Photo by Matt Masters // Sidelines Archives
Kentucky alt-rockers Cage the Elephant are set to headline Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Thursday, May 19.
The band — who has relocated to Music City in recent years — has frequented several local venues since the release of 2013’s Melophobia including Mercy Lounge and The Basement East, opened for the Black Keys at Bridgestone Arena, headlined Live on the Green, rocked out at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and more.
This time, the group is playing their biggest Nashville show yet and is bringing with them their latest album, Tell Me I’m Pretty, recorded in Nashville with the assistance of the Keys’ Dan Auerbach. The band tested the 10-track release with three intimate local performances late last year, but Thursday’s show marks the first show since the band toured the album this spring.
“It’s been really refreshing to see everyone’s reaction and how many people already know the songs,” Shultz said in a phone interview. “It’s revitalized the set.”
Shultz said the recording partnership with Auerbach came to fruition while on tour together over the years. One night while backstage, Brad and lead singer Matt Shultz showed Auerbach pieces of new tracks and the next day he asked to see the songs.
“We showed him and it all fell into place … We had toured with the Black Keys several times and had just become friends,” Shultz said. “After shows we found a like-mindedness towards recording and songwriting and different things we loved with music.”
Cage is set to tour the U.S. throughout July with stops in Florida, California, Illinois and their home state of Kentucky. Although the band’s origins stem from Bowling Green, Shultz said they found a home in Nashville’s music scene.
“I’ve always loved Nashville, there’s a lot happening right now,” he continued. “People care about what they do in Nashville.”
The show is set for 7 p.m. at Ascend Amphitheater, located in downtown Nashville, with openers Portugal. The Man and Broncho.
Check out frontman Matt Shultz’s directorial debut on “Trouble,” which premiered via Pitchfork, below.
Cage the Elephant Tour Dates
May 6 – Grand Rapids, MI @ DeltaPlex *
May 7 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre *
May 8 – Toronto, ON @ International Centre – Arrow Hall *
May 10 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *
May 11 – Albany, NY @ Times Union Center *
May 15 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion *
May 16 – New York City, NY @ SummmerStage, Central Park *
May 19 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater *
May 20 – Duluth, GA @ Infinite Energy Arena *
May 21 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Festival
June 3 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center ^
June 4 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica ^
June 5 – Columbus, OH @ EXPRESS LIVE! ^
June 7 – Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion %
June 9 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Pavilion %
June 10 – Minneapolis, MN @ U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center ^
June 11 – Madison, WI @ Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center ^
June 14 – Calgary, AB @ Calgary Stampede Corral ^
June 15 – Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Centre ^
June 17 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum ^
June 18 – Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater ^
June 19 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater ^
June 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium %
June 22 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center %
June 23 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic %
June 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ^
June 26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Gila River Arena ^
* with Portugal. The Man + Broncho
^ with Portugal. The Man + Twin Peaks
% with Portugal. The Man
For more tour dates, click here.
To see more Cage the Elephant coverage, click here.
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To contact Lifestyles Editor Tanner Dedmon email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
