Last Sunday, Grand Rapids welcomed Cage the Elephant to GLC Live at 20 Monroe, one of the city’s most illustrious concert venues. The alternative rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, crafted an experience that weaved together threads of electric instrumentation and emotion-stirring vocals that delivered a night for their fans to remember.

Building their setlist with hits and fan favorites across their lengthy discography, the show kicked off with “Broken Boy,” a vibrant track from their 2019 project, Social Cues. The crowd needed no time to build up its energy, with fans from all over the venue landing every word in sync. Continuing on with a handful of other notable tracks such as “Cry Baby” and “Too Late to Say Goodbye,” every fan’s favorite of the group’s albums had a chance to shine. Bouncing between the hard-hitting, speaker-breaking sounds of their heavier tracks and the deep, emotionally driven ballads, the performance flowed with intent that kept everyone involved.

On a more personal note, lead singer Matt Shultz sprinkled short and sweet monologues throughout the first half of the set, where he expressed his gratitude and love for the fanbase that has been “along for the ride” for many years now. Not only did this add to the communal feeling of the performance, but it served as a testament to the continual success the band has seen since their self-titled release in 2008.

Before the energy even had a chance to level off, the band performed some of their most well-known hits, such as “Cold Cold Cold,” “Trouble,” and of course, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” If you didn’t know better, you’d think these songs were topping the charts in 2025, as the excitement and participation from the crowd were reminiscent of the songs’ peak. It was at this time when a man in front of me turned around in between songs to ask if I had been a fan for a while. After explaining how I grew up listening to the band, he stated that he had won tickets to the show and decided to introduce himself to the music live. Based on his movement to the music, I’d say he was won over.
The show rounded out with another variety pack of the eclectic sound they are known for before ending with “Sabertooth Tiger,” a wonderfully obnoxious head-banger that is fit for a memorable finish. And for those who stayed a little longer, a four-song encore commenced, featuring the heart-wrenching “Cigarette Daydreams” that invoked a timeless feeling that both the youngest and eldest of listeners related to and expressed themselves to.
Cage the Elephant is a prime example of a band that breaks through on the sound of the time but continually blends fresh and novel ideas with their foundations. Their tour continues across the United States through the beginning of 2026—click here to catch their upcoming shows.