Cage The Elephant at the O2 Apollo, Manchester.

By Will Robinson.

Alt-rock outfit Cage The Elephant returned to Manchester and we were lucky enough to attend. With the reputation these guys have in their live shows, it was one we couldn't wait for.

The night began with fabulous support from Girl Tones and Sunflower Bean.

GIRL TONES

SUNFLOWER BEAN

The Kentucky band first gained traction in the 2010s, when it was hard to listen to modern music without hearing the name Cage The Elephant. In May last year they released their most recent album Neon Pill. The record was met with great success, and we've been anxiously anticipating this show since it was announced. Appealing to all ages and many different tastes, the band filled Manchester's iconic Apollo with ease, and it was fantastic to see.

There are a lot of alternative rock bands floating around, with more popping up everyday. Cage the Elephant have managed to never conform to the "rules", instead bending them to create a new sound a style, never heard before. The performance opened with "Broken Boy" from their album Social Cues, straight into "Cry Baby" and "Spiderhead". Singer Matt Shultz seemed to spend more time in the air than with his feet on the stage, and his enigmatic stage presence is something to remember.

The rest of the band leave nothing to be desired, each commanding the stage with expertise and energy to match the sound of the music. The setlist continued with "Mess Around" and "Trouble". The crowd were ecstatic, filling the Apollo with joy and movement. There is obvious chemistry between band members, clearly between brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, on vocals and rhythm guitar. They are all having a great time on stage, a key ingredient to a band's longevity in the industry.

After a whopping 18 songs, the band leave the stage, only to of course, return to the stage for an encore of a further four songs, including the viral and infamous "Cigarette Daydreams" from their very first album Melophobia. Overall, the guys put on a phenomenal show, and we can't wait for them to return.