Cage the Elephant Let Their Light Shine at Osheaga
As the sun began to sink behind Parc Jean-Drapeau on the final night of Osheaga, Cage the Elephant stepped onto the Mountain stage and reminded everyone exactly why they’ve been a mainstay of modern rock for over a decade. From where we sat on the hill, picnic blanket laid out beneath us, the entire moment felt like the perfect wind-down to a weekend full of noise, heat, and beautiful chaos.
The energy heading into the set was quietly electric. No frenzy. Just hundreds of us stretched out across the grass, buzzing in anticipation and ready to take in something meaningful. When Matt Shultz finally took the mic, he made it count.
Cage the Elephant’s setlist was a hit parade that left no fan behind. “Trouble,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” “Telescope,” and of course “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” hit with full force, each one pulling the crowd deeper into collective nostalgia. I hadn’t realized just how deeply their music had rooted itself in me until I found myself singing nearly every word back at the stage.
As always, Matt was the nucleus of the performance. He flung himself into the crowd, slithered across the stage, and closed his eyes with every scream like he was exorcising some personal demon. His voice cracked and soared, and the sincerity in his delivery was unmistakable. You could tell he wasn’t holding anything back.
One moment in particular stood out: just before “Telescope,” he asked the crowd to raise their lights. Thousands of tiny stars blinked into being, and as the final notes of the song faded out, Matt opened his eyes and said he almost cried. It wasn’t performative. You could hear it in his voice. And it really felt like he and the audience were connected.
This was the third or fourth time I’ve seen them, and it might have been the most powerful yet. Matt spoke candidly about his struggles through the years, and he thanked us for staying with the band through it all. It’s easy to keep coming back when they keep showing up like this. Raw, honest, and unforgettable. Cage the Elephant didn’t just put on a show. They proved once again that they’re one of the defining bands of our time. If you grew up with their music, this set was a reminder of just how far we've come.
Review by: Chris Murphy, Photos by: Susan Moss
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