Cage The Elephant Shake The Capitol Theatre to Its Core

Tuesday night at The Capitol Theatre, marked the first of two headlining shows for the Kentucky rock outfit Cage the Elephant who delivered a tight, high-octane set that confirmed they’re far from complacent and very much still in the game. Opening band Hey, …Nothing added a spark of indie vitality, setting the stage for a main act firing on all cylinders.

Kicking off the evening, Hey, Nothing brought an unexpectedly polished yet raw performance. Their sound, intentional and hook forward with a blend of harsh guitars, airy synths and conversational lyrics. Their sound was reminisce of indie rock that grew up and now was ready for a bigger stage.
Cage The Elephant was up next to close out the night, the band released their latest album “Neon Pill” back in May of 2024 and more recently the bands last appearance in the Tri State area was an opening slot back in September with rock giants Oasis on their highly anticipated sold out Metlife Stadiums stops.

By the time Cage the Elephant took the stage, the energy in the Capitol had switched into overdrive. From the first notes, Matt Shultz carried his signature swagger all with wild limbs, a piercing gaze, and the help of some Prada Sunglasses that even with all the charisma and jumping never left his face. the rest of the band Brad Shultz, Jared Champion, Daniel Tichenor, Nick Bockrath and Matthan Minster provided stability and were the backbone of the bands performance.

The bands setist was balanced with fan favorites and deep cuts from earlier albums like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”, “Shake Me Down” and “Cigarette Daydreams” crowd participation was alive and well with active sing-alongs and screams familiar to those who’ve been to a backstreet boy or Taylor Swift concert, which isn’t a bad thing. It speaks more to the connection between the band and the fans and the crowds joy from the performance, the set also included newer selections from the bands latest album Neon Pill including the albums title track and the more recent “Metaverse”. Live, the new material felt more engaging and charismatic than I’d expected.

Musically, the band’s performance was perfect. The guitar riffs cut through seamlessly making it feel like an authentic Rock N Roll show, the rhythm section locked in tight and Shultz’s vocal delivery alternated between urgency and vulnerable confessions. Visually, the stage design a mixture of moody lighting with bursts of bright and vibrant colors.

What impressed me most and what I truly loved was Cage the Elephant didn’t rest on their laurels and play it safe. They delivered new material confidently while delivering the hits, and the result was a show that felt both familiar and exciting and new. The band’s recent successes whether it be streaming milestones, festival slots, opening up one of the biggest reunion shows of the year all this proves Cage The Elephant are very real, and very much here to stay! For fans new and old, the show delivers everything you love about Cage while also breathing new life into the bands live performance an evening that captivates with raw emotion.