A Night Of Chaos And Catharsis With Cage The Elephant At The Met, Philadelphia
- Emma Zoe Polyak
- Oct 26
- 2 min read
Cage The Elephant touched down at The Met, Philadelphia, on Saturday night. They brought with them an astounding show, with elaborate lasers, raw emotion, and the kind of wild, communal energy that only a seasoned rock band can pull off. Opening with “Broken Boy,” the Kentucky-born band wasted no time jolting the crowd into a frenzy. Their energy was unmatched, with frontman Matt Shultz jumping, twisting, and bounding across the stage. It was exhausting just to watch, but he kept up the energy throughout the roughly 90-minute set. Each song that followed, from the swaggering “Cold Cold Cold” to the cathartic “Come a Little Closer,” reminded everyone why they’ve remained one of the most thrilling live acts of the past decade.
Before Cage The Elephant’s exhilarating set, Bec Lauder and The Noise opened the night with a blast of gritty rock energy. The Manhattan-based trio delivered a sound that was equal parts raw, psychedelic, and irresistibly cool, with Lauder’s vocals swinging from soaring to sultry. Their latest album, The Vessel, was released in September and is a must-listen for all modern-day-rock lovers.
Next up was hey, nothing, an Atlanta-based duo made up of Harlow and Tyler. The pair’s stand-up–style banter bounced effortlessly from one side of the stage to the other, quickly charming the Philly crowd (and it didn’t hurt that they sported Eagles merch and called Philadelphia one of their favorite cities).
If Bec Lauder brought the rock, hey, nothing brought more indie vibes, which together made them perfect openers for Cage The Elephant. By the time the headliners took the stage, the crowd was buzzing – a combination of longtime fans who’d grown up with Cage’s blend of southern garage rock and alt-psychedelia, and newer fans who were experiencing them live for the first time.
Their set leaned heavier on their older material, with only two songs played from their 2024 release Neon Pill. However, the crowd, didn’t have any complaints, with many singing along for the entire show. The night felt both nostalgic and electric, a reminder that even after seven albums and more than a decade in the spotlight, Cage The Elephant still give their all at every show.
Cage The Elephant finish their tour at the end of October; you can find their remaining dates here. Check out the full gallery from their show in Philadelphia below!
