Concert Review: Cage The Elephant at The Broadview Stage at SPAC

Bowling Green, Kentucky natives Cage The Elephant brought their "Neon Pill" tour to the Broadview Stage at SPAC on Sunday August 18. The tour is named after the band's 2024 release of the same name. That record, released in January of this year is Cage the Elephant's sixth studio album.

The band kicked off the show with "Broken Boy" from 2019's "Social Cues." They couldn't have picked a more appropriate song to start the night. Lead singer Matt Shultz recently injured his leg and was forced to use a mobility scooter to perform. It did not slow him down in the least bit. Shultz wheeled from one end of the SPAC stage to the other, pulling wheelies and coming dangerously close to falling over. I don't think I have seen a more energetic front-man than Matt Shultz.

Rhythm guitarist Brad Shultz has an equal amount of stage presence as his younger brother. Brad extended that presence off the stage as well, venturing into the general admission pit to rock out with the fans.

The setlist pulled from all six of the band's albums. The production was next level, with pyrotechnics and cryo jets supplemented by an incredible light show. The lighting director on this tour should get extra props for helping the band present this show night after night. As a concert reviewer and photographer, I have covered nearly every show to hit the SPAC stage this summer. Cage the Elephant was the best show of the summer and it wasn't even close.

Irvine, California's Young the Giant held down the direct support slot. If I didn't know better I would have thought this was a co-headlining tour. The Cage the Elephant fans knew all of the words to all of the Young the Giant songs. They played a thirteen song set that had the Saratoga crowd on their feet the entire time.

British newcomer Bakar hit the stage solo, singing to prerecorded backing tracks. His eight song set was well received with the biggest cheers coming for his set closing track "Hell N Back."

Singer-Songwriter Willow Avalon started the night off. Avalon is interesting and hard to put into a neat box genre-wise. Her sound is equal parts folk, country and Americana. Her vibrato is unlike anything I have heard before. It can really be heard on her song "Yodalayheewho." Her stage presence belies her young age. She captivated those of us that were lucky and smart enough to get to the show early. Like most country artists, Avalon is a storyteller. While introducing her song "Homewrecker," she talked about dating a married man, that didn't mention his wife when they started dating. It was interesting to hear the story behind the song. She is definitely one I would keep an eye on.