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 owning the stage
A black and white photo of a band performing on stage, with a female dancer in the center dancing energetically. The band includes a guitarist on the left, a drummer in the background, and another guitarist on the right. The stage is illuminated with bright lights.

cab ellis

by eylül şeyma

throughseptemberthroughseptemberthrough

Text recounting an encounter with musician Cab Ellis, mentioning an artist's tattoo, a drummer on tour, and listening to Nighttime OCD's album.
Text describing the band Cab Ellis as a 7-man alt-rock band in NYC, with commentary on their intense performances and unique sound that blends punk rock, jazz, and rap.
Text discussing the band Cab Ellis and their albums, mentioning their three albums: Nighttime OCD, The East Coast Hold On, and Cab Ellis, with a new album dropping on June 27th.
Cab Ellis performs on stage with a shirtless singer, a saxophonist, and a drummer in the background, with musical equipment and instruments around them.
Black poster with white text describing a Cab Ellis' stage presence and performance style, emphasizing their energetic and authentic performances.
Text reading 'cab ELLIS in concert' in large, bold, red letters

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.

Cab Ellis performing on stage with a shirtless male vocalist singing into a microphone, a drummer playing drums, and a bassist in the background. Musical instruments and equipment are visible on stage.
Black and white photo of a singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone with one hand, with visible tattoos on the chest, against a background of stage lights and equipment.
A block of white text on a black background describing a live performance, band members, their instruments, and the energy of the performance.

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.

Cab Ellis
Cab Ellis
Text about Cab Ellis opening for the Telescreens Irving Plaza show, crowd, and audience reactions.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing an electric guitar and singing, the other playing a bass guitar. There are drum kits and stage lights in the background.
Cab Ellis performing on stage with guitars and microphones, stage lighting and amplifiers in the background.
A band performing live on stage, with a shirtless male singer holding a microphone, several guitarists, and a drummer in the background.
Close-up of a black screen with white and red text discussing Cab Ellis and band collaboration.
A band performing on stage with a drummer, a guitarist, a bassist, and a singer playing an electric guitar. A person with a saxophone is sitting on the floor nearby, and there are various musical equipment and instruments in the background.
A band performing on stage with five members, including a singer, guitarists, and saxophonist, under stage lighting with musical equipment around.
Two musicians back-to-back on stage, one playing a saxophone and the other playing an electric guitar, with stage lights overhead.
A page with a story about a person meeting performers named Connor, Greg, and Chris in a living room, involving singing practice and a rehearsal.
Text excerpt discussing post-meeting relaxation with a band, performance settings, and an interview involving Connor and a seven-member band.
Behind the Scenes of a band practice

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.

Black background with white and highlighted text discussing the experience of watching musicians rehearse and perform.
A group of people sitting together in a room, playing musical instruments, and relaxing casually, indicating a band practice or rehearsal.
Black and white photo of a live music performance with one musician with a sleeve tattoo, shirtless, and another musician with curly hair playing an electric guitar, both under stage lighting.
Text describing a conversation about a rehearsal, an interview, and band members' backgrounds.
Text in black and red reading 'chatting time' with red text above black text.
Text-based interview with Cab Ellis' band members discussing their musical inspirations, with questions in bold red and answers in normal font. Topics include influences from rock, jazz, and blues, and how the band shifted to jazz inspiration.
Close-up of a computer screen displaying a text-based interview with multiple speakers, including Olin, Connor, Josh, Greg, and Devlin, discussing their experiences with music and band dynamics.
Screenshot of a conversation or interview about playing music in a band, including quotes from individuals named Greg, Devlin, and Connor discussing their experiences and tips for staying creative while making music.
Text-based conversation with dialogue between individuals discussing their love for music and meeting at school, with prominent red and white text on a black background.
Connor Abeles, holding a microphone in his right hand, singing passionately on stage under bright stage lights at Irving Plaza in NYC.
Cab Ellis performing on stage with a drummer, guitarists, and a bassist under blue lighting, with musical equipment and speakers on stage.

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.’”

A screenshot of a digital conversation or interview with questions about musical production and creativity. The text includes questions in bold red font and responses in regular white font, with some responses attributed to individuals named Connor, Devlin, and Greg.
A black background with red and white text. The conversation involves questions about using Nighttime OCD as an album title and whether it was empowerment, featuring responses from Connor and Josh.
Screenshot of an interview or conversation with subtitles, featuring three people: Connor, Josh, and Devlin. Connor discusses the making of an album, describing it as including everyone from the band and fans, calling it 'raw and different.' Josh mentions it was DIY. Connor also talks about recording vocals at a friend's house with an instrumental track. Devlin shares his negative experience of recording in a studio, describing it as unprofessional and frustrating.
A black screen with white and red text featuring a conversation between characters, including Connor, Devlin, Greg, and Josh, discussing obstacles and struggles in a work or military context.
Interview interviewees discussing music and staying grounded, with questions in bold red text and responses in white.
A band performing on stage with colorful lighting, featuring a shirtless male guitarist at the center, and other band members playing instruments in the background.
Text containing quotes and questions from individuals named Josh, Greg, Devlin, and Connor, discussing music, audience engagement, performing rituals, and their social interactions related to their shows.
Red background with black text. Quote about musicians and artists, discussing their connection and isolation.
Discussion about intimacy shows at venues, with quotes from Josh, Connor, and Greg about crowd size and performer-audience interactions.
Text-based motivational quote image with black background, featuring a red headline "Do you guys have any advice for anyone creating?" and a quote from Greg in white text.
A motivational quote on a black background with red and white text reading, "What is the main message that you're trying to put out there with your work?"
People crowding a concert including a performer being held above the crowd, with musicians and photographers on stage and viewers taking pictures with their phones.
Quote by Connor Abeles about being a champion of the people, encouraging making an extreme impact, and taking advantage of the moment.

by eylül şeyma
all photos shot & edited by eylül şeyma

edited by aleyna duramaz