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INDUSTRY REPORT # 28
Catching up with
A Conversation with Scott Holt
February 25th, 2025, Story by Jimmy Alvarez
The year was 1977 and I remember it as vividly as if it were just yesterday. The Dodgers and Yankees were in the World Series, “Saturday Night Fever” ruled the box office and radio waves, and “The Love Boat” made its inaugural voyage on the small screen. Band names were the political outrage, like Knights In Satan’s Service, or as we know them, KISS.
What I remember most was the music. Despite KC & The Sunshine Band ruling every type of media back then, I gravitated towards a more guitar-based sound. I shared a room with my older brother, and he listened to the likes of Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Who, and yes, even KISS, so consequently, I listened to them too.
Even though there were some enormous names that were being played in our room, one album stood out to me. In the summer of 1977 – it was August, I am fairly certain – a band from England was capturing the hearts and souls of all the U.S. rockers.
The band Foghat released “Foghat Live,” which would go on to earn a double-platinum rating, but its success went far beyond album sales.
The music off that album was part of that ‘70s culture best portrayed in movies and TV shows that depicted that era. Their album had six songs; six songs that changed many lives.
Songs that teens and early adults couldn’t get enough of were “Fool for the City,” “Home in My Hand,” “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” “Road Fever,” “Honey Hush,” and their epic masterpiece, “Slow Ride.”
We say this often: Music is the great communicator. It is a time machine. A song by any band that means something to any one of us can transport us back to whatever age we were when we fell in love with that song, and we remember everything that was going on in our lives.
The even bigger truth is to know where we’re headed, we have to know where we’ve been. Queue in a band with an epic past and very bright future.
Foghat stands out. Like so many bands from the era, lineup changes were inevitable due to a variety of factors. Luckily, the band has persevered, and going into the 54th year of existence, Foghat remains a force in the music industry. With a number one album under their belt in “Sonic Mojo,” Roger Earl remains the core founding member guiding the iconic band.
Regarding those previously mentioned lineup changes, there was a “changing of the guard” behind the mic. In January of 2022, it was announced that Charlie Huhn was retiring, and Scott Holt would take the reins. The journey continued for Foghat with Earl behind the drum kit, Bryan Bassett on lead guitar and backing vocals, Rodney O’Quinn slapping the bass (and also on backing vocals), with Holt on guitar as lead vocalist.
In 2023, “Sonic Mojo” blew up for the band. I don’t know if they realized just how huge it would become as they were recording it, but it became a monster. It was a rock and blues inspired work of art. “Sonic Mojo” is their 17th studio album and it captured the band’s first number one spot on Billboard. This honor came to life courtesy of the magazine’s Blues Album chart, and they held that distinction for 30 consecutive weeks.
With all that as a backdrop, Foghat is getting ready to hit the road again on March 15th in Kansas City, and they will trek throughout the US and finish up in the UK in November. Between now and then, they will play in SoCal and we had a chance to catch up with lead singer, Scott Holt for our Industry Report series.
What’s funny about interviewing lead singers of bands is, you never know how that will turn out. I was pleasantly surprised that in the opening conversation, Holt was as polite and personable as they come. I asked if I could include some personal questions, and he responded, “I am an open book Jimmy; feel free to ask away.”
Jimmy: Scott, you have lived a charmed life. Before joining Foghat you ran with the likes of Buddy Guy and Carlos Santana; how insane is that?
Scott: (laughing) You are exactly right, it’s been a journey. There are so many things that have gone on in my life that I have to be thankful for.
SONIC HIGHWAYS
Jimmy: I saw the Foo Fighters Sonic Highways, and Dave Grohl mentioned Buffy Guy. There have got to be some stories you can’t say on the record, right?
Scott: (laughing again) Well Jimmy, you how that goes, but what I can say is the time I spent with Buddy and Carlos made me a better musician and I can’t ever repay them for that. They were great to be around; I am forever grateful.
Jimmy: Every time I see Carlos Santana, I see the who’s who of musicians in the crowd and backstage. That has to say a little bit about your musical prowess as a musician to have played with him. You must get mad respect from your fellow musicians?
Scott: The upbringing that I had led me to playing with Buddy for 10 years. I got to sit alongside B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, and Albert Collins and learned from those guys. I got to watch Carlos and played with Santana a few times and I was always amazed how Carlos would evolve and grow, which is what B.B. and John did too. They were always trying to do something new, something different and that taught me it is a never-ending journey.
Scott continued: I mean, you pick up the guitar never expecting getting paid for it, just because it’s something you love and want to do. Then you look back and it’s been 30 years and along the way someone thought enough of you to throw you a couple of bucks. It’s not a bad way to make a living.
Jimmy: Was there someone in your past that impressed you so much on guitar that you were inspired to pick up the guitar and play it the way you do?
Scott: Well, yes and no. I heard Jimi Hendrix for the very first time and I wanted to be him. I didn’t know until very much later that it was quite the task! (laughing) Luckily, I had a friend about my age that taught me how to play within myself.
Jimmy: As I listened to “Sonic Mojo,” I could see why it was on Billboard for so long. “Mean Woman Blues” and “I Don’t Appreciate You,” stood out to me.
There were moments when I thought Carlos contributed to the album, then I realized that was you. Those songs sound larger-than-life and definitely have that “Supernatural” vibe going on.
Scott: (laughing) Thank you very much! We had such a great time making the record; it was a blast and the guys are the best.
Jimmy: Foghat is from England, but the sound personifies Southern rock. Is there a certain band from the South you identify with?
Scott: The first thing the guys did when I joined the band was to make sure I got the band’s vibe and they had me listen to “Foghat Live.” Roger said, “Start here!”
He went on: It was really good advice. They were a band that had a deep background in music, and especially deep appreciation for blues, which was right up my alley. I mean, whenever I sing an original song, I go back and listen to how Dave sang it and try to get on that same channel. But the new stuff, we all write it together.
Jimmy: What were the earliest artists that captured your sonic soul?
Scott: That’s easy! Elvis, and as mentioned, Jimi Hendrix.
Jimmy: “Sonic Mojo” was on the Billboard Blues Chart for a crazy amount of time; you guys had to be very proud of that?
Scott: I am so proud and proud of the guys, and so happy for Roger who has kept this band together for 50 years and gave me the opportunity to play with them. It was a thrill; every week the chart would come out on Tuesday and every morning we waited to hear from our manager to see if we were still at number one.
Jimmy: Thirty weeks is a lot of weeks!
Scott: (laughing) Yes, 30 weeks is a lot of weeks!
Jimmy: Is there one particular song off “Sonic Mojo” that you think you put your stamp on?
Scott: I love the entire album, but I’d say “Let Me Love You Baby,” or one of the blues songs that we did, is right up my wheelhouse.
Jimmy: How would you describe Foghat 2025 edition? What would you say to fans about seeing you guys?
Scott: I would say just come out, get ready for a good time, and get ready for a song you didn’t know was your favorite. We’re going to make you love us.
Sometimes when you look back at the bands from your early teenage days, you think they are someone they may not be; we idolized them. In this case, Foghat, all the members of the band and Scott Holt turned out to be who I wanted them to be. Good people playing great music while having the time of their lives.
If you’re in Southern California, you can catch them at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on May 22nd. They will also play at Morongo Casino on May 23rd, and then circle back this summer to play at Pacific Amphitheatre on July 18th with George Thorogood.
Tickets for all these shows are now available.
TO FOLLOW
SID 250228 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
