Concert Photography & Review: The Cab // Back From The Dead Tour 5.27.26 and 6.1.26

 Photos & review by Lexy Bouras and Sara Rosenthal

“WAITING ALL DAY IS NOTHING WHEN I WAITED OVER A DECADE TO SEE THE CAB”

I saw these words on a fan’s sign from the photo pit. Lifers were pressed against the metal barricade for hours, waiting long before the doors even opened. This was serious business. After being on an extended hiatus, The Cab returned last year with their first new music in over a decade. Fast forward to Summer 2026, they’re taking stages by storm on their Back From The Dead tour, which Us For Once got to cover at both the San Diego and LA dates. 

The LA show had a very special guest that San Diego didn’t: Average Friends, an hip duo from the city of angels that somehow managed to fit what felt like ten people on stage (exaggeration- but they really did invite friends!) They were solid, but let’s be real... people were here for The Cab.

And honestly? Fair enough.

This is not, however, to discredit the slightly-above-average set of trendy indie-pop, and a dose of hype to get the crowd warmed up. Average Friends’ performance was a little chaotic and rough around the edges, but that's part of the charm when you're watching a band's first-ever show! They looked like they were having the time of their lives, and the audience seemed happy to go along for the ride. Their debut single “u know I luv u” just dropped earlier this year, making the whole thing feel like a glimpse at the very beginning of something.

Jady and Carr were both present at the San Diego and LA dates. Good thing too, because Jady’s stage presence could probably power a small city. Running, jumping, dancing; he barely stood still for a second. In LA, his energy peaked during the very first song when he accidentally launched his microphone straight into the photo pit. A quick-thinking photographer handed it back, and Jady didn't miss a beat. The set was a blast, blending pop-rock energy from the frontman and drummer with the kind of charisma that almost felt reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots… which is fitting, because they're both from Columbus, Ohio. Figures.

Then came Carr, who’s perfected the art of being a lovable menace. Armed with witty lyrics, bright red tights, and call-outs for loser men, she tore through her set with confidence, charm, and spunk. Bangers like "Spiral City" had me singing along from the photo pit, while "Loser" (which she dedicated to my friend Julia's ex, Andrew (who seriously sucks), earned one of the loudest crowd reactions of the night. Dressed in stompy boots and a tutu, she bounced around the stage with infectious energy. She's fun to photograph, even more fun to watch from the audience, and makes her attitude problem feel like a party.

And then… finally. Finally. Two hours after doors (and almost a decade after their rise to fame) it was time for The Cab.

The moment the lights dropped, the room exploded. After all, a lot of fans had been waiting a good chunk of their lives for this reunion. The band may have disappeared for years, but their audience never really left.

The setlist struck a perfect balance between nostalgia and celebration, pulling from all three of their studio albums and giving longtime fans plenty to scream about. Frontman Alex DeLeon sounded phenomenal throughout the night, but one of the biggest surprises came during a '90s pop medley featuring Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and *NSYNC. The crowd happily took over vocal duties, and in San Diego, Alex even gave a shoutout to the men in attendance. He joked that at previous shows, the guys in the crowd would see themselves out during the medley. But now, they stayed and seemed to enjoy every second of it. Apparently Backstreet’s back… and so is The Cab.

One of the band’s new songs, "Every Universe," struck a chord. It was beautiful, and proved they haven't lost their touch. It carries the same emotional charge as "Endlessly," but with a more cosmic feel. I'm a sucker for celestial metaphors. But overall, it was a promising glimpse at what's next while still fitting seamlessly alongside the classics. For the finale, The Cab worked in a Justin Bieber “YUKON” medley before launching into "One of THOSE Nights." A fan favorite everyone wanted to hear, even if recreating the original version without its long list of guest appearances is nearly impossible. A little medley will do. For now. Then came the closer: "Angel With a Shotgun." Ten years later, it still hits exactly the way it should.

The entire room sang every word back at the band, turning the venue into one giant choir. Angelic, really. It was nostalgic and wonderful. The kind of ending that reminds you why people were willing to spend an entire day waiting outside for a show in the first place. The Cab may say they’re Back From The Dead now, but it can be argued their impact on the scene was never really laid to rest.