These days, it seems rare to come across a new band who has reached national recognition without going in front of a panel of judges during prime time television. That seems to be the new American dream: Line up, prove that you want it most and get handed over to a team of focus group-oriented producers who will craft you into the next big thing. That's why I always get excited to come across a band that seems to be gaining respect the old fashioned way: by hitting the road and playing music. Cage the Elephant is a band that came onto my radar a few years back with a catchy tune that I heard regularly on the radio called "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked.” It was enough to at least catch my attention and hold it so I'd recognize their name the next time a single hit the radio waves. That's definitely a compliment that I'm sure a few people can share but, when they hopped onto a supporting act slot for the Foo Fighters last year, it was enough to send me into the audience when the tour came through town and that, I think, is a far more valuable one.
Having seen the band live before does color my opinion of the DVD, but it does so in the band's favor. These guys are a lot of fun to watch when they hit the stage. Young, angry and full of energy, Cage The Elephant bounces around at an unrelenting pace until their set comes to a close. If you blur your eyes, singer Matthew Shultz may even resemble a young Eddie Vedder or Kurt Cobain in his demeanor: dirty hair covering his face, jacket half-falling off and a body that can't sit still for a second. Cage The Elephant is no Pearl Jam or Nirvana, but it is fun to see a band with that kind of energy again.
The DVD does a solid job of bottling this energy and conveying it through the TV. The seventy-five-minute set takes place in a smaller theater, which is where these guys really excel. When I saw them open for the Foo Fighters in Sacramento, it had a very different feel because they took to the stage in front of an arena audience. Those in the nosebleed seats could barely make out what was going on, and without the use of fireworks and fancy stagecraft, it can be tough to make a good impression. The Vic in Chicago gets rid of that distance and empty space, allowing the cameras to focus on the energy between the band and the audience – and there's plenty of it; it only takes a minute or two into the first song ("In One Ear") before Shultz is crowd surfing over the wild audience, the first of many stage diving stunts throughout the show. Their various singles ("Shake Me Down,” "Ain't No Rest…,” "Back Against the Wall") make appearances in the set list and translate well into live versions. Toward the end, daredevil Shultz channels Eddie Vedder once again as he leaps from a tower of speakers into the crowd below. This is exactly the kind of performance you hope to see when checking out a young rock band.
The concert is masterfully captured by veteran director Wayne Isham, whose resume includes Metallica's S&M concert and a long list of A-lister music videos. The multi-camera shoot (it looked like many crew members were even wearing GoPro cameras) does an excellent job of capturing the raw intensity of the band without relying on special effects or lightning-fast cuts. It's a quality production by people who know how to translate a concert into the television medium and the application of that craft makes for some good watching.
Overall, this is a solid concert DVD which succeeds in capturing one of the most energetic bands touring today. Cage the Elephant is a band which has to be seen live to really be appreciated, and Live From the Vic makes a good case for appreciation.
Artist:
www.cagetheelephant.com/
www.myspace.com/cagetheelephant
www.facebook.com/cagetheelephant
www.twitter.com/cagetheelephant
DVD:
Live From the Vic in Chicago is out now. Buy it here on Amazon .
