Cage the Elephant: Let Go of the Brakes

Cage the Elephant w/ Portugal. The Man and Twin Peaks
WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA
06.19.16

I’ll have what Matt Shultz is having, please. Beyond caffeine, or energy drinks, or other ephemeral stimulants, Shultz’s raw power is buzz-worthy, and Cage the Elephant has got to be the go-to band for dynamic live performances these days. And I’m not the first person to say it. Their Wikipedia page calls it out as simply as “Cage the Elephant are known for energetic live performances,” and man, is that an undersell. The last time we saw them, in the heavily-loaded lineup of 107.7 The End’s 2015 Deck the Hall Ball, their performance – and notably, Shultz’s – was a chaotic, heavy affair. And here they were again, this time as headliners, at Seattle’s WaMu Theater, wiping the competition with their frenetic, hyper-powered energy.

The night opened with Chicago garage rockers Twin Peaks, who – in a few short years – have gone from cranky teenage angst to middle-finger ballads that pull heavily from mid-century rock. Their spirited set, while played to only a half-filled room, was full of succinct, punchy songs. These guys got in plenty of bouncing, head-banging and punk riffs, but they admirably played to bygone eras in a perfectly imperfect way, showcasing bluesy guitars and Stones-worthy rock.

Direct support for CTE on this tour, Portland – by way of Alaska – band Portugal. The Man, with upwards of seven touring band members in tow, delivered an hour-long, alt-rock jam session. With LA director/producer Chris Black serving as hype-man, PTM brought an unabashedly glittering set to life, delivering their weirdo-rock anthems, spacey psych chords sailing to the rafters. Backlit and heavily-strobed, PTM didn’t put on a “performance” per se, but it suited their intellect perfectly, and their sound was on point. From big-time clapping and catchy choruses to inventive electronic beats and tinkling piano, the band has a way with stellar production.

And yet, it was completely clear who everyone was there for. After a long break, Kentucky rockers CTE finally plowed onto the stage, and the whirlwind began. Kicking it off with “Cry Baby,” the band’s strong melodies, vintage Brit-rock vibe, and psych chords melded into their massive, eclectic sound. Lead vocalist Shultz strutted it out, creating an immersive connection with the audience. His moves – much written about – are getting better and better, and he flew across the stage in literal leaps and bounds, skinny jeans be damned.

Massive arena-ready hit “Spiderhead” saw Shultz grab a mic stand and catch unbelievable air. But don’t think this show is all about him, the other band members were as tight as can be. The track’s catchy bass line and big beat showed off a sort of golden-era rock melody, and “Take It or Leave It” got jangly with it, until major bluesy guitar rocked through the room. The sold out crowd kept their own energy up the whole show, jumping, arms in the air, echoing Shultz’ fireball antics.

CTE has the kind of sound that goes effortlessly from polished to screeching, feedback to fog, but their ability to emote, on tracks like “Too Late to Say Goodbye” shouldn’t be overlooked. On “Trouble,” Shultz let the crowd sing, and they knew every word, and one of their biggest hits, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” took a hair-metal turn with rip-roaring, 80s-tinged guitar riffs. Before “Telescope” they wished everyone a Happy Father’s Day, and then rocked the surprisingly touching ballad to a room full of lit-up phones and actual lighters.

The only surprising thing about this show was that Shultz didn’t conform to his usual crowd-surfing ways, and it took the crowd near to the end to do it themselves. But by the epic closer “Come A Little Closer,” people were throwing themselves to the rock gods, and an explosive three-song encore saw them singing the tracks loud enough to replace Shultz’s own vocals. By the final track, “Teeth,” Shultz is still leaping off the drum platform, burnout be damned, into clouds of smoke, and grand gestures.

While CTE’s music, four albums in, is obviously enough to have earned them a loyal following, if you want to see what a live show should stack up to, they’re it. For upcoming tour dates, check here.

Cage The Elephant Set List
Cry Baby
In One Ear
Spiderhead
Take It or Leave It
Aberdeen
Too Late to Say Goodbye
Cold Cold Cold
Trouble
Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Mess Around
Punchin’ Bag
Telescope
Back Against the Wall
It’s Just Forever
Come A Little Closer
Encore
Cigarette Daydreams
Shake Me Down
Teeth