The Cab: Through the Eyes of a Candid Fan Girl

I have been listening to their songs for months now so I thought I might as well dedicate a post that is solely for them. It doesn't matter if it gets read, but just like the main purpose of putting up this online journal of sort (which is to express)... And if ever any of them would go creeping and reading (which is way too cool)... And because 2013 is going to be a bigger year for them (new record on a huge label, more opportunities, bigger audience).. I cannot see the perfect timing but now for my The Cab appreciation post.

Disclaimer: This is another lengthy entry by yours truly taking into full account from where this Cab madness has started up to this date so read at your own risk. I just hope that through this, you'd get to see them through my own eyes... and then you'll know why.

I remember browsing our friend Ton's phone for some underground music stuff a year ago. We share the same taste in music, mostly non-mainstream, bands no one has ever heard of, post-hardcore to emo-screamo to death metal bands, power pop to pop-punk which is kind of cool.

He's kind enough to let me and Joyce choose from his latest "downloads" and have it transferred to ours for our daily music consumption. He's introduced us to a lot of cover bands. I trust his judgment even back then and it has saved me time that I don't have to listen to them all and I would just ask him the songs he liked the most. Some are just okay, some ugh, some did awesome. Then came this one fine day when he's got the Pop Goes Punk albums and I asked him, "Which are your faves?" Of which he's suggested a lot but I can only remember three. Ice Box (by a band I cannot even remember now), Disturbia by The Cab (this is the first time that I have heard of them, but I ended up ignoring it for Disturbia's been covered a lot at that time) and A Static Lullaby's Toxic (this, I keep until now).

I thought, "Oh, okay. Another Disturbia cover." Ladies and gentlemen, that's my first fail encounter with The Cab.

I deleted the song.

But traces of them would not leave me....

It was March. Smash Project 2012. Dashboard Confessionals, The Used and... The Cab. And that's all I know.

For the love of rock'n rolling bands, I was so tempted to go, but for some  important  reasons I missed it.

But... Good music kept coming back... It's haunting me.

It was May. As I am working office-based, I am always on a search for a good playlist to lessen the stress all around and to set up a good workplace mood. Guess I got lucky to find 8tracks.com and Jango (online radio stuff) which offer a lot of varieties of the music that I like. I found this playlist by nightsky-brightstars called My Best Friend's Playlist. I don't know her personally but thanks to her and her best friend, it was always a joyous experience listening to her choice of songs. The list started off with Maroon 5's Payphone. It was a huge hit then. It still is the biggest song off Overexposed (at least with the public), I think. Followed by.. *drumrolls* The Cab's Endlessly. Then after some songs, there's Living Louder.

And at that moment, I swear, I am doomed haha.

Like I was scarred but in a very good way.

I listen to that playlist almost everyday before I would go listen to my usual David Cook playlist.

Then the news of Maroon 5's concert broke and I could not wait for September to come. I was not fully happy with the idea of having a front act  at first but when I learned that it is going to be The Cab, I felt okay with it. At least I knew two of their songs, I thought. Not bad. Plus it is my friends' company that's added the "enjoyment" factor in any ventures that I would go to. Hence, I really couldn't care less.

A friend suggested I should listen to La La as well, and man, its Last Song Syndrome factor is so high I loved it that instant.

And when I love someone or something, I am embracing them fully.

I, to be honest, am not totally aware of the band members' names not until the week before the concert. What a shame, right? Funny, I only checked them out because a friend told me that the keyboardist is hot (hahahaha) and so I Google-d them and had it confirmed... Alex Marshall is indeed hot. But I have this soft spot for bassists because I am obsessed with learning how to play the bass ever since high school (my musical heroine is this girl bassist from a local band, Urbandub and she is so dang good you should check them out), so I got to say Joseph Thunder is hands down my favourite Cab guy up to now. Plus he seemed genuinely nice, too. Dave Briggs is a very talented drummer. Then there's the vocalist, Alexander DeLeon and his flawless bedroom voice. That voice that fans would coin as the voice that is exactly what one would want to hear first thing when she wakes up in the morning. Hahahahaha! Shut it, fangirl. And lately I have learned about Chantry Johnson, the touring guitar player, too.

Okay, seriously now. MY POINT? It is not about the looks, or the swag or whatever physical aspect, per se. I don't even know how they looked like at first. It is plainly about the music that's drawn me into them. That passion that is evident in their babies (songs) is what  made them really likeable to everyone, I guess. The messages that they want to convey through their music cuts deep into your heart, and inspires you to Live Louder (I love the anthemic vibe of this one), and live your life to the fullest. To unleash the Animal in you (hahah ok, that sounded a bit crrrazy and awkward, I know). That it is okay to be Bad, sometimes. *wink* To be Intoxicated-ly in love and to feel loved.

Listening to them has never failed to put me into a Temporary Bliss. An online rave gave the album a 95% approval rating or so I have read on Wiki and I couldn't agree more. Every track is so catchy and fresh that you would NOT want to listen to just one; it should be one by one, from the first track up to the last. Even my least liked song off the album, Her Love Is My Religion is (I'm sorry guys, the lyrics is.. well, I believe there's only one God that we should worship. Maybe I'm just too sensitive with regard to that topic, but that's just me.) so catchy that I don't have the guts to take it off my playlist.

The Maroon 5 concert has passed and it was one of the best that I have ever seen (posted a separate blurb for that one) but I could not seem to get enough of The Cab (they only sang at least 5 songs and I was craving for more) so I decided to go to their Glorietta mall show, the only show of the three that they had that weekend that would fit my busy working schedule. It was Sunday then so I went to church in the morning, and went straight to the mall afterwards only to find out that the CD's/M&G passes were already sold out. Sad. I do not regret anything, though. As plain as it is, I came because I just want to see them play again. This time, the stage is all set just for them and that they would get to play more of their songs so I am nothing but excited. Meeting them (though it did not happen) is just an icing on a cake.

Aside from my two friends who came with me to Glorietta that day, I do not know a single soul in the huge crowd in there. I am not even a member of the local Street Team. I was just a plain expectator. I was not even an avid for I only knew songs from Symphony Soldier then, but still, when they finished the set, I was a happy and a satisfied fan.

Now, I have all five of their albums (EP included) on my player. I cannot help but wonder what the title and theme for the new album would be because I noticed this cute little fact on the previous ones... (I don't know if it's intentional, but) the alliterations, with Drunk Love as the only one which is not. There's Glitz and Glamour (GG), The Lady Luck (LL), Whisper War (WW) and of course, Symphony Soldier (SS). How cool is that, really? Few of my top picks from their earlier records are That 70's Song,One of Those Nights,  I Am Who I Am, I'm A Wonder, Can You Keep A Secret?, Zzzzz, Whisper Something Fragile and Vegas Skies. Most of it, if not all, is really likeable.

I have influenced some of my friends to like the band, too. One time I tricked them by putting Alex Marshall's photo on their desktop hahahah and that actually ALWAYS work. (Yes, they could not resist you, Alex). Kidding aside, of course, in the end, make them listen to the songs and appreciate the band inasmuch as I would.

Generally, I liked it better when bands aren't mainstream yet. It has that keep-them-within-ourselves-vibe, parts of human's territorial nature and I must admit I am selfish that way. Plus, mainstream rock bands these days, forgive me but they've mostly been transforming to either too pop-sounding (because it's the most marketable so far), auto-tuned (sadly), and sing mostly about sex (sigh. Pop culture, seriously?). But just like the ever evolving world, music changes just the same for the good and the bad. I will not drop the name of the bands of which I thought have gone through such transformation, but despite the issues I must admit I still like them, or at least tries hard to (still like them). We've had so much history, I mean the previous songs that's meant so much to me.. and not a darn record can change the way I feel for those musicians/group.

As time passed by, you will realise that great music/talent should not just be kept  and it must be shared for you can never really hide all their awesomeness from the world. It is just a matter of time and the right opportunity for fame and fortune to materialize and find that certain music group. There is no other way but to go up and that is to go mainstream for these musicians. And that because you know that they have worked so hard they deserve even more recognition and appreciation from the world.

As for The Cab, I am no fortune teller but 2013 is so going to be a great year for them. So the band members have been exchanging tweets pertaining to the new album that's set for next year and I have never been more stoked. DeLeon has even mentioned their major influences for this album and I could not wait for the Rage Against The Machine-vibe (riffs and beats that I am addicted with, seriously), the Michael Jackson to Prince to Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake influence to name a few. If they would decide to join the bandwagon.. I don't know. I... Well, I might just contradict my previous statements about sex-driven lyrics because I love this band too much that theycansingaboutsexandsexaloneandstilliwillbuyit. Hahahahah NO. It's sexy and all, but come on, there has to be some other good stuff out there too, in my honest opinion. But we'll never know. Truth is, for as long as they enjoy whatever it is that they are doing or making, I am cool with it. It took a lot of hardwork but my boys are finally living the dream. I just hope they would not lose what's made me love them in the first place. And that is.. the burning passion and sincerity in their craft. The liberating feeling of getting to inspire others through doing something that does not seem like a job because it gives you so much pleasure by simply doing it. The constant battle of being able to express themselves through good music and not just for the bucks and/or just to impress. The burning passion that leads to creation of songs that touch the hearts of many. Masterpiece that is to last for years.

If you are now reading this part, I hope you get to like them, too. To like them even more than how I adore them that you would get inspired to create something like this for the whole world to read.  For the whole world to be aware that a band like this exist. Their music... Th passion that they have been putting in their craft. To have a little faith despite everything. To live louder. To live not just survive...

Keep marching on, Soldier.

A new The Cab record is going to be out...  (hopefully) soon. Are you ready? Guess I am.

"Some people have lives; some people have music.” – John Green