American Ocelot celebrate the EP at The Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain on June 29

We recently had the amazingly awesome opportunity to check out the new self titled EP from Boston indie-rock band American Ocelot. You can check out the EP Here

There is this intoxicating positive energy that is front and center on American Ocelot’s self titled EP. From the opening track “Secret” all the way to closing track “Happier Times”

The new EP is the first release recorded with all of the members of the Boston based indie alt-rock band American Ocelot that first got together in 2022.  

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Joanie Lynch had a certain musical vision dancing around in her head for a long while. But it took assembling the ideal indie alt-rock band around her to bring that vision to playful life. 

American Ocelot, is rounded out by Sara Billingsley on vocals and percussion; Kevin James on lead guitar; and Charlie Sullivan on bass

The EP is American Ocelot’s first proper release, and arrives a little more than a year after the band posted a few well-received demos to its Bandcamp page back in March 2023. Since then, the Boston band has been playing live around the city’s various local clubs and venues, adding a bit of mystique and intrigue to the project.   

But Lynch says that American Ocelot – named after the small, endangered feline after she saw a special on the animal on PBS, a moniker made all the more perfect after each of the band members are cat enthusiasts – has truly rounded into form with this solidified band lineup. 

“Picking a band name can be very challenging, but we feel like our name fits our personality as a group,” Lynch admits. “Also, everyone in our band owns one or more cats and we feel connected by the name.”   

Each American Ocelot track begins with Lynch building its basic structure around a drum machine, keyboards, and vocals before the band builds their own parts and springing the songs to life. Some of the parts on this record were finalized with producer Richard Marr at his Galaxy Park Studio in Salem, with the exception of “Non-Participant,” a song James had in his own arsenal before getting the American Ocelot arrangement treatment. 

The opening track “Secret” is a toe tapping, head bopping delight that we fell head over heals for immediately. Joanie Lynch has an absolutely glowing vocal style that fits perfectly with infectious melody of “Secret”

We were instantly drawn to “Everything “ The melody coupled with flawless vocals really grabbed our attention. We found ourselves effortlessly bopping along to “Recording “ The band absolutely cooks on “Non Participant “ We were completely blown away by the musianship from American Ocelot on “Non Participant “ We absolutely hit repeat on this track multiple times. The beginning build up on “Happier Times” gives the track a real indie feel . Once again we found ourselves effortlessly singing along .