Cage The Elephant’s Neon Pill Tour in The Woodlands

Words & Photos by Anna Burson

July 12, 2024 — Cage The Elephant brought their “Neon Pill Tour” to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas for an energetic and action packed performance.

Cage The Elephant is an alternative/indie rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky formed in 2006. 18 years later, current members Matthew Shultz (lead vocals), his brother Brad Shultz (guitar), Jared Champion (drums), Daniel Tichenor (bass), Matthan Minster (keyboard, guitar) and Nick Bockrath (guitar) are still making their mark in the music industry.

If there was one word to describe the performance it would be ENERGY! The band opened with “Broken Boy” and incorporated pyrotechnics throughout the song. As the venue lit up with an orange glow, you could see a look of excitement spread across the crowd. In a community still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, the upbeat and energetic performance was a welcomed change of pace with events that occurred only a few days prior. One of my favorite things about this show was how engaged the band was with the audience. Within the first few songs, both Matt and his brother Brad were standing on the platforms in front of the barricade interacting with the crowd. Matt would then run back and forth to each side of the stage and sing in either direction.

Throughout the show, they played songs off their most recent album Neon Pill, including the title track and “Rainbow.” The set also included fan favorites such as “ Cold Cold Cold,” “Trouble,” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” Matt mentioned earlier in the show that his earpiece wasn’t working. His professionalism shined through as the band continued on with the rest of the night playing hit after hit. The set accompanied by the lighting and electrifying stage presence made for an outstanding performance. During “Rainbow,” the lighting changed to a rainbow hue that dimly-lit the stage. The audience even participated in illuminating the venue by holding up their flashlights during “Telescope.”

As the concert came to a close, the night ended with an encore that captured the crowd’s love for the band as they sang along. “Shake Me Down” started the encore, followed by “Cigarette Daydreams.” This song was one of my favorite concert memories. I’ve never heard a crowd sing an entire song and be as loud as the performer. The atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve experienced and I can only recommend you experience it for yourself. The energy continued through the band’s final song, “Come a Little Closer,” and the pyrotechnics returned. Ironically, Matt joked that his earpiece started working again just as the concert was about to be over.

Overall, Cage The Elephant put on an amazing show and was nothing but a good time. The tour continues through September with both North American and Canadian dates. If you have the opportunity to see them live, DO IT!