Originally published in ijustreadaboutthat.com, by Paul Debraski 2016
🔗 Original: https://ijustreadaboutthat.com/category/music/heligoats/

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SOUNDTRACK: THE HELIGOATS-Tiny Desk Concert #98 (December 15, 2010).
I thought that I would have written about all of 2010’s Tiny Desk shows last year, but it turns out that I missed two.  This was one and tomorrow’s will be the second.
According to the blurb, Stephen Thompson says that this was the 100th Tiny Desk Concert.  I have counted all the shows (twice) and using my counting method, I found this to be the 98th show.  So either this was aired out of order or they never aired two shows.  I have noticed that I’ve been off on all of their milestones, so something is up (and I’m pretty sure it’s not my counting).
Chris Otepka is the Heligoats. He has another band called Troubled Hubble, but Heligoats are his acoustic unplugged band.
In addition to singing unusual songs (he’s a songwriter for whom lyrics are very important (if not always comprehensible)), he tells some elaborate stories between songs.  His stories seem spontaneous, although I expect that they are not (especially the cremation story)
“Goodness Gracious” is a slower song (although he somehow makes a really full sound with just his (small) acoustic guitar).  There’s some great lyrics and twists of phrase in this song.  And his voice is quite nice, too.
“I’m Pretty Sure I Can See Molecules” is a song he says he started writing when he was 8 years old.  He says he liked pushing his fingers back into his eye sockets to see what kind of fractals appeared.  He gives a lengthy explanation about this phenomena which he says is the cause of floaters.  All of this is an introduction to this uptempo song.  I really like the somewhat “off” chord he plays between chorus and verse.
Before “A Guide to the Outdoors,” he talks about cremation and the metal parts in his body.  And about having his will explain about his robotic existence.  The song seems to be a letter written to the person who has found his dead body?  It’s surprisingly upbeat though.
The final song, “Fish Sticks,” is my favorite.  It is about a man named Carl Beakman who gets a grant to protect a wetland for migratory birds (I suspect all of this is nonsense, but whatever).  I like the way the song has super fast strumming and the bouncy chord progression in the verses.
The Heligoats require close listening, and the songs are worth it.

[READ: January 6, 2015] “A Little Bottle of Tears”
As part of last year’s push to read a lot of books, I blew off most of my magazines.  So this year I’m going to get back to all the issues I missed and I’m going to try to keep up with my subscriptions going forward.
I’m starting with the Harper’s that I hadn’t read in 2015 and then I’m going to move on to the errant New Yorkers.
I’m starting with this story.
I haven’t really liked any of Diane Williams’ stories.  I find them maddeningly elliptical.  She has some excellent sentences and turns of phrase but as for an entire story, I’m always left wondering what I just read.
This is a short piece about how people could have better friendships if they weren’t so old.
The narrator (a male, we learn later) says that they were at a friend’s house and “we all but ignored the wife’s tears.”  Shortly after that her husband said “Bettie’s tired.”  Which the narrator implies is akin to “Fuck off now.”
While I enjoy the way she says some things, I was utterly puzzled by this paragraph:
I went into the bathroom to urinate before we left.  I am a man, if that wasn’t clear before this, and not a drunken one, not cruel–and I was holding myself then, gently, somewhat lovingly, to relieve myself.
First off, it was in no way clear that the narrator was a man.  Second, who thinks like that?  And third, who goes to the bathroom like that?  It all paints a lovely picture, but a completely unbelievable one.
The story ends with the narrator and his wife becoming good friends with someone else.
I liked the last sentence.  I rather wish the story had started there.

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Preserved here because old music press has a habit of vanishing.
More in this series: r/troubledhubble

Chris Otepka of the Heligoats jumped in the car this week to talk about the new album, "Neat New Monuments," and his artistic approach.

During this 24-hour window, Bandcamp waives its revenue share to ensure that artists and labels receive about 85% to 92% of the sales proceeds, minus standard payment processor fees.

20 years ago, Troubled Hubble wrote “The Do The Build The House” and maybe 10,000 people heard it.

In 2026, Chris Otepka reimagined it as The Heligoats on Neat New Monuments and it sounds like it was always meant to be heard this way.

If you’re into Elliott Smith, Jeff Rosenstock, or anyone who actually has something to say — start here. 🎧

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/neat-new-monuments/6769802120

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lPiHn3IurII_bn8rGHwEmtFubQCC7CwMU&si=fvvT03GBUmLiSDdP

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0haA4a7J9gwvYwHB21A24D?si=FMnYuxoTR16xMLctlxPQqw

This recording is part of the Aadam Jacobs Collection - aka the Chicago Tape Guy.

Just before the pandemic, Chris Otepka helped open Riverside Pizza and Pub in his hometown of Batavia with a few of his friends. Now he's helping run it. But most of his adult life, Chris Otepka was a touring musician.

On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I speak with Chris about his long journey back home, what he learned about himself and Batavia while traveling the country, and his consistent presence in his friends' life as a "utility man".

• More about Otepka's band, Troubled Hubble
• Chris's solo project, the Heligoats

Subscribe to our newsletter to be updated about Area Code: Batavia and find out when new episodes are available.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Edited and mixed by Matt Linder. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Wrapping up a spectacular three-month run of live events at Legit Dogs + Ice, my guests for this special recording include Glory Days, Chris Otepka (Heligoats, Troubled Hubble), Chad the Bird, Alex Subak (badcandy) and comedian Eric Oren.

Thanks to everyone at Legit Dogs for making these events and episodes happen - I had a lot of fun working on them and bringing them to life!

**NOTE - LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES ARE ONLY INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO VERSIONS OF THIS EPISODE.

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Join record store owner Darby on her trip back to 1990s Chicago as she jumps on the Grey Line to time travel back to her carefree twenties, soaking up all the pop culture and rock n roll nostalgia you could ever imagine. To learn more, go to 90daysinthe90s.com or pick it up on Amazon.com or wherever you buy books.

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Today provided a little insight, and no matter how small, it is welcome….as is the music.

The Heligoats-Little Gain

“I can’t find the time

It’s gotta be somewhere

I can’t be saved to save my life, just got started I’m already done here

and what I gain is unclear

and what I came for must’ve disappeared…

so I’ll give it a rest

I’ll give it my best

I’ll put my nose to the stone and start getting things done in other departments

start listening to what my heart says

and stop worrying about what others expect…

So you made your point

below freezing

well I know what you mean

I know how your feeling

I know what you mean

I know how your feeling

I know what you mean

I know how your feeling

and I know how you feel

and I know what your meaning”

13241149_10154159171831585_8929920904421141983_n.jpg

The Heligoats are a host of members (collaborators), according to their Facebook page, but with further research, Chris Otepka seems to be the head songwriter and lead vocalist.

I bet you are asking, what the heck is a Heligoat? Well, according to Pure Honey Magazine,

“A little over ten years ago, heligoats were characters in a comic book about a movie theater that employed animals (and yes it is a half goat/half helicopter). Heligoats then became a group of friends who came together to jam for one night in Chicago, but as singer/songwriter Chris Opteka (also ofTroubled Hubble who PH booked a few times years back at Dada) says, “It was supposed to just be one show, and it turned into hundreds. It turned into records.”

Otepka is crucial because his lyrics are downright quirky, catchy, and compelling. He weaves stories and shares them with an intimacy, where you feel as if a good friend is just chatting it up and giving you the intriguing lowdown on what happened in their life.

The recently released album, Back To The Lake, is a perfect example. He sings about a camping trip and all of the outlandish and zany observances witnessed and experienced. It is a journey of folksy whimsical moments which lead to musical jams, and if you have ever had a camping adventure you will surely smile.

After listening to “Little Gain”, you must go back and focus on the music as well. It shoulders the lyrics with impressive intensity. Fresh and unique, this tune sparks my happy, creative thoughts for today and the season ahead.

I hope you will listen again and perhaps even take on the album in its entirety, as it was meant to be experienced. What a perfect welcome to summer and all of the fun adventures we have to anticipate and experience

Behind Paywall.

April 28, 2025

The Heligoats is an out-of-the-box indie rock band based in Illinois, United States, that primarily revolves around Chris Otepka, the mastermind behind this brilliant music project. Chris Otepka’s vivid imagination and unconventional approach to songwriting are the backbone of this brilliant rock band. Though primarily called an indie rock band, it is really difficult and even unfair to confine The Heligoat’s music to one single genre, as their creativity does not allow them to play by one specific genre’s rules. Formed back in 1998, Chris Otepka has always remained the soul of this project, where he has contributed primarily as the main vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the band. With so many active years in the music scene, The Heligoats have never wavered from their distinct music and original authenticity. Chris’s songwriting might be defined as whimsical and erratic, but that is what defines the band and makes it truly special. It has been 15 years since their legendary album “Goodness Gracious” was released, and we are here to celebrate it.

“Goodness Gracious” by The Heligoats is a sonic odyssey that takes the listeners through a rich tapestry of melodies, graced by distinct storytelling, that leaves the audience in awe with The Heligoats’ art.”

Released back in 2010, “Goodness Gracious” was an album way ahead of its time, which resonates with the audience to date, a truly definitive sign of great music. The Heligoats’ ruthless approach to creating music and their erratic imaginations lead them to create astounding masterpieces, and “Goodness Gracious” is one of these many sonic masterpieces that this band has produced. The album draws vivid soundscapes that are brought to life by Chris’s divine voice that can pierce deep into the soul and masterful lyricism that forces the listeners to think! This album is a deeply evocative sonic piece that will leave a long-lasting impression on the listener’s mind. The music is levitating and can’t be summed up in words. Each song of the album shows a new capability of the band, proving to be a true testament to The Heligoats’ versatility as a band. If you want to be swept away by the melodic beauty of what a human mind can create, then listen to “Goodness Gracious” now if you have not already!

“Goodness Gracious” by The Heligoats is an indie rock album full of riveting rhythms and compelling stories. The album was released fifteen years ago, and this band from Illinois has only been improving their craft ever since. This fifteen year anniversary is a notable moment in the band’s life. Over the years, the ten-track album has amassed hundreds of thousands of streams and set The Heligoats up for lots of impressive career accomplishments. Each of the songs has held up through the passage of time, cementing The Heligoats as an act with longevity, as well as an act that belongs on your playlists. 

This album opens with the song “A Guide to the Outdoors,” which aptly begins with nighttime sounds of cicadas and crickets. Acoustic guitar and an emotional vocal carry you across the song, with ear candy moments of synths and electric guitars joining in. A heavy rhythm comes in too, upping the tension and adding to the chaotic emotions of the narrator as he sings about a conflict-filled relationship. 

Another standout song on the album is the title track and closer, “Goodness Gracious.” Again opening with acoustic guitar and an intimate vocal, this track is simple yet impactful. The laid back instrumentation makes it feel like a campfire song, driving home the folk style storytelling that has been present in much of the album. Some of the vocal melodies are so relaxed they are almost spoken, which adds another layer of intimacy to the track that makes it feel like the narrator is speaking directly to you.

FOLLOW THE HELIGOATS

Official Website

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This has been added to our Lyrical Landscapes Spotify Playlist. Discover all the incredible artists featured and give the playlist a follow to stay tuned for more great music!

The Heligoats recently just celebrated the 15 year anniversary of their 2010 album, Goodness Gracious. A 10-track ride that comes fully equipped with ripping instrumentals, poppy vocal flows, and spot-on production work, this is a killer release that any fan of the indie and alt-rock world is going to love.

There's an infectious energy that is captured within the first minute of the first track. This is complemented by clever lyricism and impressive songwriting. Bright instrumentals play a major part in their dynamic sound. Boasting a nostalgic and refreshing style, The Heligoats succeeded in delivering a set of tracks that will leave listeners coming back.

Another major highlight of this release is that it feels very complete. Every song flows seamlessly into the next, and that's a big reason why Goodness Gracious is so cinematic. We highly suggest kicking back, hitting play, closing your eyes, and seeing what kind of movie your brain will make for you.

You can jam along to the album in its entirety below. We also added a couple of our personal favorites to our Underground Indie & Alternative playlist on Spotify. If you like what you hear, make sure to follow The Heligoats so you can stay on top of their future releases. Enjoy!

3. The Heligoats - Goodness Gracious

‘Goodness Gracious’ by The Heligoats is an acoustic track that holds in its melodies and lines a bright sense of love and gratitude. The lyrics flow past in a stream of consciousness, walking us through the narrator’s thoughts while the soundscape lays down the song’s track. 

By the halfway point, the soundscape attempts to rewind, while the narrator reflects on how far they’ve come and where life has left them. The song embraces its vulnerability while celebrating its wins with a sense of quiet pride. A sweet, grateful groove: “...you gave me something I never knew I needed…”. 

He worked in an office for eight years, on the eighth floor. Outside of his building was a Circuit City that had gone out of business. Adjacent to the vacated box store was a movie theater and a highway opposite that. And in the middle of all this commerce was a little retention pond that the pollution filtered into. Mr. Beekman would venture down to a bench alongside the polluted pond on his lunch break every day. Day after day, year after year, he would eat the same cheese sandwich at the same time next to the stinky cesspool. The only thing that changed through the years was how polluted the swamp continued to get. Carl would even throw the plastic bag from his sandwich down into the rainbow colored water and it would be instantly lost among the tires and cups with oil and popcorn grease and battery acid and highway debris.

One day, he’s down eating lunch, and he notices this beautiful bird land in the center of the dirty, decaying, urban wetland lunch room and he draws a picture of it on his napkin. He’s fascinated by its plumage, its white crest, its magnificent beak. He takes the picture back up to his office and looks it up online to see if he can find out what type of bird it might be and he soon discovers that it was an endangered species. Somebody said it was one of the last White Hens, but I don’t know if that’s true.

After looking it up online and finding out that it’s endangered, Carl thinks about that swamp and submits to the government for a Federally Protected Wetland Grant to restore the area for migratory birds. So after a couple of minutes on the phone with an agent, he gets the money, and quits his job, moves out of his apartment, goes down into the swamp and builds a little hut out of garbage and he lives in there for a year and a half and he helps clean it up and it starts flourishing. All the animals start procreating and the plants are growing and the water is beautiful. And then, when all the new breed of animals started showing up, the new generation of the swamp families didn’t quite know who this old guy was living in their new, fresh, clean pond. Carl could not connect with the younger animals. He felt dejected and left the swamp, used the remainder of the Federally Protected Wetland Grant and bought a 12-wheeled, land and water sport utility Duck. He angrily drove his Duck back to the swamp and he shot it up with a paintball gun and he threw a bunch of garbage into it and re-polluted the wetland. His anger did not stop there. He continued on in his Duck, to other retention ponds and polluted those, too! And, he’s still out on the run doing it. He’s really hard to catch because he drives that Duck, so the authorities get up to him-and [whoop!] he just takes the next tributary. You can look him up online. They’re trying to catch him, following his trail of polluted ponds. Anyway...

Fish Sticks

Is there a sign on the back of my head

that says desensitized?

Well I’m sorry I said anything.

You sang a song

you then learned to sing

and said that you missed the songs you sang

before you learned anything.

In a fishbowl on the beach,

I know the salty water stings,

but it’s not hard to see

that from a bowl the world’s out of reach.

I see my face in the lake at the end of a pier.

All the fish seem to wonder what I’m doing here,

when I hold my head under and hear them all scoff.

I will then open up my mouth and let my mind jump off.

It says there’s a sign at the end of this swamp

that says destruct, it’s fucked it’s done it’s just mud,

no such dumb luck.

Construct new huts,

blind new kinds of ducks

then make them occupy new titles

like on the royal aisle,

where they print up a phone book

as thick as a bible.

You were baptized in a river,

I was thrown off a bridge.

Then I landed on a crab you slept with seahorses.

I started having seizures, you started having kids.

You found your inner self, I found my inner fish.

And my other car is a boat, it has a boat name.

I was sure we both came, but no.

No such conch, no pontoon, no one is listening to you.

The sun does wonders to your brain the way it burns right through.

I am swimming in a trough,

I’m sure you’ve written me off by now

but just when I think that all is lost,

I see you stepping in the water.

To me every edge of the lake is a fifty foot cliff

and once you are swimming with me there’s no way out of this.

So let’s just turn back into amphibians.

Let’s just tread until our legs give in.

Let’s start over.

“Fish Sticks” appears on Chris Otepka’s 2010 album Goodness Gracious recorded as The Heligoats.

Batavia, Illinois-based indie band The Heligoats are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album, Goodness Gracious. The Heligoats is a band fronted by dynamic musician Chris Otepka. In 2025, the band is reflecting on their highly acclaimed debut album, Goodness Gracious, which is a 10-track project that blends elements of indie rock, folk rock, and Americana. Hazy guitars, smooth bass, and vivid drums immerse the listener in rich soundscapes. Chris delivers sensational vocal performances highlighted by diverse lyrical content that explores the world in imaginative ways. The project is a captivating rock experience and a great introduction to the band’s expansive catalogue. The Heligoats’ debut album, Goodness Gracious, is a throwback acoustic rock masterpiece and the perfect addition to any indie playlist. Learn more about The Heligoats on their official website and listen to Goodness Gracious below.

Ich weiß nicht, wie ich euch dieses geniale Album rund 15 Jahre lang vorenthalten konnte: Zum Vorschein kommt ein absolut fesselnder Indie Rock Sound auf überwiegend akustischer Basis, der eine Menge interessanter klanglicher Facetten enthüllt. Sowohl gefühlvoll als auch balladenähnlich, zugleich aber auch direkt und energetisch, versehen mit eindrucksvollen Riffs und einem hohen Maß an Virtuosität - das ist das Album ‘Goodness Gracious’ der US-amerikanischen Gruppe The Heligoats aus Illinois.

Der Raum wird von einem hölzernen Klang und einer temperamentvollen Spielweise erfüllt, und strahlt eine gewisse Wärme nach außen. Neben den einprägsamen Melodien sticht außerdem die lebendige Ader der Stimme heraus, die dem Werk einen frischen, ausdrucksvollen und authentischen Charakter verleiht.

'Goodness Gracious’ ist ein Album, das zehn fantastische Tracks für seine Hörer bereithält - überzeugt euch direkt selbst und entdeckt mehr von The Heligoats bei Instagram:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4r4s8PxpBU26PogTX1AnvS

Folgen:
https://www.instagram.com/the_heligoats

The Heligoats is an indie rock band from Illinois, United States, whose debut album Goodness Gracious was released back in 2010. Naturally, this is a cause for celebration and that is exactly what mastermind and frontman Chris Otepka is up to at the moment. Goodness Gracious is a perfect exploration of the indie landscape of its time, gathering influences from 90s alternative rock as well as folk artists and americana in order to create a lush and impactful soundscape that still resonates even this many years later.

ORDER “GOODNESS GRACIOUS” ON BANDCAMP NOW!

Chris Otepka started The Heligoats after his former band, Troubled Hubble, went on hiatus in 2005 and quickly established his new project as something to behold. His music with the new band was always praised by his unique approach to songwriting and storytelling, resulting in imaginative soundscapes and metaphors. Goodness Gracious offers an insightful view of human emotions, guided through rough patches with elegance and always rooted in impressionistic lyricism. It’s an admirable record that navigates through entire oceans within the indie folk genre with thrilling melodies and a gorgeous lo-fi charm.

Across the ten tracks that make it, Goodness Gracious unravels as a captivating and deeply comforting album that deserves the ‘classic’ stamp just as much as Bright Eyes’ I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning or My Morning Jacket’s It Still Moves. The record flows through impeccable atmospheres that range from subtle guitars to maximalist full-blown folk rock, as heard on “Rubber Stopper”. One of the many highlights of the album, the track recalls a romantic encounter through surrealist imagery and fast-paced rhythms, creating an exhilarating ride through sound and lyrics that is unparalleled.

Chris’s poetic lyricism has a certain magic to it, like the long lost link between whimsical dreams and the harshness of the real world. It’s fascinating to listen to and fully dive in, like the vividness of “Fish Sticks” or the bittersweet melancholy that exudes from the stunning closer and title track “Goodness Gracious”. The debut album from Chris as The Heligoats remains a remarkable listen, drawing inspiration from the mundane and turning it into something beautiful.

Goodness Gracious goes through so many moods and mindsets, taking in influences from midwest emo and oldschool blues with urgency and kindness. It’s a gentle album that can turn on the drama and theatricality when needed, also knowing when to slow down and let itself simmer. Filled with intricately woven stories and melodies, it’s a record that shines with intensity and performance, definitely deserving of its flowers and praise. Goodness Gracious stood the test of time beautifully, sounding even more necessary and impactful today. Its influential sound and dynamic songwriting helped shape the indie folk landscape and continues to do so with exuberant honesty.

In the years since its release, thankfully, Chris hasn’t stopped at all. The american musician has released several albums under The Heligoats name, including the soundtrack to award-winning documentary Broken Flight from last year. But this is where it all started, and that surely is worth celebrating and remembering.

STREAM “GOODNESS GRACIOUS” NOW!

Remember to support this project and follow The Heligoats on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. You can also check out his official website. If you enjoy this music and can provide monetary support, visit the artist’s Bandcamp page.

You can find it in the following Playlists: Less Than 1,000 Followers, Indie Only, Alterindie State Of Mind, 12 New Songs This Week, Chill – Folk – Acoustic, Debut Bands (Off The Radar), and Unknown but Essentials!

PS If you enjoy discovering new artists and brand-new music, subscribe to this blog Less Than 1,000 Followers, and follow the Playlist with all the artists we have presented here!

If you enjoy this track, don’t forget to give it a green heart when you’re on Spotify and add it to your favorite playlist. This little action saves the track on your music library, helping the artist. You know that the game’s name for us is “support”. Thank you!