Cage the Elephant

Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant members Daniel Tichenor, Lincoln Parish and Matthew Shultz in 2009.
Background information
Origin	Bowling Green, Kentucky
Genres	Alternative rock, garage rock, punk blues, indie rock
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Relentless (2007–present) RED Ink (2008–09) Jive (2008–11) RCA (2011–present)
Website	Official website

Members	Matthew Shultz Brad Shultz Lincoln Parish Daniel Tichenor Jared Champion

Cage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in mid-2006. Since their formation, the band has gained a large following in the US as well as the UK and Canada for their sound and their high-energy live performances. The band released their self-titled debut album on May 19, 2008 (June 23, 2008 in the UK). The album made them very popular in both Europe and America.[1] On January 11, 2011, the group released their second album, Thank You, Happy Birthday (March 21, 2011 in the UK). The second album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200,[2] and earned the band much positive reception.[3] Both albums were produced by Jay Joyce of Jive Records.[4]

Early years and self-titled album (2007–10)

Members of Cage the Elephant had previously been involved in the band Perfect Confusion. The band signed with Relentless Records after showcasing at the 2007 South by Southwest music festival, and then moved to London, England.[5] They released their eponymous debut album, Cage the Elephant, on June 23, 2008 in the UK and April 21, 2009 in the US/Japan/Australia/Canada. The album obtained mostly favorable reviews. Their single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and was featured in the Gearbox Software video game Borderlands.[6]

Cage the Elephant appeared as a support act on tour with The Pigeon Detectives in early 2008 and with Silversun Pickups and Manchester Orchestra in 2009. The single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" was the free single of the week on iTunes for the week of April 12, 2009. The group made a national TV appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked", in July 2009. In August 2007, Cage the Elephant played for the first time at Lollapalooza in Chicago, and returned to the festival in August 2009, as well as San Francisco's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival on August 30, 2009.[7] Prior to their return to Lollapalooza the band also played at the music festival Bonnaroo twice, in June 2007 and 2009. "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" was played in the 2010 movie The Bounty Hunter, as well as the 2009 game "Borderlands". They released the single "Back Against the Wall" on November 10, 2009.[8] They supported many bands like Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra, and Stone Temple Pilots on tour.

Thank You, Happy Birthday (2011–present)

The band's sophomore album, Thank You, Happy Birthday, was released in January 2011. Thank You, Happy Birthday was released to high critical acclaim. The album sold 39,000 copies during its first week in the U.S., debuting at Number 2 on the Billboard 200, losing to the band Cake's Showroom of Compassion.[9] The album received much praise from critics.

Throughout the year, Cage the Elephant supported the album by playing live. The group landed multiple late night shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman[10] and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[11] Cage the Elephant also landed the bill for the music festivals such as Coachella and the Glastonbury Festival. On August 6, 2011, Cage the Elephant performed at the Kansas Speedway for the first annual Kanrocksas music festival. In the later half of the year, the band supported the Foo Fighters, who were on tour supporting their new album Wasting Light. In October, drummer Jared Champion's appendix suddenly burst, requiring immediate medical attention. Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters' frontman and former drummer of Nirvana, temporarily filled in for Champion while he was recuperating.[12]

The band's hit song "Shake Me Down" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in September 2011,[13] but lost to "Walk" by the Foo Fighters.[14]

The group's audience expanded exponentially throughout 2011. Although they were formed in the late 2000s, the band earned the top spot in Rolling Stone's "Reader's Poll: The Best New Artist of 2011". The band Sleeper Agent, another Bowling Green music group and close friends with Cage the Elephant, came in second place. The magazine also named Thank You, Happy Birthday as the 15th best album of the year. In 2011, Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra embarked on a co-headlining tour with Sleeper Agent as the opening band.

In January 2012, the band released a live album titled Live from The Vic in Chicago, recorded during their 2011 tour and also toured with the Big Day Out music festival.

Untitled third album

On March 22, 2012 via Twitter and Facebook they announced they were "working on album No. 3".[15] Since then pictures on their Facebook page and Twitter account have occasionally shown images of the recording process.

On December 11, 2012 they wrote on Twitter "12 songs ready, 5 more to workout, and then it's studio time!!!!!"[16]

With the songs written, they entered the studio for the recording process on January 7th. Lincoln wrote on Twitter "Lots to do today, start recording Cage the Elephant album #3 tomorrow!!!!" And a follow up "And so it begins #CTENUMBER3"

On March 25, 2013 they wrote "Back in the studio today!"[17]

On June 6, 2013 the band, on their official Facebook page, announced that they have finished recording the album. [18]

Band members

Cage the Elephant is made up of five members, including brothers Matt and Brad Shultz.

Matthew Shultz – lead vocals,
Lincoln Parish – lead guitar
Brad Shultz – rhythm guitar
Daniel Tichenor – bass guitar, backing vocals
Jared Champion – drums, percussion

Discography

Main article: Cage the Elephant discography

Studio albums

Cage the Elephant (2008)
Thank You, Happy Birthday (2011)
Untitled (2013)

Photos

At London Barfly on March 18, 2008
At London Barfly on March 18, 2008

References

^ "Cage the Elephant interview". May 2008.
^ "Cake's sweet new album is No.1". January 2011.
^ "Thank You, Happy Birthday Reviews--Metacritic". January 2011.
^ "Cage the Elephant Announce NEW Album 'Thank You, Happy Birthday' Out January 11". November 2010.
^ "Cage the Elephant Clears Up Hippie Commune Rumors". BlackBook Magazine. April 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
^ "Top 100 Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company. June 22, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
^ "Lollapalooza interview". Roxwel.com. August 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
^ Back Against the Wall – Single by Cage the ElephANT
^ "Cake Scores Lowest-Selling No. 1 Album in SoundScan History". Billboard.com. January 19, 2011.
^ "Cage the Elephant celebrates 'Happy Birthday' on Letterman". January 2011.
^ "The Tonight Show Episode Guide". Retrieved 2011-08-17.
^ Dave Grohl drums for Cage The Elephant after sticksman Jared Champion falls ill – video | News | NME.COM
^ "Cage the Elephant's VMA Nod 'A Total Surprise'". MTV.com. July 21, 2011.
^ "Foo Fighters Win, Defend Rock Music at VMAs". MTV.com. August 28, 2011.
^ https://twitter.com/#!/CageTheElephant/status/182896699751137280
^ https://twitter.com/CageTheElephant/status/278577331193401344
^ https://twitter.com/CageTheElephant/status/316223983936741376
^ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151412373507511&set=a.63565077510.86814.7634692510&type=1&theater

External links

Official website
Cage the Elephant artist page on VH1.com
Interview in the Virgin Red Room

Curate

Track

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