Last night, Cage the Elephant and The Black Keys rocked the KFC Yum! Center.
The doors opened shortly after 7pm; opening band Cage the Elephant took the stage around 8pm. Formed in nearby Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2006, Cage the Elephant displayed a type of crazed energy that only a rock group could. Singer Matt Shultz was definitely the ringleader of this energy, making sure that everyone at the concert, including the band, was having a good time. Cage the Elephant performed their more popular hits like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” “Shake Me Down,” “Come a Little Closer,” “Back Against the Wall,” and “In One Ear,” as well as other songs from their 3 studio albums. During their set some casual crowd surfing ensued, which began with lead singer Shultz and ended with two concert-goers being escorted out for crossing the security barrier. It really doesn’t get more stereotypical rock show than that!
Shortly after 9pm, The Black Keys took the stage. The Black Keys are yet another Midwest band formed just a few hours away in Akron, Ohio in 2001. With guitar solos that would make Jimi Hendrix applaud, a blues-y sound that would make B.B. King jealous, and a whole lot of rock, The Black Keys are everything you want from a garage band that made it big. Of course, radio hits like “Tighten Up,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” and “Howling for You” were staple songs, essential to every show I’m sure, but the crowd seemed to really enjoy “Run Right Back,” “Money Maker,” “Gotta Get Away,” and a cover of “Girl Like You” originally by Edwin Collins as well. The special effects like giant television screens and an artistic light show were simple, elegant, and effective. For an encore, The Black Keys played another one of their hits “Little Black Submarines.”
Though the turnout wasn’t as big as I expected, more and more people filed in before The Black Keys performed, but I think missing out on Cage the Elephant would’ve been a huge mistake. As per usual, the Yum! Center staff was organized and helpful. It’s been awhile since my last good rock show, so I left satisfied with the outcome of the night. I would definitely see both bands in concert again.
Title photo by Max Sharp from Forecastle 2013. Album photos also by Max Sharp.
