line up 1 ()

- Herb McGovern (aka Herb Gross) -- vocals, guitar

- Mark Harris -- guitar

- Dave Hickey -- drums, percussion

- Jim Kohler -- bass

  line up 2 ()

- Herb McGovern (aka Herb Gross) -- vocals, guitar

- Mark Harris -- guitar

NEW - David Colon Jr. -- drums, percussion (replaced Dave Hickey)

- Jim Kohler -- bass

- The Rustix (David Colon Jr.)

Genre: garage

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Invictas a Go-Go

Company: Sahara

Catalog: 101

Year: 1965

Country/State: Rochester, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor age staining

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4212

Price: $150.00

Cost: $59.55

Hailing from Rochester, New York, today The Invictas are all but forgotten in the mists of rock history.  Singer/guitarist Herb McGovern (aka Herb Gross), guitarist Mark Harris, drummer Dave Hickey and bassist Jim Kohler first met while attending college (Syracuse and the Rochester Institute of Technology).  Like half the country, they discovered a mutual interest in rock, promptly forming a band.  School dances and local club dates won the band a following among university students, eventually attracting the attention of Steve Brodie who happened to own the small Sahara label.  

Signed to Sahara, 1966's "The Invictas a go-go" teamed the quartet with producer Dave Lucas.  Musically the set featured a standard mix of popular covers and originals.  Performed with considerable enthusiasm, if with a decidedly low-tech sound, the collection's actually a blast to listen to.  As lead singer McGovern/Gross wasn't anything to write home about.  He didn't have much in the way of range and occasionally recalled a dog yelping in pain ("The Hook").  Still, there was something attractive about the way these guys blew their way through popular covers such as "Hang On Sloopy", "Land of a Thousand Dances" and "Satisfaction".  Penned by Gross, the five originals weren't particularly impressive (the closer "Do It" being the most impressive number), though "The Hump" was apparently a large regional hit (to quote the liner notes "the biggest selling record in the New York state area, exceeding sales of those English Mop Tops, The Beatles").  It won't change your life, but makes for a great party LP ...

"The Invictas a-go-go" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) The Hump   (Herb Gross) - 

2.) Hang On Sloopy   (B. Russell - Wes Farrell) - 

3.) Land of a Thousand Dances   (Chris Kenner) - 

4.) Farmer John   (Terry - Bomanharris) - 

5.) Satisfaction   (Mick Jagger - Keith Richards) - 

6.) Long Tall Shortie   (Herb Gross) - 

(side 2)

1.) The Hook   (Herb Gross) - 

2.) Pappa's Got a Brand New Band   (James Brown) - 

3.) Rolling Stone (Like a)   (Bob Dylan) - 

4.) Do You Wanna Go Hi Steppin'   (Herb Gross) - 

5.) Louie, Louie   (Richard Berry) - 

6.) Do It   (Herb Gross) -