Cage the Elephant Throws a “Neon” Night in DC
Words by Matt Bailey
Photos by James Todd Miller
Cage the Elephant recently brought non-stop energy to The Anthem in DC with an undeniable explosion of lights, sounds, and the unmatched stage presence of frontman Matt Shultz.
At The Anthem on Oct. 26, Cage burst onto the stage in a row of flames with their funky punk earworm “Broken Boy.” They continued at a feverish pace, running through “Cry Baby” and “Spiderhead” before addressing the crowd. The breakneck pace mostly kept up through the 90-minute, 21-song set.
Cage eschewed normal lighting, opting to bathe the stage in vibrant neon colors mostly from behind and above the stage. Their large light cans, too, with a massive wall of bulbs encasing the band in a semi-circle. The effects added to the frenetic energy of frontman Shultz, and the unrelenting aggression of the band’s fusion of hard rock and punk.
Speaking of neon, the band played the title track of their 2024 album, Neon Pill. It was a fast-paced number with electronically singed edges that fits well in the band’s catalogue.
Watch the official music video for “Neon Pill” by Cage the Elephant on YouTube:
Another standout was 2015’s “Mess Around,” with an otherworldly warble and a head-banging refrain.
Nowhere is Cage’s sound more epitomized than “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” with Shultz practically rapping the lyrics, and the band going hard behind him. The effect created a massive pulse of energy through the sold-out Anthem floor.
It’s always a treat to see a band at or near the pinnacle of what they do. Formed 20 years ago, Cage has only seen one member depart. This has made for the tight and consistent sound on display in DC. And their profile is rising steadily. Earlier this year, they were the exclusive direct support for Oasis on their North American tour, as well as taking more prominent billing on the summer festival circuit. It certainly seems this Elephant is uncaged.
Bec Lauder and Hey Nothing opened the show. Scroll down for some photos of their performances.
Here are some pictures of Cage the Elephant performing live at The Anthem on Oct. 26, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
Here are some pictures of Bec Lauder opening Cage the Elephant at The Anthem on Oct. 26, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
Here are some pictures of Hey Nothing opening Cage the Elephant at The Anthem on Oct. 26, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
