After 5 long years, the Kentucky based two time Grammy winning rock band, Cage the Elephant have returned to the UK in support of their newest album Neon Pill. Fittingly headlining two nights at the since shut down and then reopened O2 Academy Brixton, Cage The Elephant’s return to the UK marks not only their first time in the UK since the pandemic, but also my own personal return to Brixton’s iconic venue since its reopening.
I was fortunate enough to see Cage The Elephant weeks before the world shut down in 2020. That show, which took place at Alexandra Palace, was a phenomenal experience, so my anticipation for their return was extremely high, as is the opportunity to write about it.
I’m not usually big into indie rock, I’m more of an alternative metal guy, but I found myself vibing with the support for the evening, that being Girl Tones and Sunflower Bean. Both bands did excellent jobs at warming up the crowd, whilst showcasing their exceptional talent as recording artists. I implore anyone to check these bands out, especially Girl Tones who are particularly impressive, as I certainly shall be doing the same.
Once the support has warmed everyone up and the clock strikes 9pm, it’s about time for the main event. As I stated, I have anticipated Cage The Elephant’s return for a while, but part of me is apprehensive to the night as I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of their latest album, Neon Pill.
Luckily for me the setlist was light on new songs, only featuring Good Time, Rainbow and Neon Pill, with the rest consisting of a healthy mix of their previous, and in my opinion, superior albums.
There was still the omission of some banger tunes such as “In One Ear” and “It’s Just Forever”, but with a 22-song set and only 3 new songs, I can’t help but feel like I’m splitting hairs by complaining. With a strong set on paper, Cage The Elephant had a great foundation for the night, which they built upon perfectly with an engaged performance that balanced upbeat and slow songs seamlessly, whilst playing all of it with a mastery only seasoned professionals like Cage could do.
Sonically, the live performance matched the sound of the albums, which is a rare thing to experience live and, to clarify, is the biggest compliment I could give a band performing live.
Everything about the night was masterfully executed, from the setlist to the performance itself, and after their four song encore had concluded, I found myself transported back to February 2020 as I was equally as blown away, whilst simultaneously longing to do it all again, hopefully I won’t be waiting another 5 years this time.
Words by Dan Harden // Photography by Martina Antonia Liberini
