Cage the Elephant brought a dynamic performance to the Sylvee on Oct. 17 and left the crowd speechless. From sharing special, intimate moments with the crowd to flashing lights and surround sound, Cage the Elephant came into Madison with an explosive energy that could not be contained.
After forming their band in 2006, Cage the Elephant maintained popularity into 2025 with crowds young and old, selling out almost all of their venues, including in Madison.
The concert began with an eager crowd ready to enjoy the musical stylings of Vlad Holiday, the first opener. For more than 30 minutes, the indie rock band kicked the night off with a raw and vulnerable set list.
Following them was the second opener: hey, nothing. The charismatic band brought a different, though just as vibrant, energy to the stage, performing a blend of somber ballads and head-banging rock.
Finally, the stage erupted into flashing lights and a musical chaos of instruments. The Sylvee was filled with confusion and intense excitement as the powerful sound of “Broken Boy,” a song off Cage the Elephant’s “Social Cues” album, echoed throughout the venue. The crowd started dancing and scream-singing. The same magnitude continued throughout the show.
They performed “Cry Baby” next, engaging the crowd even further by running and dancing across the stage. They followed with “Spiderhead,” an explosive song that captured everyone in a vibrant trance.
The following songs flowed nicely into one another. “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and “Good Time” encouraged the crowd to wave their hands and flashlights in the air. The lead singer, Matt Shultz, led this behavior with a contagious energy that made you feel like you couldn’t help but join in.
Cage the Elephant played a multitude of songs off their albums “Neon Pill” and “Social Ques,” such as “Ready to Let Go” and both title tracks. They then followed with “Halo” and “Trouble,” two songs from the album “Tell Me I’m Pretty.”
With an already amped-up crowd, Cage the Elephant heightened the energy further. After beginning the song “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” guitarist Brad Shultz jumped down from the stage and into the mosh pit. A dance circle formed around him, and he danced with the crowd.
The band then proceeded to leave the stage after playing “Skin and Bones,” “Rainbow,” “House of Glass” and “Sabertooth Tiger,” gifting a young fan one of their guitars. The crowd was screaming for the band to return, refusing to take no for an answer. The lights stayed dim, so something told the crowd this concert wasn’t over quite yet.
Finally, after about five minutes of endless chants, the band returned to the stage with beaming smiles on their faces, playing “Back Against the Wall” and “Shake Me Down” to reinvigorate the crowd.
Then, the familiar guitar stylings of “Cigarette Daydreams” echoed throughout the venue. With just over one billion streams, this song is by far Cage the Elephant’s most popular. By the middle of the song, Shultz let the crowd take the lead and stopped singing entirely. The crowd continued singing without missing a beat, leaving Shultz emotional.
They then closed the show with “Come a Little Closer,” with Shultz saying this was the “best crowd [on the tour] yet!” With that, they took their final bows and waved goodbye as they triumphantly walked off the stage.
