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Cage the Elephant turned Kentucky garage-rock energy into one of the most dependable bands in modern alternative rock. Formed in Bowling Green in 2006, the band is fronted by brothers Matt and Brad Shultz and has won two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. Their sound is alternative and indie rock with psychedelic, garage-rock and punk-blues edges: loose, loud and catchy.
| Formed | 2006, Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Members | Matt Shultz (vocals, guitar), Brad Shultz (guitar, keyboards), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (keyboards, guitar), Daniel Tichenor (bass), Jared Champion (drums) |
| Genres | Alternative rock, indie rock, psychedelic rock, garage rock, punk blues |
| Labels | Relentless, Jive, RCA |
| Grammy | Best Rock Album: Tell Me I’m Pretty (2017) and Social Cues (2020) |
The band came together in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2006. Before their debut album was released in the U.S., Cage the Elephant built an early following in the U.K., playing small clubs and sharpening the high-energy live show that would become their calling card. Early lead guitarist Lincoln Parish played with the band until 2013.
Cage the Elephant mix the swagger of garage rock with the hooks of alternative radio. Early records lean on punk-blues riffs and Matt Shultz’s restless delivery, while later albums add psychedelic textures, acoustic moments and bigger melodies. Through every change, the songs stay direct and built for a crowd.
Singer Matt Shultz and his brother, guitarist Brad Shultz, are the band’s creative core. Matt’s unpredictable stage presence has made Cage the Elephant one of the most talked-about live acts in rock, and the brothers’ songwriting has carried the band from small venues to arena tours.
Cage the Elephant proved that a band could keep the spirit of garage rock alive on modern alternative radio without sounding retro. Two Best Rock Album Grammys in a row, for very different records, show how far they have pushed that sound.
Their live shows are a big part of the story. The band built its reputation on stage, and that energy still shapes how their records sound: loose, physical and made to be played loud.
The debut set the template, led by “Ain”, a bluesy, talk-sung single that introduced the band to alternative radio.
Louder and stranger, with punk and Pixies-style dynamics. “Shake Me Down” became one of the band’s defining songs.
A turning point toward bigger melodies and psychedelic color, featuring “Come a Little Closer” and “Cigarette Daydreams”.
A garage-rock record with a vintage feel that won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.
Darker and more personal, led by “Ready to Let Go”. It won the band its second Grammy for Best Rock Album.
The band’s sixth studio album, with the title track as its lead single.
These Cage the Elephant songs are on our charts and lists:
The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Cold War Kids, The Strokes, Foster the People and Royal Blood.
Cage the Elephant are an alternative rock and indie rock band, with psychedelic rock, garage rock and punk-blues influences.
Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the United States. The band formed there in 2006.
Matt Shultz. His brother Brad Shultz plays guitar in the band.
Yes, two: Best Rock Album for Tell Me I’m Pretty in 2017 and for Social Cues in 2020.
Neon Pill, released in 2024.
Cage the Elephant are a staple of our modern rock rotation. Catch it on The Modern Rock Radio Show, check the radio show schedule, or press play on the live stream. Want a specific song? Send a request or dedication.
About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team. Official artist website: www.cagetheelephant.com. Last reviewed November 4, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.
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