Biography

Tracks like 'Only One Way' and 'I Doubt It' prove that the band can create real winning tunes ...blues rock fans will likely be really interested in what they have to offer. Matt Shimmer, indieville.com (05/2003)


Ever since their first gig on a cold December night in 2000 at the Elbo Room in Chicago, IL, Voodoo Pilot has been crankin' out electric roots rock blues with soul, passion and vengeance.

Voodoo Pilot's original tunes have been released on a 5 song EP in 2001 and 3 self-produced full length CDs: "Sometimes" (2003), "Turntable Lover" (2004) and "Good Luck Charm" (2007).

93XRT's Richard Milne played a few tunes off our most recent release on April 15 ("Fortune Teller Blues"), May 9th and 12th ("Top of the Hill") on his Local Anesthetic program. Richard Milne said of our new CD: "...loose and focused...sound spontaneous, not an easy thing to do."

The band has played gigs all over Chicago, its suburbs and into southern Wisconsin. Voodoo Pilot has played in front of jump-blues masters Roomful of Blues, Texas-blues icons The Fabulous Thunderbirds and classic rockers Molly Hatchet. In 2006, Voodoo Pilot opened for Wishbone Ash and the amazing Johnny Winter. This year, Voodoo Pilot opened for Welsh guitar wizard Paul 'Tonka' Chapman (ex-UFO guitarist). Voodoo Pilot has been featured multiple times on Chicago's 93 WXRT Local Anesthetic with Richard Milne and performed on Chicago's CAN TV.

Management contact: Bill Hahn at KD&B Management.

Check out Voodoo Pilot’s website for nine more tunes and our Myspace Page for four more tunes. Also, you can hear the first two minutes of all the tunes off our three CDs at CD Baby.


Press Clippings:

"Imagine Neil Young with no pitch problems singing over Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers of the late 1970’s and you start to get an idea of what these guys sound like. The disc has electric and acoustic elements to it that exist quite harmoniously with one another, cool vocal hooks courtesy of lead singer John Liggett, and fiery lead and slide guitar played by Bill Galey. Standout cuts include "I’m Gone," which rocks like a freight train coming and the title track "Sometimes," which really shows Liggett’s Neil Young influence without crossing the line into sound-alike territory. All in all, this is a fun and satisfying CD for anyone into classic blues/folk rock sounds, great songwriting and musicianship, and all the other cool things rock and roll used to be about before it turned into one big explosion of anger. Voodoo Pilot brings it old school and comes across like a big breath of fresh air in the process. This is good stuff from a band that deserves a larger audience." Mike O'Cull, Chicagogigs.com


"Songs like "I'm Gone" and "I Don't Learn" remind me very much of the Black Keys, without the really fuzzed-out guitar and feedback. These two songs really showcase what Voodoo Pilot appears to be all about - creating blues rock with energy to spare that will really make you move. Other tracks like "River" are very much akin to the 70's rock vibe, with frolicking guitar riffs and an on-target rhythm section and they round out the group's sound quite nicely. I love that Voodoo Pilot chose to include a bonus track in the form of the live tune "Devil is Dead." The sound quality is great and the best way to experience just about any band is without any sort of studio tinkering. When you are unfamiliar with a group, you have no way of knowing just how similar their recording will sound to the real deal. With that in mind, it's nice to hear "Devil is Dead" and know that what you hear on this entire EP is what you get seeing the group live." Jennifer Patton, Delusions of Adequacy


"'Sometimes' is a soft, gentle lullaby, and sounds sort of like an in-tune Neil Young doing a revised version of Ryan Adams' 'Gimme Sunshine'.” Matthew Pollesel, Splendid Magazine (5/21/03)


"The second full-length from local all-American blues rock quartet Voodoo Pilot – soars on the playing of lead guitarist Bill Galey, wherein he follows a semi-pretentious opening lead on the title cut with some serious fretwork by the song’s close. But he’s equally subtle and nuanced on quieter forays. Vocals by supporting ax man John Liggett are serviceable to his lyrics in a deadpan Jim Morrison way (especially on opening cut “Down”), and there’s adequate bass and drum support. There’s makings for greatness" David C. Eldredge, Illinois Entertainer (02/28/06)


“Voodoo Pilot is an enduring blues/rock/soul band and has been consistently making good music for a few years now. Their latest CD, Good Luck Charm, continues on this path and adds more of a Dead influence to the mix than previous efforts, and the loose, jammy feel suits the band well. Check out “Ten Trains” and “Top of the Hill” to join the party.” Mike O’Cull, Illinois Entertainer (08/30/07)