Cage The Elephant
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
June 26, 2024
Canadian Beats Passport
Cage The Elephant brought their dynamic Neon Pill tour to Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on June 26, delivering a night of rock and energy. The tour, in support of their latest album Neon Pill released on May 17, 2024, is taking the band across North America this summer, culminating in a final stop in Denver, CO, on September 18.
The night kicked off with a trio of impressive opening acts. While we cannot show you photos of them, trust us when we say that they were perfect to get the crowd going.
Willow Avalon captivated the audience with her soulful vocals and introspective lyrics, setting the stage with an intimate yet powerful performance. She even brought her country star boyfriend, Cameron Whitcomb, on stage for a duet.
English singer Brakar followed, bringing his unique blend of experiemental rock and infectious energy, quickly winning over the crowd. He’s definitely one-to-watch.
Young The Giant, known for their indie rock anthems, rounded out the opening acts with a set full of soaring melodies and dynamic rhythms, priming the audience for the main event.
Then it was time for Cage The Elephant! The band’s current lineup—Matt Shultz (vocals), his older brother Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (guitar, keyboards), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums)— took the stage, kicking off their set with “Broken Boy”, warming the front barricade with extensive pyros. The crowd was immediately captivated as the band transitioned into “Cry Baby” and “Spiderhead,” setting the tone for the rest of the evening. Brad even left the stage to jump by the pit and dance with fans.
The setlist featured a blend of new tracks from Neon Pill and classic hits, creating a perfect balance that kept both longtime fans and new listeners engaged. Matt, the charismatic frontman, was a magnetic presence throughout the show. His unique stage presence, marked by prancing, body contortions, and an undeniable cool factor, kept the audience enthralled. Every move he made seemed effortlessly cool, drawing the crowd deeper into the band’s performance.
The middle of the set featured powerful renditions of “Social Cues,” “HiFi (True Light),” and “Mess Around,” – which got everyone on their feet clapping, especially during Bockrath shredding guitar solos -before diving into fan-favourite “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” The energy never waned as the band continued with “Skin and Bones,” “Rainbow,” and “Telescope,” the fans singing-along and illuminating the arena with their sparkling phone lights.
As the main set concluded with “Tokyo Smoke” and “House of Glass,” the crowd erupted into applause, eager for more. The band returned for a three-song encore, starting with the heartfelt “Shake Me Down,” followed by hit track “Cigarette Daydreams,” and closing with the anthemic “Come a Little Closer.” Overall, the band’s high energy did not let up one second throughout the night as they delivered hits after hits.
With this performance at Rogers Arena, Cage The Elephant reaffirmed their place as one of rock’s most compelling live acts. Fans across North America are in for a treat as the Neon Pill tour continues into the fall. More info on the rest of the tour on the band’s website.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below.
For more photos from the show, head to our Facebook!
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer