Foghat is a band. In 2024, Foghat turned 53 years old. In November of 2023, they released a new album titled Sonic Mojo which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts and as of this writing has stayed in the Top Ten for over 17 Weeks! They are still out on the road, traveling across the land and bringing their infectious boogie to packed houses full of adoring fans nearly every night. A Foghat concert is every bit as much fun and intense in 2024 as it was in 1977 when their classic multi-platinum album, Foghat Live broke them around the world. Looking back, it is only fitting that it was a live album that made Foghat a household name. The band would not have it any other way.
Foghat continues to appeal to fans of all ages because their music is timeless. They play with an energy that perpetuates youthful exuberance, no matter how old they may be. This band loves to play music. This band lives to play music. Those in the audience, whether they discovered Foghat in the video game Guitar Hero III, from the movie Dazed & Confused, heard Slow Ride in the film ‘Top Gun/Maverick’ in 2023, or first heard them when they purchased their 1972 debut album, knows they are the real deal. That’s why a Foghat audience is so diverse, yet unified. Baby Boomers, Gen X’ers and Millennials and on down all come together with a single purpose when the band comes to town. They wanna boogie…and boogie they do!
For Foghat fans, the announcement of their new album, Sonic Mojo was no surprise. They’ve learned to expect new releases from this band. And Sonic Mojo was met with the same enthusiasm and excitement as their other recent releases which include 2010’s Last Train Home, 2016’s Under the Influence, 2017’s Live at the Belly Up and 2021’s 8 Days on the Road, which was recorded live at Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, NY. These releases join a long history of great music put out by the band.
Foghat began back in 1971 when Lonesome Dave Peverett and Roger Earl decided to leave Savoy Brown and start a band of their own. History has proven that this was a great decision. Over the years, Foghat has earned eight Gold Records, one Platinum Record and one DoublePlatinum record. As with any band that survives for over five decades, there have been ups and downs, and tragedies and triumphs. Through it all, they moved ahead in one form or another for only one reason: The Music. For Foghat, it’s all about the music, always has been and always will be.
Sadly, the band has lost three beloved members over the years. Founding member, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Lonesome Dave passed away in 2000. In 2005, slide guitarist extraordinaire Rod Price left us and then, in 2018, the band lost long time bassist Craig MacGregor. Through all the losses, founding member and drummer, Roger Earl, kept the music, and the band, moving forward.
Now, in 2024, Foghat consists of Roger Earl pounding the skins, long time member Bryan Bassett (Molly Hatchet, Wild Cherry) on lead/slide guitar, singer/bassist Rodney O’Quinn (Pat Travers Band) on bass & vocals, and newest member, lead vocalist and guitarist Scott Holt (Buddy Guy) who also played with the Foghat side project Earl & the Agitators for 8 years. These four members remain true to the original spirit of Foghat. They play in reverence to those that have gone on. They understand that Foghat exists solely to share the music they create with anyone who wants to hear it. They deliver each and every night, with giant smiles on their faces, and the fun they are having on stage is infectious! It is evident that they are doing the same thing that every one of their fans is doing: Just enjoying another Foghat Show. It never gets old!
If Foghat had been a one hit wonder and only had success with the song “Slow Ride” they’d still have a well-deserved place in rock ‘n’ roll history. Thankfully, however, Foghat has been so much more than that. In fact, they just had their first #1 record ever with SONIC MOJO! Rest assured, this band will truly roll ‘til their old and rock ‘til they drop. Roger Earl has been at this for 53 years and has no plan of stopping now.