The Harvard Athletic Complex was buzzing with anticipation as Cage the Elephant took the Boston Calling stage on May 24, 2025. Fans packed every corner, some arriving hours early, waving flags, wearing band tees, and clutching glow sticks for the night ahead. The late spring sun cast long shadows across the crowd, but as the band hit the stage, it was clear that the day was about to give way to pure, unfiltered rock chaos.
From the opening riff of Broken Boy, the energy was instant. Lead vocalist Matt Shultz leapt into the crowd’s line of sight, commanding attention with his trademark charisma and kinetic stage presence. The fans responded immediately, screaming back lyrics, dancing, and moshing in unison. It was the kind of communal moment that makes festival performances feel both intimate and epic at the same time.
Full Setlist
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Broken Boy
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Cry Baby
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Spiderhead
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Too Late to Say Goodbye
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Good Time
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Cold Cold Cold
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Ready to Let Go
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Neon Pill
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Social Cues
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Trouble
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Telescope
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Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
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Come a Little Closer
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Cigarette Daydreams
The Energy
Cage the Elephant thrives on kinetic energy, and Boston Calling 2025 was a perfect example. Cry Baby and Spiderhead had the audience bouncing in near-perfect synchronization. The band’s chemistry was palpable—every riff, drumbeat, and bass line hit like it was a conversation between the musicians, and the crowd was invited to eavesdrop.
Matt Shultz’s performance was a whirlwind of intensity. He prowled the stage, leaping, crouching, and reaching into the crowd, never staying in one place for long. Every lyric was punctuated with emotion, every movement conveying urgency and wild energy. Even during the slower moments like Cigarette Daydreams, he maintained that connection, bringing intimacy to a crowd of thousands.
Steve’s guitar riffs, percussion from Jared, and Daniel’s basslines were tight yet raw, perfectly complementing Shultz’s wild energy. The highlight was undoubtedly Spiderhead, where the extended guitar solo had fans cheering and jumping simultaneously, a unified wall of sound and motion.
Highlights & Crowd Moments
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Broken Boy: A high-voltage opener that immediately set the tone for the night, with the crowd roaring back every chorus.
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Too Late to Say Goodbye: Matt slowed things down slightly, creating a reflective, almost haunting moment where the fans hung on every word.
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Neon Pill: The namesake of the tour’s theme, it turned the entire festival ground into a neon-fueled frenzy, glow sticks waving like waves of light.
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Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked: Classic Cage energy; the sing-along erupted across the venue as if the entire audience had rehearsed for months.
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Cigarette Daydreams: Poetic, quiet, and intimate, giving the crowd a chance to catch their breath and experience a different kind of emotional intensity.
The Vibe
The vibe at Boston Calling was electric. Cage the Elephant knows how to craft a setlist that balances high-octane chaos with heartfelt reflection. Fans of all ages were in the mix, from festival regulars who’ve been following the band for a decade to newcomers discovering them for the first time. The music had a unifying effect—friends dancing together, strangers sharing sing-alongs, everyone caught in the same energy.
Even in a large festival setting, the band managed to make moments feel personal. When Shultz leaned over the edge of the stage during Too Late to Say Goodbye, the crowd erupted not just in cheering, but in a shared appreciation of the connection they felt to the band’s raw honesty.
Tiny Quibbles
If there was a minor complaint, it was that a few transitions felt abrupt. Going from high-energy hits to slower, emotional numbers occasionally caused the momentum to pause. Additionally, some of the vocals were slightly overpowered by the instruments during the louder songs, but these moments were fleeting and didn’t impact the overall experience.
Final Thoughts
Cage the Elephant delivered a masterclass at Boston Calling 2025. The band’s ability to navigate between raw, high-energy rock and intimate, reflective moments kept the audience enthralled from start to finish. The setlist balanced fan favorites with newer tracks, demonstrating their versatility and commitment to growth while maintaining the signature Cage sound fans love.
By the end of Cigarette Daydreams, the audience was drained but euphoric, leaving with the unmistakable feeling that they had witnessed something truly special. This wasn’t just a festival performance; it was an immersive experience, a full-spectrum journey through emotion, chaos, and energy, held together by a band still at the peak of their powers.
Boston got a night to remember on May 24, 2025. Cage the Elephant reminded everyone why they’re one of the most electrifying live acts in modern rock, capable of commanding thousands with just a riff, a beat, and the sheer force of their charisma.