I came across Cab Ellis on a random night out in Bushwick.
Chris complimented my red bag, probably as a way to include me in conversation as I stood awkwardly next to the table. I complimented his hand tattoo, asking him where he got it since I’m looking for a new artist. To my dismay, he said Ohio. Why the fuck would someone be in Ohio?
And that’s when he mentioned he was a drummer on tour with his band, Cab Ellis. I later told him I interviewed artists in which he told me to check them out.
Later in the night, I was on my way to my car when I saw Chris yet again. But this time he was attempting to jump over a random fence. So I helped him jump over and then remembered to listen to Cab Ellis on my way home.
Immediately, I was shocked. My first thought was what the fuck am I listening to exactly? I adored it. I listened to Nighttime OCD, their first album, in confusion and an immense amount of intrigue. The opening felt like the curtains to a stage were lifting, flutes and OCD compulsions flooding my car accompanied by my laughs of surprise. There is a crazy amount of theatricality to their work and I highly recommend you listen to their albums after you read through this. Or during. Whatever your attention span can handle.
cab ellis
by eylül şeyma
throughseptemberthroughseptemberthrough
Cab Ellis is a 7 man, alt rock band that is currently absolutely fucking annihilating the underground music scene of NYC.
You might be pulled in by the shit ton of different sounds coming from the band. Whether it be their belting sax solos, the intense drums, or the front man’s unique voice and rap like rhythms. You’ll definitely stay once you see their batshit fucking insane performances They’re a solid fusion between god knows what; punk rock, alt, with hints of jazz and rap. Even writing that felt odd and not even accurate to fully encompass as to what they are.
Their sound being unique is one thing, but their performances are what has caught the attention of many.
Seeing them live is a whole other experience. They have this raunchy, unfiltered energy to them in their performances.
At their last show that I was at, Devlin played guitar as he laid on the ground of the crowd. Gabe was filling Devlin’s mouth with beer, which he later spits onto many of our faces. Greg was shirtless, laying on the skate ramp playing his sax. Chris was
annihilating the drums in a haze. Olin hit someone in the face with his guitar and they started bleeding profusely. Josh in a trance, eyes closed, playing his bass as Connor runs towards him manically, who had also torn off his shirt. And I looked down to see a squashed banana in my bag because I forgot you shouldn’t mosh with a banana in your purse.
Not that I was planning on moshing anyway. But the energy is so fucking palpable, everyone gets pulled into it.
All members hint at how their performances shape their band. How when creating, the live renditions of it make the songs they play. Many people, including myself, did not know what to expect when they took the stage. The variety of instruments, Connors eccentric style, combined with his jittery movements definitely takes the crowd aback for a bit. But man, is it worth it and the crowd’s reaction is half of the experience.
bts
bts
Connor was in the midst of his singing. The guys were all in
action, playing their instruments in the middle of their living room, carpets down the walls. Greg shot me a quick smile, so my presence standing in the doorway was acknowledged.
They were practicing their timing for their opening set. I stood in the doorway with a big smile on my face excited to
experience what I just walked in on. This was my first time meeting and seeing them. Once the song came to an end, Connor warmly thanked me for coming. I introduced myself to the guys and thanked them for having me.
Chris looks up at me confused and goes, “Wait, I think I met you before,” clueless to the fact he’s exactly how I ended up here in their living room.
They let me interview them and sit in on a rehearsal without knowing me or that I helped Chris jump over a fence, which I personally thought was vital to this opportunity. I found that kind. And kind they were.
Who are your guys’ musical inspirations?
Connor: “We all have very different musical inspirations. Mine started with Mac Miller. [He was] the first guy who really inspired me then it moved to Chance the Rapper. It’s always been the Rolling Stones, early Strokes, Velvet Underground, early Kings of Leon. A lot of soul, Al Green, Nina Simone… and motown too. It’s all over the place.”
Devlin: “For reference for this band, I would say the band, Television. The way they write their guitar parts is something that inspires me.”
Olin: “Mine are all over the place too. I listened to a lot of rock and metal when I was younger and in high school. And I still do. I mean I love Thelonius monk as a personality and for jazz music. It’s a hard question because there’s a lot of different influences.”
Aren’t there jazz players in the band?
Greg: “Almost all of us.”
Josh: “We can definitely play a tune or two.”
What made you guys segway into a more alternative fusion?
Josh: “I grew up playing rock & roll in the garage with my homies. And then I got into jazz. So I was doing both of them at the same time. Then I went to school for music and then came here. Different genres were always around. I never really thought about it in the sense of, ‘I’m gonna play this [genre] for the rest of my life.’”
by eylül şeyma
all photos shot & edited by eylül şeyma
edited by aleyna duramaz