Ocelots are:
Paul Spivey
Chris Hargrow
Greg Wagner
Releases:
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Satan's Darts
"Satan's Darts" available as a limited edition ep
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Available digitally from all major online retailers through Tiberius as (Tib 023)
Listen to Satan's Darts
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Ocelots played a show in Nashville a while back and, in his review, a local music blogger referred to their drummer as an "under-the-radar genius." While I can appreciate his enthusiasm, it seems like a pretty heavy title that might have been used a bit too casually. But I started to think about the music of Ocelots and realized it might be a more fitting term than I first thought, not just for the drummer but for the band as a whole.
Ocelots is not a showy band. They're not the kind of band that will do back flips and vomit on stage. Their music doesn't shout at you or try to get under your skin for some kind of undue notice. They don't cry for attention but they demand that attention be paid if you really want to know what they're about. The secret to Ocelots is in the subtleties. Sure, there are catchy vocal melodies but if you listen, the melodies created by the guitar or bass are just as likely to get stuck in your head. The beats might make you want to dance but it's the accent of a cymbal or bass drum that ties the song together. The vocals are fun to sing along with but then there's that one lyrical image that makes you dissect the rest of the song.
Like the 80's SST bands, Ocelots make Punk smarter; they makes choruses memorable like the bands of the 90's Alternative boom and challenge the listener to define popular music like the Indie Rock bands of today. It's a careful balance between accessible and independent that makes it hard to fully capture them with a label. But it has to be pretty special for anyone to attach the label "under-the-radar genius." Of course that was also the show when a guy named "Slick," who was from L.A. and claimed to have put the Go-Go's together, told them they could be the next big thing if they'd just have lunch with him. So maybe it was just a good night.
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