Cage The Elephant | Sunflower Bean | Woman Tones
O2 Apollo, Manchester
14th February 2025
Cage The Elephant hit Manchester with their infectious power and gritty punk stage presence on the second cease of their UK tour. It was love at first sight as Ed Chadwick opinions this Valentine’s Day deal with.
Not solely have they constructed a repute for wild dwell performances of boundless power, however Cage The Elephant are additionally dedicated to uplifting lesser-known artists, bringing their favorite rising bands on tour to share the highlight. Guitarist Brad Schultz personified this devotion, expressing the band’s love and appreciation for the underground as he launched every assist act.
First up, Woman Tones. The sister duo consisting of Kenzie on guitar and Laila on drums amped up the rising crowd, quickly filling up the empty areas and balcony seats. With a White Stripes dynamic, explosive and fuzzy guitar riffs paired with fantastically simplistic, but penetrative beats had been a welcomed shock to the system.
Like a kick to the pinnacle from a leather-based boot, three-piece Sunflower Bean had been subsequent as much as the rostrum, bringing again old fashioned NYC rock with cool riffs and funky appears. It was heavy at first till we moved into the ‘Manchester-inspired’ Anyone Name a Physician. Jangly guitars and groovy bass expertly mimic the sounds of 80s and 90s Madchester. Closing the set, Shake was Sabbath by and thru; its ominous and doomy guitars concluded a brief however punchy warm-up.
The ringing suggestions of a guitar pierced the O2 Apollo as Cage The Elephant made their entrance, taking over a sort of diamond formation with lead singer, Matt Shultz, proudly owning the centre place, his brother Brad, to his left. A distorted riff and driving bass created a way of relentless urgency as opener Damaged Boy started. Channelling their internal Stooges, the road between melody and chaos was blurred as Matt’s uncooked and frantic vocals fashioned a paranoid ambiance.
At this level, the diamond formation had utterly misplaced its form. Inside minutes Brad had already climbed to the entrance barrier, teasing a doable crowd surf, while Matt manically grooved throughout the stage. So much to soak up on the first observe.
Smoother and extra bluesey tunes adopted, however nonetheless retained that loud, rocky sound. Too Late To Say Goodbye was sludgy, desert rock with hollowing and reverbed vocals creating an eerie sense of loss and acceptance. This classic aesthetic was harmoniously matched by the amber, trucker-style lamps behind the band as Chilly Chilly Chilly parroted the blended sounds of the Sixties British Invasion bands – gritty blues from The Animals with psychedelic undertones from The Zombies.
After recovering from each a damaged foot and shoulder, Matt acknowledged that this was the primary time he had been in a position to transfer as freely as he likes and boy, was it apparent. He darted in regards to the stage with frantic jolts and funky, Jagger-like strides. There have been components of American hip-hop infused into his punk rock actions – like if Iggy Pop was to carry out Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl halftime present. Brief songs allowed for little gaps the place Shultz might momentarily catch his breath earlier than diving into the subsequent quantity.
It have to be laborious for the band to search out house within the setlist for brand spanking new songs with Cage’s in depth catalogue of indie-rock bangers, however Neon Tablet, the title observe of their new album, earned its place within the lineup. After the rhythmically tight bassline groove of fan-favourite Prepared To Let Go, Neon Tablet displayed among the lighter, poppier elements of the brand new album, nonetheless capturing that basic Cage The Elephant sound with its thumping percussion and spooky synths closing out the observe.
Hassle was the primary actual sluggish tune of the evening. It switched out gritty storage rock for extra stripped-back and susceptible melodies. Any couple within the viewers might simply comply with the tune’s heartfelt ‘woo-hoos’; an ideal singalong for these celebrating the large V-Day. Nevertheless, a sigh of reduction was shared amongst the singletons because the romantic really feel was instantly booted out the window with Ain’t No Relaxation For The Depraved. Again to Cage’s rocky methods, it paid homage to Beck’s Loser with its slide guitar, acoustic rhythm, and witty storytelling that created a western, nation tone.
Gloomy purple lighting suited the sinister deep whispers of Matt’s vocals in Home Of Glass. Shifts in dynamics enhanced a hypnotic sense of unease, expertly visualised by the bands devilish showcase. Sabertooth Tiger opened with post-punky thrashes of guitar and bass, earlier than throwing the group right into a primal and unhinged depth. A smash of a guitar noticed the band off stage, encapsulating their unfiltered punk ideas – loud, quick, and stuffed with perspective.
The followers had been rowdy. Cage returned and threatened to overspill the erratic temperaments of the viewers with the shifting tempos of Shake Me Down. Nearly avoiding this, Cigarette Daydreams steadied the temper. The hit tune switched out distorted guitars for an acoustically pushed ballad, forming an ideal embodiment of 2010s indie-rock.
The Kentucky group closed the set with one other massive hitter, Come A Little Nearer. Though it had been 5 years for the reason that band had final performed in Manchester, Matt assured the loyal followers that their return was well worth the wait, guaranteeing them that the evening could be the perfect evening of the tour.
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For extra on Cage The Elephant, you may test their Fb web page or comply with them on Twitter.
Phrases by Ed Chadwick, you could find extra of his opinions at his writer profile.
All images by Alex Cropper. His web site is right here.
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