Cage The Elephant

Cage The Elephant are a rock band formed in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2006, led by vocalist Matt Shultz alongside his brother Brad Shultz on guitar, with guitarist Nick Bockrath, bassist Daniel Tichenor, and drummer Jared Champion. One of the most enduring and critically acclaimed American rock bands of their generation, they built a catalogue of visceral, blues-and-garage-rooted alternative rock distinguished by Matt Shultz's physically committed performances and consistently inventive songwriting. Formed in Kentucky and initially signed to British label Relentless after building a following in London, their self-titled debut (2008) contained the massive rock radio hit 'Ain't No Rest for the Wicked' — a strutting, bluesy song used prominently in the video game *Borderlands* — which gave them an unexpected viral moment and sustained radio presence. *Thank You, Happy Birthday* (2011) was rawer and more chaotic, driven by post-punk energy. *Melophobia* (2013) was their artistic leap — a more psychedelic, sonically expansive record that demonstrated their range and earned their strongest reviews to date. *Tell Me I'm Pretty* (2015), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, was a back-to-basics garage rock record that won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and produced the anthemic 'Mess Around' and 'Shake Me Down.' *Social Cues* (2019) delved into darker psychological territory, dealing with Matt Shultz's mental health struggles and the dissolution of his marriage, while *Neon Pill* (2024) continued their evolution with an energetic, melodically rich collection. Matt Shultz's wild, contortionist stage presence — climbing speaker stacks, crowd-surfing, and channelling an abandon that recalls Iggy Pop — has made Cage the Elephant one of live rock's most compelling acts, and their Grammy wins have brought well-deserved mainstream recognition to consistently high-quality work.