Vegas rockers climbing charts

It's one of those stereotypical, never-forget moments that brightens the dreams of most every aspiring musician.

And for Rick DeJesus, frontman for Vegas rockers Adelitas Way, it happened in Baton Rouge, La.

"We're driving in the car, and the radio DJ goes, 'This is one of my new favorite songs. This is from the band Adelitas Way,' '' DeJesus recalls from a recent tour stop. "And then they played 'Invincible,' and we were like, 'Oh my God, man.' We're driving down the road listening to our own song on the radio. I think that's the moment that everybody thinks about when they start this. And we're going through it."

That they are, and in increasingly heated fashion.

Since being sent to radio a few weeks back, "Invincible," the anthemic first single from Adelitas Way's forthcoming major label debut, has quickly ascended the charts and is already a top 40 hit. It has gotten a huge boost by being featured as the theme song for the "WWE Superstars" TV show, debuting strong from the get-go, coming in as one of the most added tracks on rock radio with the band trailing only Metallica and Godsmack the week it hit the airwaves.

It has helped create a solid buzz for Adelitas Way's new record, which is due out on July 14.

After slugging it out locally in Vegas for years, the band is riding a wave of momentum these days.

Since January, they've been touring nonstop, opening for such established acts as Chevelle, Saliva and 10 Years.

"These are bands that I pay to watch, bands that I used to go and buy tickets to, and now we're direct support touring with then, getting our own dressing rooms," DeJesus marvels prior to heading to a show in Michigan. "When I step back and think about it, I can't believe it."

And the band is starting to reap the fruits of its labors.

"It's been drastic," DeJesus says. "You can see a dramatic difference from the first time we come to a city, to the second time, to the third time. We showed up the other night in Knoxville, Tenn. The first time we played there, everyone was looking at us like, 'All right, who are these guys?' The second time we played there, the place went nuts, everyone knew all the words to 'Invincible.' There was probably 100 people with Adelitas Way T-shirts on. I couldn't believe it. And it's happening in each city."

Still, DeJesus knows that this is just the beginning.

Or at least he hopes as much.

"We're doing a lot of things that are pretty surreal for us," he says, recounting how the band just shot its first video. "But by no means are we there yet."

He's right of course. It's a 12-hour drive to the band's next gig.

Time to get off the phone.

And back on the road.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.