Cage The Elephant COULD Save the World (least I think so) [VIDEO]

With a new record coming to us all in December produced by Dan Auerbach (black keys), a great catalog already, a STUPID good live show and possibly the best front man in the business, yes, Cage the Elephant could save the world. Or at least Rock n roll. 

Back when people thought they sounded like Beck because of one song only, I was a believer. When I got to talk with them back when they were just coming out and host the WCYY session they played in our Studio Y stripped down to acoustics, I was a believer.

I remember our music director and I thought, damn this dude up front has that "ants in his pants", Mick Jagger thing going on. Like a young Jagger in ways. Rough around the edges, soulful, rockin, potentially dangerous. ROCK n' ROLL.

Three albums later and just some world domination in there somewhere, Cage the Elephant is not just a breakthrough band with a couple tunes you like to sing. They're one of the best bands in the world. I've been lucky to have seen them about half a dozen times now. They have a set list that impresses you song after song. They've made so many great songs and they haven't been around as long as you'd think. There's bands who are lucky to have one memorable song in 30 years! Now a days, there's too many bands that are easily forgettable. These guys make it look easy cause they do it so well.

They can make you flip out and rock out. Shake and move, twist and turn. Chill and drift. Everything they do, they do right. I've waited for them to deliver just one brick to show they're human....

Still waiting.

They're a rock n' roll presentation with all the spit and passion of a punk rock band. Brothers Matt and Brad Shultz have that kind of cool brotherly distance in public, but they couldn't be any closer in the most important ways. They've crafted one of the coolest sounds on the airwaves, on wax and in your digital device. It's a throwback feel but when you can't think of an exact band they actually sound just like... you realize, it's all them. It's Cage the Elephant and on one else.

It's like a band from the mid to late 60's who was just starting, didn't have a record deal yet but was about to go out on tour with Eric Burdon & the Animals as support and they accidentally installed the flex capacitor in their van and low and behold... vrrrooooommm, here they are Marty and Doc! That band from back then has started with us here fresh in the 2000's. Yet along the way the awesomely found out about the best 80's and early 90's college rock and jammed them into the sound too. Cage is fresh with classic ingredients. Their mindstate making records is always from a music fan's perspective. They honor influences, gear, techniques and well crafted songs. They stir it all up for us and them, the result is nothing necessarily magical. It's pure gold! The real deal stuff we're deprived of these days due to the ways of the new world of music. Bands are too focused on their smartphone, Twitter account, merch table, blogs, trends.... not enough focus on the music. Screw all that other stuff. Really. SCREW ALL OF IT. As a serious music fan I don't care or want any of it, until you blow my ass out the back door with a great record or song. Horse before the cart. It's music first. Cage understands that.

(PS.. they have a younger brother Daniel, who's super talented and bound to do great things too. Keep an eye out for him with any of his bands, Maelle, Bad Cop or Plastic Visions. It's in the blood I tell ya)

Ok, you're saying "Mark... what gives?" You're acting like this is a new band! Why are you talking to us all like we don't know who Cage the Elephant is?" Hey, I'm a music fan psyched about one of my favorites band's new albums! Remember when you used to be super psyched to hear a new album from one of your favorites? Too many people have lost that joy. That's not good. It's a wonderful joy. It's like a musical Christmas that happens many times a year.

I'm psyched for Cage! (I'm hoping they'll make a LONG overdue return to Portland too) The new song is here and the new album is coming. I'm excited and just singing their praise is all. They've earned it. I'm like a proud friend watching their buddy achieve at sports or school or stage. Like Mr. Miaggi watching Daniel-son kick the crap out of Kobra-Kai. I'm want to see them win and continue to win. And I'll be honest, I think they need to be re-introduced to some because I'm not sure people realize enough how great this band truly is. They're not just one of the bands today; they're one of the greatest bands today.

And check out this new album teaser for proof of that.

...A LIVE SHOW TREAT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WANTING A SECOND SERVING