by Ellen Offredy | Photos by Ellen Offredy
In Photos: Cage The Elephant at Brixton Academy, 20/1/17
The Kentucky four-piece were triumphant
Cage The Elephant packed out Brixton Academy on Friday night (20 January) marking the biggest London show of their ten year career.
The sense of occasion certainly seemed to mean something to lead singer Matt Shultz. Careering about the stage constantly, settling down only briefly for the acoustic encore of 'Right Before my Eyes'; he was a transfixing presence throughout and on irrepressible form.
Delightfully, the band didn't scrimp when it came to drawing on old stuff: fan favourites 'Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked' and 'In One Ear' - taken from their debut album - brought the house down. But then again, 'Cry Baby' and 'Trouble' garnered an incredible reaction, too, showing just how loved their latest album is since it's had a year to settle in to people's collections.
Not all bands get to say this, lots of great guitar bands will fizzle away before the ten year mark, but CTE have made it. The experience they have from all the touring, rather than fraying them, has only added to their quality and this show had everything right.