CAGE THE ELEPHANT / YOUNG THE GIGAN LIVE AT THE AMP
By Ralph Beauchamp
Cage the elephant bring their “Neon Pill” tour to HHA in Bridgeport with Young The Giant, Bakar and Avalon Willow in direct support.
August 19th found our photographer Kerri Nelson and I back at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport again watching the weather. There were threats of severe storms which fortunately did not materialize. We were here for it Cage the elephant The “Neon Pill” tour we've both been waiting for. Not only was it Cage on stage but they were bringing along one of my favorite bands, Young The Giant. Add in the UK's Bakar and Avalon Willow and you have a recipe for an amazing night of music.
Avalon Willow opened on holidays and there was already a decent crowd. Avalon Willow seemed unfit for the bill with her original groove, but her set was both energetic and memorable. She was friendly and the crowd appreciated her easy banter. She opened her performance with “Stranger” followed by “Honey Ain't No Sweeter”. The audience came alive as the band delivered live tunes. Willow's voice is strong with wonderful soulful textures. “Raise Some Hell” and “Homewrecker” were fan favorites.
It was next Bakar from the UK. I knew Bakar from his extensive airplay on Sirius XM's Alt Nation. Going solo, singing over pre-recorded tracks, Bakar's set was extremely funky. His voice is quite distinctive and his beats are really addictive. Bakar's stage presence was heartfelt. He really seemed to be enjoying the evening and the appreciative audience. Bakar opened with “All In” and immediately the people in the pit were enjoying Bakar's vibe. He then went into “1st Time” which featured a snippet of King Harvest's “Dancing In The Moonlight”.
Bakar followed up with “Right Here, For Now” and “Stop Selling Her Drugs” which featured a collaboration with Dominic Fike on Bakar's EP, Will you be my yellow?. Bakar saved the best for last. He performed his big hits 'Alive' and 'Small Time Girl' before closing with his monster 'Hell N Back'. Bakar's whole set was live and the house really seemed to be having fun.
After Bakar, one of the main reasons for attending took the stage. The Giant is young is no stranger to AMP. All the staff are true fans. We had many features in the band. I've been to at least four of their tours and the band just seems to get better and better. In my opinion, the singer, Sameer Gadhia has one of the most melodious and powerful voices ever. His vocals grab me in a holistic way. It's almost spiritual.
The band's musicianship is also brilliant. They play with an undying fever. They can easily deliver a gorgeous shine as well as provide dramatic staying power. In addition to Gadhia (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Young the Giant consists of Jacob Tiley (guitar/keyboards), Eric Cannasta (guitar/vocals/keyboards), Payam Doostzadeh (bass/keyboards/vocals) and Francois Comtois ( Drums/Per). ). All the musicians played flawlessly.
The first song out was 'Jungle Youth' and then they went right into 'The Walk Home'. Sameer then discussed how their second album, Mind over matterit's already 10 years old and where did the time go. The band dropped into “Cough Syrup” which brought a huge response from the fans. 'Waves' followed 'Dollar Store' and 'Cult of Personality'. The crowd continued to sing along and really enjoyed the stellar musical smoothness that permeated the amp. “It's About Time” ran into “Call Me Back”. All the while Gandia was bringing the crowd. Everyone was enjoying the glorious music.
The last half of the set was a Young the Giant songfest. Each song was a huge hit for the band. “Superposition”, “Mind Over Matter” and the funkified “Tightrope” just killed. The entire audience was on their feet singing at the top of their lungs. Young the Giant was in total control. The band closed the night with monstrous covers of “Silvertongue” and “My Body”. Young the Giant once again proved himself to be the leader with a great outing.
This was my first time experiencing Cage the elephant live. The band has always had a place in my heart with their edgy vocals and vibrant soundscapes. Singer Matt Shultz stepped out with a boot on his leg and riding a scooter. It looks like he had a broken leg, but instead of letting that be a handicap, he used this scooter to the fullest. He had the audience respond with hoots and hollers every time he got up.
It was a fun game, but 2023 wasn't game time for Shultz. He had some kind of mental breakdown due to the fears that came during the pandemic. It culminated in his arrest for gun possession while staying at the Bowery Hotel in New York. Fortunately, he was able to plead and with help, he came back to reality. He exposed all his inner struggles Cage the elephanthis newest album, Neon pill. He talked about the last 5 years that had been hard on him and thanked everyone for their support. Additionally, Matt said he will always remember Bridgeport because he just adopted a puppy.
From the first song that came out, we had the pyro. “Broken Boy” from their 2019 album, Social cueshad engulfed the scene in fire. It was definitely a super opening and the audience was excited. The band also consisting of Brad Shultz (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), Daniel Tichenor (Bass/Vocals), Jared Champion (Drums), Nick Bockrath (Lead Guitar/Keys) and Matthan Minster (Keys/Rhythm Guitar) delivered unbeatable performances. . They were tight and on point.
“Cry Baby”, “Spiderhead”, “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and “Good Time” followed. All the while Matt had the house on his feet and was in the sonic hailstorm the band laid down. Cage the elephant they poured out torrents of kaleidoscopic beauty. “Cold Cold Cold” was exciting, but when the band launched into the title track of their 2024 album New Pillthe house lost it. His mesmerizing aura fills the amp with a bold zeal.
Throughout their 19 song set, Cage the elephant gave an avalanche of sound. “Ain't No Rest for the Wicked,” “Rainbow,” “Telescope” and “Sabertooth Tiger” packed a big punch. The encore just continued their explosive barrage. 'Shake Me Down', 'Cigarette Daydreams' and 'Come A Little Closer' were all smashes and left the crowd satisfied and satisfied.
All in all, a fantastic night of cheeky music.
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