Between Grit and Grace: Cage The Elephant at The Met Philly 10/25/2025
words/photos: Julia Hill
The Met Philadelphia welcomed Grammy-winning contemporary rock band Cage the Elephant to its stage Saturday night. The sold-out venue was thrumming with life as attendees filed to their seats, some having waited hours before in line to be one of the lucky few to snag an up-close spot at the barrier. The gutsy rock band, which originally formed in 2006 in Kentucky, assembling sleazy blues riffs into modern chart-topping hits, unleashed itself in Philly like a hurricane of melodic fury.
However, before Cage completely demolished the ears and minds of all who saw them, special guests Hey, Nothing, and Bec Lauder and The Noise opened the evening. Bec Lauder and The Noise put on a dynamic and lively set that piqued my interest from the very first note. The three-piece, all-female rock band from New York crafted an enticing and soulful performance that has likely garnered them more than a few new listeners from the pleased crowd. In contrast, but nonetheless intriguing, was the folk duo Hey, Nothing, who delivered heartfelt ballads and upbeat rock tunes. The playful banter between songs endeared them to the audience. The sincerity of Hey, Nothing as they played was plain to see, simply friends jamming for the love of it, who happened to be playing one of Philly’s most historic venues.
About ten minutes after nine, the lights blackened and the crowd bellowed. Cage the Elephant was taking the stage. The beginning notes of “Broken Boy,” from their 2019 album Social Cues, boomed through the speakers, and frontman Matt Shultz wrangled the microphone with an explosive presence that left jaws on the floor and feet dancing. Shultz has to be one of the most invigorating and powerful frontmen currently around; he can’t help but move like there's a fire burning in his shoes. Everyone couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear the entire show.
The setlist perfectly encapsulated the band's wide repertoire and flowed seamlessly from “Cry Baby” (Tell Me I’m Pretty) and “Spiderhead” (Melophobia). Cage ebbed and flowed with extreme high energy while also allowing for more intimate moments when they played “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and “Good Time” from their latest album, Neon Pill. The night continued just as it began, with vibrancy and Cage’s stirring presence alongside a song catalog that dominates. The crowd was fully under their spell until the last chord was strummed and note sung.
However, before Cage completely demolished the ears and minds of all who saw them, special guests Hey, Nothing, and Bec Lauder and The Noise opened the evening. Bec Lauder and The Noise put on a dynamic and lively set that piqued my interest from the very first note. The three-piece, all-female rock band from New York crafted an enticing and soulful performance that has likely garnered them more than a few new listeners from the pleased crowd. In contrast, but nonetheless intriguing, was the folk duo Hey, Nothing, who delivered heartfelt ballads and upbeat rock tunes. The playful banter between songs endeared them to the audience. The sincerity of Hey, Nothing as they played was plain to see, simply friends jamming for the love of it, who happened to be playing one of Philly’s most historic venues.
About ten minutes after nine, the lights blackened and the crowd bellowed. Cage the Elephant was taking the stage. The beginning notes of “Broken Boy,” from their 2019 album Social Cues, boomed through the speakers, and frontman Matt Shultz wrangled the microphone with an explosive presence that left jaws on the floor and feet dancing. Shultz has to be one of the most invigorating and powerful frontmen currently around; he can’t help but move like there's a fire burning in his shoes. Everyone couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear the entire show.
The setlist perfectly encapsulated the band's wide repertoire and flowed seamlessly from “Cry Baby” (Tell Me I’m Pretty) and “Spiderhead” (Melophobia). Cage ebbed and flowed with extreme high energy while also allowing for more intimate moments when they played “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and “Good Time” from their latest album, Neon Pill. The night continued just as it began, with vibrancy and Cage’s stirring presence alongside a song catalog that dominates. The crowd was fully under their spell until the last chord was strummed and note sung.
Cage The Elephant
Bec Lauder and The Noise
Hey, Nothing
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