The Neon Pill Tour 2024

Brad Shultz of Cage the Elephant effortlessly maximizes our excitement after a long wait through lightening and pounding rain for the show to begin.

The storm had already made its presence known, with lightning cracking the sky over Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC, on the night of August 3, 2024. Baker and Vlad Holiday, who were set to open the show, saw their sets washed away by the weather, leaving the crowd restless yet resolute. But when the skies cleared, and the stage was prepped, it was Young the Giant from Irvine, California, who emerged first. Their unique blend of indie rock and alternative sounds, driven by the dynamic vocals of Sameer Gadhia, along with the tight musicianship of Jacob Tilley, Eric Cannata, Payam Doostzadeh, and Francois Comtois, brought the night back to life. Their latest release, American Bollywood, had the audience swaying in the humid night air, a brief escape from the earlier storm’s fury.

But it was Cage the Elephant, hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that truly electrified the crowd. Frontman Matt Shultz, despite having broken his foot just the night before during an energetic performance in Charlotte, NC, wasn’t going to let a little thing like a busted limb stop him. He had a misstep while bounding across the stage at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, causing a nasty fall that left him with a fractured foot. Yet, as the lights dimmed and the band took the stage, Matt, clad in a protective boot, hobbled out with the same wild energy fans had come to expect. The band—comprising Brad Shultz, Nick Bockrath, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, and Matthan Minster—tore through tracks from their latest album, Social Cues, like men possessed, with Matt’s injury adding an extra layer of raw grit to their already powerful performance.

Cage the Elephant’s website (www.cagetheelephant.com) and Young the Giant’s site (www.youngthegiant.com) tell the tale of bands that defy genre confines, blending rock, indie, and alternative with a bit of something you can’t quite pin down but know you need. And on that stormy Raleigh night, both bands proved why they’re at the top of their game, weathering not just the literal storm but the challenges that come with live music. The fans were undeniably moved by this night of unforgettable performances.

Young the Giant

Cage the Elephant