October 25, 2025 – The Met, Philadelphia PA

Review by Chris Yates // Photography by Estelle Massry

Saturday night in Philadelphia, Cage the Elephant delivered a high‐voltage show that reaffirmed their status as one of rock’s most exciting live acts. Performing in the intimate yet grand setting of The Met, the band combined raw energy, showmanship and a warm connection with the Philly crowd to memorable effect.

It’s been a bit since I’ve been back to The Met. I love the vintage architecture and design of the place with its old school balconies as if Abe Lincoln were sitting there himself. The Met’s historic architecture adds a unique backdrop—its vaulted ceiling and warm acoustic space gave even the more explosive moments of tonight a surprising clarity. The venue buzzed with anticipation from the moment the doors opened, and by the time the house lights dimmed you could feel a pulse running through the audience. The crowd was a mixed group of longtime die-hard fans and newer listeners, all eager and ready to engage.

Frontman Matt Shultz leapt from the back of the stage, instantly commanding the stage igniting the crowd with his explosive, unpredictable energy that always keeps the audience on edge. The band kicked things off with a burst of adrenaline, launching into “Broken Boy” and setting the pace early. The opening salvo made it clear: this wasn’t going to be a static performance.

The setlist spanned deep cuts, fan favorites and a few newer tracks from their latest album. The balance was excellent — long‐time fans got the hits (“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”, “Shake Me Down”, “Come a Little Closer”), while the newer material brought freshness and showed how the band’s sound continues to evolve. The lighting design complemented the music well — strategic bursts of color, strobes at the right moments, and occasionally more subtle back-lighting that let the band breathe.

While Cage the Elephant are scattered throughout my multiple gym playlists, this is the first time I’m seeing them live. I’ve heard of and was aware of front man Matt Schultz’s energy but didn’t really know what to expect. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Shultz, reminiscent and a blend of Mick Jagger and Chris Robinson was everywhere bounding across the stage, reaching to the audience and using every corner of space available. His voice held strong—even when moving constantly—and his stage presence remained magnetic. Wild and unpredictable, Matt is known for his manic energy — climbing speakers, stage-diving, or writhing on the floor mid-song. He was a mix of performance art and punk frontman chaos perfection. Fun to watch.

Accompanying Schultz is his older brother Brad on rhythm guitar. Brad is the most physical guitarist of the bunch — constantly moving, headbanging, and often the one pushing the tempo harder when experienced live. Nick Bockrath on lead guitar is smooth and steady and lets his tone do the talking adding swirling guitar textures, solos, and effects that define the band’s evolved sound. Daniel Tichenor’s basslines often anchor the chaos of Shultz’s vocals and the band’s explosive guitars with something tight, groovy, and melodic. Tichenor’s musical background and style are an integral part of what gives Cage the Elephant its distinctive feel. Matthan Minster on keys brings a soulful depth. Calm yet captivating, his presence balances the band’s high energy, grounding their performance with understated precision. Jarod Champion on drums provides the heartbeat and drives the band’s momentum and gives shape to their loose, punk-inspired sound. Formed two decades ago, Cage the Elephant has maintained remarkable stability within its lineup, with only one member departing. This consistency has helped the band preserve its distinctive chemistry and evolve its sound without losing the spirit that first defined it.

Philadelphia’s crowd didn’t require a lot of coaxing. It never does. During slower or mid-tempo numbers, fans sang along, swayed, and at times erupted in synchronized jumping when the pace turned up. Shultz leaned into that energy—at one point inviting the crowd into a call-and-response, reaching out physically to high-five fans at the barrier, and shifting from rocking the stage to bending down at the front. The cycle of riff – vocal hook – and audience chant felt seamless and earned.

The transition from a gritty garage-rock number into something more ethereal highlighted the band’s range — they didn’t just pound; they allowed space and texture.

Moments where the crowd erupted during classic hits was electric — you could see not only the fans reacting but the band visibly feeding off that energy. Even though the venue wasn’t a massive arena, the production didn’t feel scaled‐down; rather, it felt precisely calibrated to this space, and that intimacy made the peak moments hit harder.

By the time the encore closed with “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Come a Little Closer”, the audience was fully invested, and the band had given more than half its show into the hands of the crowd. The show lasted about 90 minutes and left the feeling that the band could sustain this energy for much longer. Indeed, according to broader critical consensus, Cage the Elephant are routinely described as “intense, unforgettable and boisterous” live.

If you were on the fence about seeing them live — this night was proof positive that Cage the Elephant deliver. They brought cohesion, chaos, catharsis and one hell of a rock show.

I’ll look forward to the next time they come around.

For more info please visit http://www.cagetheelephant.com