Cage the Elephant is an American indie rock and alternative rock band formed in mid-2006 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The sextet is known for its high energy when performing live, especially from lead singer Matt Shultz.

The band was formed in mid-2006 when Perfect Confusion (the band in which Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, and Jared Champion played) broke up. Their first CD was released on June 23, 2008 in the United Kingdom, and on April 21, 2009 in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. The single “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.

After a live performance at the South by Southwest festival in 2007, the band signed a contract with the label Relentless and moved from their native Kentucky to London, England. The main reason was their intention to become known in Europe first and build a steady fan base before launching themselves in the United States. The band released their first, self-titled studio album, Cage the Elephant, on June 23, 2008 in the UK; it wasn’t released until April 29, 2009 in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. From that album, the single “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” gained the most prominence after being included in the soundtrack of Borderlands, a video game developed by Gearbox Software.

In early 2008, Cage the Elephant opened for The Pigeon Detectives, and in 2009 they joined Silversun Pickups and Manchester Orchestra on a U.S. tour.

Members

Matt Shultz – vocals and guitar
Nick Bockrath – lead guitar and backing vocals
Brad Shultz – rhythm guitar and keyboards
Daniel Tichenor – bass and backing vocals
Jared Champion – drums and percussion
Matthan Minster – keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals

Meanings

Cage the Elephant’s lyrics often deal with personal struggle, relationships, and mental health, frequently explored through metaphors and the life experiences of vocalist Matt Shultz. Themes such as divorce (Ready To Let Go) and recovery from medication-induced psychosis are explored in their more recent albums, such as Neon Pill.

Their best-known songs include tracks like “Cold Cold Cold,” an intense metaphor about inner struggle and the search for help in moments of emotional despair, or “Skin and Bones,” an introspective reflection on resilience and the search for direction in life. There are also more personal songs like “Social Cues,” in which Matt Shultz (the vocalist) expresses a sense of disconnection and dissatisfaction with the entertainment world despite the band’s achievements and recognition.

Fun Facts

Name: According to Shultz, the name was simply one of the options suggested to them by a manager at the time, despite the fact that they used to make up stories about the origin of the name.

Social Cues: The album Social Cues by Cage the Elephant emerged during an extremely difficult and dark period in the vocalist’s life, as he was going through a painful divorce and dealing with the loss of several close people who took their own lives.

Dream job: In an interview conducted in Mexico, vocalist Matt Shultz revealed that if he were not a member of Cage the Elephant, his ideal job would be to be an astronaut or a scientist. He also mentioned that he would be interested in becoming a painter or a dancer.

Jujutsu Kaisen: This headband goes really well with the fight scenes in the anime.

5 Seconds to Summer: Listeners of this band also listen to 5 Seconds to Summer since they share the same genre.