Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – The Cab recently released their album Chasing Crowns. It was their first studio album in 15 years. In support of the album, the band is on a 23-stop tour across the United States. The tour is their first headlining tour in over a decade.
Lead singer Alexander DeLeon gave an emotional speech to the crowd about the reason for the long hiatus, “About 12 years ago, I was told I was never going to be able to sing again by my doctor . . . we were touring with Maroon 5 in Australia and Asia. I scarred my vocal cords . . . I had a really rough time thinking I would never sing again, trying to figure out who the hell I was without The Cab, without my band. These four dudes stuck behind me the whole time.”
The alt-pop-rock band’s “The Back From The Dead” return was met by an enthusiastic crowd at the Fonda Theatre. With stage lights blasting to highlight the long awaited return, the band walked onto the stage and took a few moments to look out into the audience and take in the adoration. When the band flashed back to 2012 with their song “Temporary Bliss” the crowd sang along with the banger.
The audience responded well to the recent songs from “Chasing Crowns.” The ballad “Sweet Kerosene” had those hanging out in the balcony dancing with arms wide open. The band showed their humorous side with “ih8yourgut.” DeLeon asked the crowd to start clapping. Bassist Joey Thunder took the opportunity to start clapping in front of DeLeon’s face. The joking response was, “I hate Joey’s guts right now.”
They inserted a medley of 90s music from hit makers Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and NSYNC. “We did that for selfish reasons. We did it for ourselves.” The band mentioned that an early review from Alternative Press described them as a boy band with guitars. DeLeon said that the music critic likely considered it an insult, but the band said they loved that early description of their music.
The band gave a special call out to their song “Every Universe.” It was mentioned that they especially love the lyrics they wrote for the song – a philosophical discussion of life. “Or are we just a coincidence, a trillion to one.” The band gave a challenge to the crowd, saying they would only sing “Intoxicated” in full if the crowd finished singing a line of the song. It felt like the full venue met the challenge by singing for the band.
There was a shoutout for their friend in the audience who was celebrating his birthday. He was even pointed to as he hung out at the bar. He seemed to totally enjoy that moment in the spotlight.
The band closed out the night with their most beloved song “Angel With a Shotgun.” The band asked for people to sing and jump and hug their friends. A frenzy of Los Angeles love sent the band off to their next tour stop in San Francisco.
There were three opening bands for the night. Talk about starting your band life with a bang. Average Friends gets to say that they played their first set ever at the Fonda Theatre. The duo Goerge Kosturos and Brandt Parks took full advantage of their 15 minute set by . . . bringing up friends to do cameos throughout. Jady’s lead singer Jarrett Doherty got so revved up at the start of the set that his microphone went flying into the photo pit. It was quickly found and returned by one of the photographers.
“You have a beautiful voice, Los Angeles.” He had the crowd rapping out the catchy lyrics to his song “TMSTIDK.” “Tell me something that I don’t know.” Carr (the moniker for Carly McClellan) did a bounce-walk across the stage throughout her set.
It was as if the crowd was locked in a screaming competition for her attention. She responded by favoring the side that was the loudest until the other side screamed even louder. She wore a “Buttman” t-shirt with a classic Batman logo. Her songs “Spiral City” and “Sick Bro” had a psychedelic influence that would have fit the soundtrack of the 60s television show.
The Cab setlist: Locked & Loaded, Temporary Bliss, Back From The Dead, Bad, Sweet Kerosene, La La, ih8yourgutz, 90s Medley covers by Backstreet Boys’ Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) / Britney Spears’ . . . Baby One More Time / NSYNC’s It’s Gonna Be Me, Stand Up, These Are the Lies, Vegas Skies, I’ll Run, Every Universe, Intoxicated, Take My Hand, Drum Interlude, Bounce, Living Louder, YUKON (Justin Bieber cover), Endlessly, Angel With a Shotgun.
Carr setlist: Spiral City, Alien Rat Boyfriend, Hardcore!, 3rd Date, Carrtoons, Loser, Bang It Out, Mud, Sick Bro.
Jady setlist: Reanimate, Fragile, Shed My Skin, Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood), TMSTIDK, Chokehold, Candy, Stunner.
Average Friends setlist: 3 Halfs, P Cruz, Stressed, All The Small Things (blink-182 cover), u know i luv u.
Listen to ‘The Cab’ here: