By: Adam Harrison (@AdamRHarrison) –
Cage the Elephant. (Photo: Adam Harrison/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Pure Energy. That’s the best way to describe the alternative-surfer-punk-blues-indie-garage-rock band, Cage the Elephant. Last night the crowd at Sound Academy in Toronto experienced that energy as the Bowling Green, Kentucky four-piece stopped by as part of their Melophobia Tour in partnership with The Edge 102.1’s Jingle Bell concert series.
Opening the evening were the female duo from Vancouver, The Pack A.D. A band that sounds incredibly full for just two members, mostly due to some powerfully strong vocals from singer/songwriter/guitarist Becky Black. Similar to The White Stripes, Black packs most of the punch while drummer/songwriter Maya Miller provides rhythmic backup. The girls cruised through a quick 30-minute set, which of course included singles like “Sirens” and “Haunt You” from their 2011 albumUnpersons. You can also expect a new LP from the duo called Do Not Engage, out January 28th via Nettwerk.
Cage the Elephant also packed light, showcasing 14 songs, half from their latest album, Melophobia, and the other half split between their two previous albums, Thank You, Happy Birthday and their self-titled debut. But all this meant was they would deliver 70-minutes of non-stop energy.
From the opening notes of “Spiderhead” to the encore, Cage the Elephant was all get-up-and-go. Leading the pack was singer, Matthew Schultz, who bounced around like an A.D.D. child on six cups of coffee. Schultz, who much to the like of Mick Jagger, is not the strongest of vocalists, in fact you can often hear his breathlessness or notice he’s given up a note for a quick scream. But his style fit with the music, and he had enough energy to entertain the crowd for hours.
Cage the Elephant had the crowd on their toes for most the set, especially during fan favourites like “In One Ear,” “Aberdeen,” “Back Against The Wall,” and “Come a Little Closer.” They saved their mellow hit “Shake Me Down” for the encore as a sort of goodbye once everyone had caught their breath.
If you’re out for musical perfection like you might hear at a Muse or Adele concert, then Cage the Elephant isn’t the band for you, but if you’re looking to whip your hair around, jump like a maniac and have a sweaty good time to some old school rock music, then Cage the Elephant is right down your alley.
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Cage the Elephant
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The Pack A.D.
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