LIVE REVIEW: Cage the Elephant @ the Sylvee
Words by EMA, Photos by Lucero Dunscombe
After a nearly five year musical hiatus, alternative rock band Cage the Elephant came back in full swing in 2024 with the release of their album Neon Pill. Following this was their extensive, fittingly named, Neon Pill Tour. One year later, they’re on that same tour today. From their early eclectic days to their grounded alternative present, Cage’s fans–including Breaking Bad actor Bob Odenkirk–swear by their performances, stage presence and musical talent. So, that begs the question, have they been able to jump right back into performing or have the years shaken them down?
Before talking about Cage’s performance, I have to talk about their openers Vlad Holiday and Hey, Nothing. I went into this show knowing nothing about either band, but even as an outsider, it was clear that Cage the Elephant meticulously chose them to reflect their own music taste.
The first opener, Vlad Holiday, reminded me of Cage the Elephant’s more recent style in albums like Social Cues and Neon Pill; the basses were low, the drums were steady, and there was a good mix of psychedelic rock with mellow alternative. The music itself perfectly matched Cage’s vibe, but the band’s stage presence was on the chiller side. I certainly remembered their music, but I couldn’t point out the lead singer out of a lineup.
Hey, Nothing, sharply swung the other direction by emphasizing their crowdwork and quirky personalities over their music. The emo-folk band was a stark departure from Vlad Holiday–far less rock, far more acoustic, and quite an emotional atmosphere. The setlist matched the vibe of Cage The Elephant’s earlier, more vulnerable songs from their album Melophobia, but Hey, Nothing’s homey and sentimental songs didn’t scream “rock band opener” like Vlad Holiday did.
I really enjoyed how the openers worked in tandem, like a yin and yang of personalities, music styles, and performances. With Vlad Holiday’s strong alternative setlist and Hey, Nothing’s infectious charm, the openers blended well to create a solid opening for Cage the Elephant.
On to the main course: Cage the Elephant’s performance.
After setting up for a solid half-hour, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation when lead singer Matt Shultz and the rest of the band debuted, immediately breaking into “Broken Boy,” electrifying the venue for fans and newcomers alike.
Those who’ve listened to Cage the Elephant’s Unpeeled album might be suspicious of lead singer Matt Shultz’s vocal abilities, since the recorded live vocals of Cage the Elephant aren’t too impressive. They have an amplitude of mistakes, vocal strain, and poor pitch control. I was a little skeptical of this myself, since most of Cage The Elephant’s biggest hits have heavily produced and altered vocals. However, in person, Shultz’s vocals truly impressed me. He’s certainly no Adele, and his constant movement frequently left him in a breathy state, but he was certainly able to hold his own.
More impressive than their music showing, however, was Matt Shultz’s raw and immediate stage presence. From running across stage to dancing like a chicken with its head chopped off (in a good way), Shultz brought a burning passion for every song he sang. Even a stranger to their music could see why they got their reputation as an energetic powerhouse.
From “Too Late to Say Goodbye” to “Ready to Let Go,” even the melancholic songs felt like a party, and they refused to let up their performance. They jumped from song to song at breakneck speed, with their first and only break being after the 17th song.
While I’ve harped on about Matt Shultz, I can’t understate the importance of each member’s presence onstage. Brad Shultz’s frequent guitar solos in songs like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Cold Cold Cold” sounded like they were ripped straight out of the studio. At times, guitarist Matthan Minster played the guitar and kept rhythm on the keyboard at the same time. Overall, all members were extremely impressive with their own musical talents.
While the music and performance was hands-down a remarkable showing, there are some minor details I didn’t love. For starters, despite the tour being named after their album Neon Pill, the setlist only had two songs from the album. In fact Neon Pill was tied for the least amount of songs on the setlist. It seemed like they were going down the list of their highest charting songs instead of taking inspiration from the tour’s concept. In general, the artistic themes read a little muddy, and the tour itself felt incoherent in themes. But honestly, we all go to a concert for the music, not the thematic messaging, so I can look past it.
Cage the Elephant certainly deserves their title as magnificent performers, and I can confidently say that I have never seen a better crowd and energy in my life. If you’ve got some time (and money) to spare, they are certainly worth the watch, even if you only know their hits from “Borderlands” or Riverdale (seriously, they were on Riverdale). Their raw energy and talent might just convert you into a die-hard fan.
