Cage The Elephant, even though I had to recall the Bart Gets An Elephant episode of The Simpsons (season 5) to find the proper verb, ran amok in Central Park converting their fans into zealots and the non-committed into fans. After having an ear on them for the last eight years or so, I was in the former category as they’ve served up a generous handful of infectious, satisfying singles. Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked set the tone in 2008. Come A Little Closer 3 years ago acted as another gesticulating finger in their direction…and Mess Around late last year was further reminder that this band knows hooks and song craft.
The most recent album, their fourth, Tell Me I’m Prettyis rewarding end to end and has all the charm of finding a band on the Nuggets (Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965 – 1968) box set, then finding a whole album by that band that lives up to the single. Tell Me I’m Pretty stands among (with albums like 2012’s Locked Down by Dr. John ) Dan Auerbach’s best work at a producer. As Matthan Megrew Minster explained, he put the keyboard parts on afterwards but the record is largely the sound of the band really playing together in a room. Auerbach was adamant about no click track. Brad Shultz revealed this was to the chagrin of drummer Jared Champion, as it would be to many stickmen, but Champion made it work and the album has that elusive organic quality that is often spoken of but rarely achieved.
And the live show…great googly moogly! Pure energy and excitement. Vocalist Matt Shultz, as the video reveals, is rarely in the same spot on the stage for more than a few seconds and his older brother Brad – who was captured serenading a Summerstage security guard while injecting himself into the audience – is cut from the same cloth.
As their participation in the interview suggests, Matthan Minster and lead guitarist Nick Bockrath are full-on members these days so, along with bassman Daniel Tichenor, the Elephant will boldly march on as a sextet…
THIS JUST IN (on 5/19): CTE will do a free show at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 as part of Fleet Week. A hootenanny dubbed the Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Block Party will be held on Sunday, May 29, beginning at 1pm, with the concert beginning at 4:30 pm. Complimentary tickets for service members and civilians will be available beginning May 25. No details on how to get the paper but my guess (that I’ll confirm if and when I an) is they’ll be up for grabs at 348 West 44th Street where the Spiced Rum folks will be setting up a home base.