The air was filled with anticipation as the crowd at The Mann awaited Cage the Elephant’s appearance. All levels of fans were present – from people at the barricade who haven’t missed a Cage the Elephant show yet, to newer fans on the lawn, eagerly along for the ride.
Known for their theatrics and spectacular shows, Cage the Elephant didn’t disappoint. they opened the show with “Broken Boy,” a surprisingly fitting track, considering that vocalist Matt Shultz rolled out on a mobility scooter with his foot in a cast. “Not to be captain obvious,” he joked, “But I’ve broken my foot.” However, that didn’t hold him back from bringing a manic energy to the stage. Rather than lowering his performance vigor, the scooter seemed to boost it, as he displayed a set of tricks he’d been perfecting over the tour. He continued to do tricks on his scooter throughout the night, from pulling wheelies to zooming across the stage, coming dangerously close to falling off, yet somehow managing to stay upright and energized throughout the 90-minute set.
Cage The Elephant | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
It wasn’t just Schultz who brought the energy. The entire band was on fire, matching and outdoing each other’s enthusiasm with each song. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the crowd. Made up of some of the nicest fans I’ve met, everyone I talked to had a fond memory to share about the band. This translated into all-out partying when Cage the Elephant took the stage. Shultz spurred them on at times, waving his arms and clapping along to the beat, but Philly needed no encouragement to be wild, earning approving nods from the band.
Several acts kicked off the night ahead of Cage the Elephant. Willow Avalon was first, bringing a floral, country/Americana vibe with her. A long way from Cage’s rock, her set offered a gentle warm-up as she danced across the stage in cowboy boots.
Bakar | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
Bakar was next. You may know him from his hit “Hell N Back,” but his set showed that he’s a versatile artist, playing a series of songs that ranged from indie-rock to neo-soul. At one point, he walked out onto a divider in the crowd, pulling up a crowd member to dance with him.
Young the Giant was last out of the openers, but if I didn’t know better, I would have said that they were co-headliners. They played for an hour to a crowd that knew all their lyrics, singing along in pure bliss. The band were visibly moved by the crowd’s enthusiasm, with frontman Sameer Gadhia veering off into a tangent about change and growth. Cheesy at points, it nevertheless resonated with many in the crowd.
Young The Giant | photo by Emma Zoe Polyak for WXPN
A big credit belongs to Cage the Elephant’s lighting and set design crew. Stunning laser displays lit up the stage during “Rainbow,” adding a psychedelic layer to the groovy track. While past concerts have had pyrotechnics, they were missing from Philly’s show. However, light flares and the band’s intensity made up for any missing elements.
The set covered all six of Cage the Elephant’s albums, from their self-titled debut to Neon Pill, their latest album, released earlier this summer. Check out the full setlist below. There ain’t no rest for the wicked… or Cage the Elephant! Their tour continues into the fall, bringing their rocking, high-energy performances across North America.