Cage The Elephant, Need I Say More...
Cage The Elephant are one of those bands who I’ve loved for so long, know almost every lyric to their songs but have always just missed seeing them live. Well tonight I was a kid in a candy store and the set list was all the strawberry sours I’ve ever wanted...
Surprisingly not selling out the O2 Forum in Kentish Town which appears to be my new favourite venue, there was a diverse crowd. From being pushed by the already drunk teenagers to the cool and collective older folk - where I found myself - at the sides.
Cage The Elephant boomed on stage with Front man Matt Shultz being as energetic and eccentric as I could’ve only imagined. The stage presence and excitement filling the venue was overwhelming and I felt so happy to finally be a part of it.
Opening with “Cry Baby” from their latest awesome album ‘Tell Me I’m Pretty’ straight to the old school “In One Ear” from their debut album back in 2008; my heart flipped. Going straight from new to old is one thing bands don’t do live, the usual lucky few tracks from old albums are quick to make an appearance but this line-up had me almost in tears.
Playing a huge array of all the songs I love from “Aberdeen” and “Sabertooth Tiger” from the incredible album ‘Thankyou Happy Birthday’. This was the ultimate dream set list. Leaving the beautiful “Shake Me down” to their encore it was at this point where my role as a collective adult standing at the side turned to the excited teenager screaming the lyrics with a cider in hand. No matter how old you are, Cage The Elephant themselves and their songs bring out your crazy fun self.
Of course this reflecting on Matt Shultz who portrayed the longest crowd surf I’ve ever seen with reverb from the guitars and speakers making the venue noisy and uncontrollable representing the craziness of Matt in the crowd. Climbing onto the staircase he takes a few breaths, eagerly looking onto the anticipated crowd and jumps!
This was by far one the best gigs I have ever been to, not because I finally got to see one of my bands live. But because they did more than deliver, the energy and stage presence was infectious and the set list... well that was just perfection itself.
COMMENTS
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Great review Hannah, I love that photo as well! Glad you were finally able to see them live, I am quite jealous.
