February 10, 2012

Despite the revolving-door memberships, Las Vegas denizens the Cab are poised to assume the mantle of Next Big Thing status. Having been put together from dudes appearing in everything from high school talent contests to hardcore bands, the Cab’s lineup solidified in 2005, featuring Alex DeLeon (vocals), Alex Marshall (keyboards), Paul Garcia (guitar), Cash Colligan (bass) and Alex Johnson (drums). The legend goes that while attending a Cobra Starship show in Vegas, DeLeon saw Spencer Smith and Jon Walker of Vegas success story Panic! At The Disco in the crowd, and gave them a demo of Cab music. The CD-R made it far enough up the chain to the attention of Decaydance CEO Pete Wentz, who signed the band before the members had graduated from high school. Soon afterward, the band replaced Garcia with Ian Crawford and work began on Whisper War, the band’s debut album. Released in April 2008, the disc sported the Cab’s take on breezy, R&B-infused, radio-friendly rock punctuated by Crawford’s guitar shredding. Despite a modest showing on the Billboard charts and a round of extensive touring, the band’s fortunes started to take a turn in 2009: DeLeon had a massive falling out with his longtime friend Colligan (now a member of Play For Keeps); Crawford resigned to fill the touring guitar vacancy in Panic! At The Disco; and even Crawford’s replacement, Bryan Dawson, left the band to start a family.

 The three Alexes appeared on the 2010 AP Tour, delivering sets that featured songs ranging from emo-pop perfection to poignant balladry to some smoove grooves that should keep Justin Timberlake in a perpetual state of looking over his shoulder. Not surprisingly, it’s all part of DeLeon’s plan. “The great thing about music is there’s no rules,” he told AP in late 2009. “I’ve never seen a rulebook, at least.  We’re trying all kinds of things—there are no rules.”