Cage the Elephant turned GLC Live at 20 Monroe into an electric rock celebration, packing every inch of the sold-out venue buzzing with anticipation.
The Oct. 19 show kicked off with opener Vlad Holiday, who set the tone with his dreamy, cinematic tracks “Downtown Baby” and “Artificial Paradise.” Following him, emo-folk duo Hey, Nothing brought a fresh burst of energy with the songs “Seeing You” and “Black Bear.” Both openers won the crowd over quickly, and people were dancing, cheering and clearly ready for more by the time Cage’s crew started setting up. At one point, a fan yelled, “I love you,” and Hey, Nothing’s guitarist shot back, “We love you too.” This was a small moment that summed up the mutual excitement running throughout the venue.
When Cage appeared around 9 p.m., the energy inside GLC Live erupted. Buzzing with anticipation, the lights dimmed and the first notes of “Broken Boy” rang out. The stage setup jutted out into the crowd, bringing frontman Matt Shultz practically face to face with fans. Schultz used every inch of it, bouncing, twisting and pouring every ounce of himself into the performance. Even the people in the mezzanine were on their feet, shouting lyrics back at the band. Toward the set’s end, the band walked off stage after what seemed like their final song. The crowd immediately started chanting, “Cage, Cage, Cage.” The sound of hundreds of voices echoing through the room was enough to bring the band back out for a three-song encore that pushed the night’s energy even higher, ending the night with their hit “Come a Little Closer.”
For college students in Grand Rapids, the show was especially memorable. GLC Live is just a short walk from Grand Valley State University’s City Campus, and right past the Pew bus stop, making it one of the most accessible concert venues in the city. The majority standing-room setup meant fans could score relatively affordable tickets while getting close to the action, something student Grace Rangel took full advantage of…