Lucy Fitzgerald 
Lowell, Massachusetts, punk crew Cat TV finally gave the world a proper introduction, and their debut EP “Fun in the Ghost Town” was worth the wait. Six tracks deep, the record is loud, a little unhinged, and stitched together with the kind of homemade grit that only comes from a band that built itself from scratch, one GarageBand demo at a time. Fronted by singer Caitlin Malcuit and co-written with drummer Steve Herdegen, the band rounds out its lineup with Quinn Lawrence on bass and lap steel, Jesse Buday on bass, guitar, and keys, and Dino adding even more bass and guitar to the pile. That’s a lot of low end for one band, and somehow it works in their favor, giving the record a fuzzy, chest-rattling backbone.
Opener “Spiders” kicks things off with crunchy guitars and pounding drums, and Malcuit’s vocal comes in with a wobbly, unpredictable edge right away. “JAG U R” is a real highlight, born from drummer Steve’s genuine frustration of getting stuck behind a slow-moving luxury car on the highway. That flash of everyday annoyance turned into something loud and cathartic, and it’s easy to hear why the song has become a favorite at their live shows. “Baby I’m Down” keeps the energy climbing, an anthem about walking away from the daily grind, powered by relentless drumming and a wall of collective noise. Closer “Drugz N Alcohol” sends the EP off on a high note, all thick riffs and crashing cymbals, with Malcuit’s tangy delivery keeping the mischief alive right to the final bar.
Recorded at Blue Banshee Recording Studio in Brewster with Chris Duggan of Ruin the Nite behind the board, the EP kept its rough, garage-built texture intact rather than getting polished away. This is one of the most fun, unpretentious punk records to come out of the Massachusetts scene in a while, and it made me want to catch these five live as soon as possible. Cat TV clearly knows how to have a good time without taking itself too seriously, and that attitude is contagious from start to finish. If you haven’t caught up with Cat TV yet, now’s the time. Give “Fun in the Ghost Town” a full listen, follow the band on their socials to keep up with upcoming shows like their August 1st stop at The Worthen Attic, and add a track or two to your regular rotation. This is a band clearly building momentum, and getting in early on a project this fun and full of personality is always worth it.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
