PHOENIX, AZ | Cage The Elephant is back on the road with support from Young The Giant, touring coast to coast this summer. Starting off in Salt Lake City, the Neon Pill tour made its way down to Phoenix, Arizona on the 4th of July weekend. Bringing some fireworks of their own, the show is brought to life by pyrotechnics and lasers.
Playing alongside legends in their own right, Young the Giant is just about the best opening bang you can bring with you. It takes a special band to come through Phoenix in the 110 degree July weather, let alone playing an outdoor amphitheater. Nevertheless, YTG absolutely rocked out on stage to a sold out 20,000 person crowd at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre.
Young the Giant warmed up the crowd before CTE with some throwbacks of their own. Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their 2014 album Mind Over Matter, YTG is reviving their old tunes to a newer crowd. They have come through the Phoenix Valley area three times in the last year. Once on their headlining 2023 summer tour, a festival in early 2024, and now opening for CTE’s 2024 Neon Pill tour. I have been lucky enough to see them all three times and they bring something new to every show.
It’s incredibly impressive how every concert feels like a completely different performance. Their setlist covers their entire six album discography highlighting how their alternative rock sound has changed throughout the years. Their setlist creates a perfect compliment to the alternative rock sound Cage has as well. Fans should not take for granted the fact they get to see a headlining caliber band open for Cage the Elephant.
Cage the Elephant came out swinging to “Broken Boy,” a track from their 2019 album Social Cues. Hitting the stage hard with fire, the band sets the bar high for the rest of their set. Although touring on their newest album Neon Pill, their first five songs cover four different albums. While their sound has changed over their six studio albums, the new release fits right in line with their funk rock, alternative sound.
Their setlist features their entire life as a band, but the highlights include crowd favorites like “Cigarette Daydreams,” “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked,” “Shake Me Down,” and “Cold Cold Cold.” My personal favorite is “Mess Around,” but there isn’t a bad song in the set. It’s hard to believe some of their most popular songs came from their Tell Me I’m Pretty album from 9 years ago, yet Cage the Elephant remains timeless.
If you’re now seeing this, it’s still pretty early on in the tour. May I recommend heading to their website to check out more information.
YOUNG THE GIANT
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
