Not only did Cage the Elephant release their new song "Beaches in Tennessee", but also announced they signed a new label deal with Big Loud Rock. The news reminded me of when I saw them live at Sea Hear Now 2022. First I was blown away by how many songs I actually knew of the band (easy to forget how many bangers they have). Then I was in awe of Matt Shultz - who graced the stage (and crowd) with the swagger of Mick Jagger and the unpredictability of Iggy Pop. I feel like the song "Come a Little Closer" is the perfect theme for their set - primarily because Shultz ended the show by crowd surfing near where I was standing, then proceeded to warmly embrace an enormous security guard before climbing the sound booth tower right behind me. Even before that, though, Cage the Elephant's performance in Asbury Park had won me over.
What band's festival performance won you over almost instantly? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!