Although Summer technically ended a month ago, the heat generated at the sold-out Cage the Elephant set at The Anthem Sunday night made it feel like a heat wave was brewing. 

Having just toured their sixth studio album, Neon Pill last year, the band embarked on a tour with Oasis leading up to their own headlining tour that brought the Bowling Green, Kentucky band to The Anthem – just one of several sold out gigs on this limited tour. 

Now, full disclosure, I had not had the distinct pleasure to see Cage the Elephant perform before. I know, I know. But better late, as the saying goes, and I’m so glad I did have this chance because it was one exciting non-stop performance.

Leading off the evening were New York City trio Bec Lauder and the Noise, kicking the dust up with a fiery set. And following that was rock-folk duo hey, nothing. The duo were dressed as matching A Nightmare On Elm Street Freddy Kruegers as they put on an often bouncy, energetic performance.

Nothing could have prepared me for the way Cage the Elephant came out onto the stage – that jutted out from the center – as flames shot from several places on the stage with the opening of “Broken Boy” from the band’s 2019 LP, Social Cues. Amidst the flames front person, Matt Schultz danced up the middle of the walkway, thrashing about and launching himself high into the air while holding his mic stand. If there’s a better opening than that, I don’t know it.

As Matt expertly worked the crowd, his brother and guitarist, Brad Shultz often craned over the stage, himself full of energy. And while fellow guitarist Nick Bockrath and bassist, Daniel Tichenor roamed the length of the walkway Matthan Minster (keyboards/guitar)and Jared Champion (drums) kept at funky Motown-inspired beat thrumming along.

Schultz got the crowd clapping along to “Cry Baby” as the place was bathed in blue light and that was just the start of what was a full night of crowd participation.

Cage the Elephant’s music has evolved and changed from one album to the next, but it’s that rhythmic groove that underlies the bulk of their output that’s the foundation of what makes Cage such a fun band to watch. There’s a bounce and swagger. Even on the new album, Neon Pill, there’s a retro feel – a timelessness – that keeps heads bobbing. Of the two songs the band played at The Anthem it was the single, “Rainbow” that got the biggest reaction with its laid back feel amidst the flashing colored lasers that floated over the mass of fans taking it all in.

Although most of the set consisted of more recent songs, there were a couple from their self-titled debut, including “Back Against the Wall” and fan favorite (and really the one that started it all) “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” That song had Brad out in the crowd, leaving his guitar behind.

“I’ve been talking about it all tour,” Schultz started. “And it’s all true. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it over the years… up here on this stage… honestly and truly it means a lot to us that I think that outside the concert arena we’d all be friends.” He went on to say “if you guys are connecting with it [the music] the way I’m connecting with it, you’re probably fucked up just like me… broken pieces of pottery, clanging around.” And with that the band struck up “Trouble,” a song about having someone to pull them through those tough times.

Check out the official video for “Good Time” by Cage the Elephant:

Cage the Elephant left some of their most popular songs for the encore as the band returned to play the aforementioned “Back Against the Wall,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” and “Come a Little Closer” from Melophobia.

Although this may have been my first live Cage the Elephant experience it will certainly not be the last. They put on one hell of a show, and one that left me wondering how someone could expend that much physical energy in one performance.

The setlist included:

Broken Boy
Cry Baby
Spiderhead
Too Late to Say Goodbye
Good Time
Cold Cold Cold
Ready to Let Go
Neon Pill
Social Cues
Halo
Mess Around
Trouble
Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked (Brad goes in the crowd for song)
Skin and Bones
Telescope
House of Glass
Sabertooth Tiger

Encore:
Back Against the Wall
Shake Me Down
Cigarette Daydreams
Come a Little Closer

Check out more photos of Cage the Elephant rocking The Anthem on October 26, 2025. All photos are copyright David LaMason:

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”924″ display=”pro_mosaic”]

Here are photos of hey, nothing performing at The Anthem:

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”926″ display=”pro_mosaic”]

And here are photos of Bec Lauder and the Noise starting things off at The Anthem:

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”925″ display=”pro_mosaic”]