Live Nation Presents: The Neon Pill Tour August 19th in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Words and Photos by: Chantel Malin | @chantelmalin
Cage the Elephant's Neon Pill Tour, in celebration of the album of the same name, stopped through Bridgeport, Connecticut's Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre on Monday, August 19. With a four-band roster consisting of Willow Avalon, Bakar, Young the Giant, and Cage the Elephant, the evening was set to be an unforgettable one packed with genre-spanning music to please all in attendance.
Willow Avalon started off the night with a short but sweet set, serenading fans with her modern take on a classic country sound. With a voice as sweet as honey and a stunning, warbling vibrato reminiscent of Dolly Parton, she managed to captivate the fans who arrived early enough to catch her performance. Avalon has made a name for herself across social media, with her track "Homewrecker" having gained traction on TikTok even before its release. She opened with her song "Stranger," which has earned radio play on country and alternative radio stations alike. She also performed the old-timey "Gettin' Rich, Going Broke," the heartfelt "Tequila or Whiskey," and her clever, sassy new release "Yodelayheewho."
Willow Avalon
Bakar took the stage next, bringing some experimental, rap and punk infused indie rock to the stage. As as solo act, he managed to make good use of his vast space on stage, drawing the crowd in with his upbeat energy. With a brilliant smile that never left his face, the singer's joy was palpable and infectious, making for the perfect pick-me-up that fans could not resist dancing to. He performed his signature song "Hell N Back," as well as "All In," "Alive!," "Small Town Girl," and "Right Here, For Now," the latter of which had some snippets of Dominic Fike's "3 Nights" mixed in. Hailing from London, the singer mentioned that this marked his first performance in Connecticut, and that he apprecaited the warm welcome.
Bakar
A brief rain shower between sets may have dampened the venue grounds, but did nothing to dampen the spirits of concertgoers as Young the Giant took the stage. Having headlined the very same venue last summer, Bridgeport music fans were well acquainted with the indie rock band, and welcomed their return. 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of the band's record Mind Over Matter, which was something of a sleeper hit; singer Sameer Gadhia noted that the album didn't gain much traction at first due to its experimental nature and departure from the bands' previous sound, but that he and his bandmates never for a second doubted their vision, and over time, their fans have grown to hold the record just as near and dear to their hearts - and a decade on, it has gone on to become their most successful album to date. He also noted that the bandh as been performing so long that they felt the need to switch things up, and have been playing some older tracks this tour, including "Jungle Youth," "Waves," and "Call Me Back." They also performed the upbeat hits "Silvertongue," "Something to Believe In," and "My Body," alongside the more heartfelt tracks "Cough Syrup," "The Walk Home," and "Mind Over Matter."
Young the Giant
Next, Cage the Elephant finally took the stage for their headlining slot. The packed arena was buzzing with anticipation as the the band strode out. They wasted no time in pulling out all the stops; with pyrotechnics and guitarist Brad Schultz jumping onto the railing during the very first song "Broken Boy," fans quickly got the sense that they were in for a performance filled to the bring with electric energy and dazzling stage production. Notably, singer Matt Schultz, known for his incredible stage presence, was confined to a scooter and clad in an orthopedic boot for the performance, which he later explained was due to a broken foot he recently sustained. However, the injury has done nothing to slow him down; wheeling back and forth across the stage, it's clear he's gotten quite the handle of maneuvering himself about, and even made the scooter a fun part of the performance.
The concert was the band's first headlining performance in the Nutmeg state in a decade, having last headlined The Oakdale in Wallingford in 2014. Their growth was easy to see, from filling a much larger venue and their visible comfort on stage and command of a crowd. While the many hits from their catalog such as "Cold Cold Cold," "Ready To Let Go," "Mess Around," and "Ain't No Rest for The Wicked" were received with enthusiasm and endless audience participation, some of their lesser known tracks "Spiderhead," "Halo," and "Telescope" were greeted with just as favorable a response. The band sounded just about as flawless live as one could hope for, with the Schultz brothers and their bandmates Nick Bockrath on guitar, Daniel Tichenor on bass, drummer Jared Champion, and multi-instrumentalist Manhattan Minster perfectly in step with each other.
A length catalog overflowing with commercial success left little time to chat, Matt Schulz made sure to take time to note how grateful he and his band were to have had their career. He also noted that Bridgeport will forever have a special place in his heart; New England Puppy Rescue has made a habit of introducing visiting artists to some of their adoptable animals before concerts, and Schultz and his wife left with a brand new puppy in tow, a story that garnered perhaps the loudest applause of the entire evening.
The band capped off a 22-song setlist with a three-song encore consisting of "Shake Me Down," "Cigarette Daydreams," and "Come a Little Closer." After a few days of relentless rain and gloom in Connecticut, a concert bathed in sunlight and beneath a post-shower rainbow, filled with Cage the Elephant's infectious sound was exactly what attendees needed to lift their spirits. Fans left the show sweaty, damp, high on adrenaline, and with smiles across the board, and we can't wait to welcome the band back for another visit - hopefully sooner than another ten years this time!
Check out the full gallery of Cage the Elephant below!
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