“… an amazing live rock band — performance art freakout, punk howl, dance party, and chaotic fertility rite all rolled into one… I couldn’t have fully envisioned the scope and open-throttle force of the live show.” Sam McDonald in Toggle Switch

“… this is the best live band in Roanoke. If you get this band — and you have to sit with it to get it — you’ll know what I mean. You like Beck? Devo? Oingo Boingo? Go hear this band …” Tad Dickens, music editor for The Roanoke Times

“Spastic, schizophrenic insanity that, at times, resembles indie rock.” Urbancode Magazine and Filter contributor Danny Fasold in Wonkavision Magazine

“Doug Cheatwood and The Bastards of Fate are obscenely talented. A definite must-see performance. I have attended Doug’s shows since late 2003, and I still don’t know what to expect.” Jamie Booker, night and local manager at Plan 9 Records in Roanoke

“… captures that particular brand of ‘Ramen noodle loneliness’ so prevalent in one’s 20’s.” novelist and Spin writer Darcey Steinke, on The New York Times website

“When he sings, his voice deepens. It fills the corners of the room. He screeches. He croons. The sound is rich, raw, confident.” Mike Hudson, journalist and contributor to The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and New York Times

“… The Bastards of Fate are like no other band I have heard, or seen live. Truly a unique experience.” Johnny Puke, iconic Charleston, SC punk promoter

“I’ve seen hundreds of shows. I dropped out of college once to see The Ramones. I travelled across the country and saw Guided By Voices 19 times. I hold The Bastards of Fate in the upper echelon of bands I’ve seen. They’re that good.” Deral Fenderson, elder statesman at WUVT 90.7 FM in Blacksburg, VA

“Cheatwood’s songs elevate picture-perfect snapshots of perfectly trivial things - space heaters, life at the office, paleontology - to soulful dance-party epics.” Patrick Wall, music editor for The Columbia Free Times in Columbia, SC

“Doug Cheatwood records the guilt and confusion of ten million frustrated protestants without apology or constraint.” Creg Lovett, contributor to Space City Rock and Public News in Houston, TX

“Cheatwood and his Bastards will take you completely by surprise. Their particular brand of freak rock, equal parts acid trip blitzkrieg and soulful psychedelia, is not to be missed!” Josh Smith, host of The Columbia Beet on WUSC 90.5 FM in Columbia, SC

“The Bastards of Fate come from beyond the veil - a mixture of fantasy and cacophony distilled into eminently memorable songs.” Dave Brenneman, engineer for Real Recording Studio in NYC

“The Bastards’ music is as versatile as it is charming. There’s a kind of energy in their songwriting that leads to a unique sound you want to tell all your friends about but can’t find the words to describe.” Drew Tetz, International Yo-yo Champion

“The Bastards of Fate infuse theatrics with their live musical performances, making it difficult for the audience to be less than enthusiastic about their shows! It’s a strange mix of genres that can only be described as catchy-as-hell melodramatic pop; so over the top in drama, it’ll make you laugh, smile and sing along.” Rana Fayez, Collegiate Times staff writer and WUVT 90.7 Special Events Coordinator in Blacksburg , VA

“The band’s experimental brand of pop-rock walks the line between rock ‘n roll and performance art, occasionally slipping off said line onto either side—and sometimes managing to do both simultaneously. They really are one of the most exciting live shows in town…” Billy Wallace in City Magazine in Roanoke, VA

“One of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Cheatwood was rolling around on the ground, pies were thrown at the audience, and there were crazy lights and fog. I can’t quite tell if they’re geniuses or just insane.” Casey Bridgers in Pop-Punk Junkie music blog

“A myriad of musical genres, the common thread perhaps being gusto and big doses of sincerity, merge into a usually cohesive aural pleasure. The lyrics lift this band up high, splattering their songs with subject matter usually reserved for the much older songwriter.” River J. Laker, Emerging Artists Series curator and Development Coordinator for Roanoke Public Libraries