Fast paced? Check. Crowd-surfing lead singer? Check. Lead guitarist standing on kick drum facing the drummer in classic guitar pose? Check. In short, Cage the Elephant brought all the requisites for a good show, especially as this was the best (read: only) stop on the tour. Lead singer Matt Schultz greeted us early with several, “nice to meet you"s and brought enormous energy to the stage, never standing still while belting out his lyrics. Unfortunately the vocals were a little hard to understand at times due to ambient noise, except on those few tracks with the best known, chant-along lyrics, such as “In One Ear” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” which features a southern flavored slide guitar intro. As High Dive is a smaller sized venue, Cage the Elephant incited a respectable first fours rows to mosh, which clearly pleased and motivated the performers. Matt Shultz took full advantage of the tight throng of bodies and dove straight into the dancing crowd. We gladly held him up and passed him back to stage when the time to sing was again at hand. All of the band was clearly feeling their music: bobbing heads, moving around stage and at times even leaning on one another. Matt Schultz even playfully used his microphone to sweep the hair out of bassist Daniel Titchenor’s eyes.
I can’t help but feel that the debut album is actually a side project some bigger band assembled so they could play around with new things, something along the lines of Blink 182’s side project Boxcar Racer or The Transplants. The sound has been described as a mating between the White Stripes and the Stooges, but we all know that cross-breeds are sterile. The high point of the show was certainly when Matt Shultz jumped off the stage but instead of crowd surfing he took a couple of seconds to position himself on some fellow’s shoulders and then finished the song atop the crowd who yelled all the louder. This provided some great photos and video for this team until his path wound dangerously close to the photography equipment. Guess that’s how you know its time to put away your camera and go join the crowd.
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Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Also, I have yet to pay this venue a visit, is it good spot? good people, good vibe, good atmosphere?
... man, i hope i win some tickets…
by Jaz Bonnin-Aldatz on Thu May 17, 2012 at 12.27 am from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Looking forward to the show. Would love to win some tix for my pals.
by MC Breath on Wed May 16, 2012 at 07.40 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
I’m dying to see him no better place than FETE!!
by Telly on Tue May 15, 2012 at 02.57 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Sound does matter. Viva Le Fete!
by Auquanetta on Tue May 15, 2012 at 01.13 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
YES! i MUST go to this show! i was just strollin down the street the other day and saw the poster! SO stoked they’ll be in town.
by Jaz on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.30 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Fete Forever!!
by Tabitha on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.08 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Congratulations and thank you to Fete for bringing talent to Providence! We needed this venue and vibe. Bless.
oh and I’d love to win tickets; its my boyfriends bday:D
by Ellen on Mon May 14, 2012 at 07.23 am from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
this was a great show. You have to love the energy of a band in a venue that size.