
—Babysue

"Most exciting act here...is Brooklyn's unassuming but hard-boiled The Holy Ghost, who over two mini-albums in the past year have slowly managed to stake their claim as our town's most underrated guitar band. Telling their ominous tales of Pataki heaven, propellered pigeons, and cocaine, they're as rockingly literate a substitute for Lifter Puller as you're likely to find. And if their actual CD collections veer more toward Girls Against Boys, At The Drive In, or U2, their influences should just step aside."
—Chuck Eddy, The Village Voice

"Color Sympathy is The Holy Ghost's coming out party. Akin to Cursive's Tim Kasher fronting Teardrop Explodes, which is pretty awesome in our book."
—CMJ New Music Monthly

"Definitely rock with a razor edge that is prime to cut right through all of today's stale acts."
—FM Sound

"Color Sympathy is a prime example of how rock should be; clean and rough, sexy and ugly, and straight from the gut."
—PopDoctor

"The title of most underrated band of 2002 goes, hands down, to The Holy Ghost."
—Colorado Daily

"The Holy Ghost have unlimited potential to be a big label band ... Haunting and yet strangely captivating ... The Holy Ghost could have very well created a landmark in rock with this album that may be followed in years to come. This stuff is almost as groundbreaking as the Velvet Underground and Doors' debuts."
—PopPunk.com

"While creating a record with hurricane-like appeal to their music, one listener can only wish and think that The Holy Ghost is a band thriving on their gifts. Perhaps a group with such potential has already been selected to receive a predetermined ticket for greater heights."
—All Music Guide

"A higher power must have blessed this quirky quartet because The Holy Ghost is ascending."
—CityView

"In the name of the rock, the fuzz and The Holy Ghost comes a New York outfit to stamp your mind with art-rock crucifixions, a kneel down to hardcore and the vision of a music savior."
—Real Detroit Weekly

"The Holy Ghost demonstrates rock is back in a more obscure and progressive way than the magazines could ever dream."
—Rockpile

"The Holy Ghost make rock music without pretension or hype, and it is this feeling of honesty in the music that leads the listener into the band's corner and cheers them on as they come out swinging."
—Stylus Magazine

"Talent like this cannot be denied."
—Ghettoblaster

"Very tight, very brash and rude indie punk pop."
—Impact Press

"Hot New York rockers whipping up a sexy, possessed frenzy."
—Anchorage Press

"Simply splendid!"
—dREUN.be Ezine (Germany)

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LEARN.

At some point in the past 100 years, The Holy Ghost was formed. Some say it happened in Nebraska, others believe it all went down somewhere in between North Carolina and West Virginia. Even New York has been proclaimed as the mother of this bastard child. But it's an original American rock band, plain and simple.

THE HOLY GHOST:
christopher dean heine - vocals
kent heine - bass
angela webster - drums, vocals
alec ferrell - guitar, vocals

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LIST.