Review & Photos: Cage The Elephant in Cleveland, Ohio

By David Desin, OOTB Publications

Cage The Elephant sells out The Agora in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

From the moment the lights dropped and the band launched into their first number, the crowd—packed to capacity and buzzing with anticipation—was firmly in the grip of Cage the Elephant’s kinetic energy.

The Agora, intimate by rock-arena standards, became less a venue and more a shared furnace of sound and motion.

Lead vocalist Matt Shultz, at the eye of the storm, was pure rock-frontman force. He didn’t just lead the band, he commandeered the room.

His movements across the stage were ceaseless—he prowled, lunged, leaned into the audience, delivered vocals with a raw power that rose above the crashing

drums and guitar riffs.

In one moment he was at the mic-stand, his body arcing into the audience, in the next, he was halfway across the stage, connecting with fans on the rail, making eye contact, extending his hand, drawing them into the show.

Throughout the set, Shultz would pause mid-song to invite the crowd in—a clapback, a call-and-response, an electrified moment of communal shouting. The crowd responded in kind: singing back every chorus, moving as one to every surge in the music.

The setlist was strong.

Fan favorites like “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” and “Come A Little Closer” worked beautifully amid newer tracks, creating a show that acknowledged the past while pushing forward.

The band’s tight musicianship provided the foundation as Shultz’s stagecraft added to the wildfire.But what made this particular night memorable, was how fully Shultz worked the crowd.

From front-row banter to full-stage dives, he bridged the gap between performer and audience. He made The Agora feel less like a sold-out building and more like a shared, sweaty, joyful mass of human connectivity.

Lighting, stage design and production were strong, but minimal enough to keep the focus on the performance rather than spectacle. This allowed the live energy—pulsating, relentless—to carry the night.

In short: this show proved once again why Cage The Elephant continues to be one of rock’s most engaging live acts, and why Matt Shultz remains one of the frontmen you go to shows for—not just for the songs, but for the experience.

The sold-out Agora show was more than a concert: it was a high-voltage performance, a crowd-work masterclass, and a reminder of how visceral live rock can be.

If you were there, you likely left with ears ringing, heart thumping, and the satisfaction of having been part of something alive.

If you weren’t there, it’s safe to say when Cage The Elephant comes through next, you’ll want to be there.

Setlist