Cage the Elephant’s Matt Shultz on Touring With Oasis and Observing the Gallagher Brothers: ‘They’re Very Family Oriented on This Tour’

Long before penning modern rock classics like "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked" and "Cigarette Daydreams," brothers Matt and Brad Shultz first connected through music by learning Oasis songs together. Inspired by the famously volatile yet prolific partnership of Liam and Noel Gallagher—the creative engine behind anthems such as "Wonderwall" that shaped 1990s Britpop—the siblings honed their craft and eventually formed Cage the Elephant. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, the same year Oasis dramatically disbanded, marking one of rock’s most memorable splits.

In a surprising full-circle moment, the recently reunited Gallagher brothers have chosen Cage the Elephant as the opening act for their highly anticipated Live ’25 tour. Matt Shultz called the invitation both surreal and deeply humbling, emphasizing how the tour bridges generations of rock enthusiasts while reigniting the anthemic energy of '90s guitar-driven music on a global stage.

Cage the Elephant’s journey has seen them evolve from intimate club shows to theaters and now to colossal stadiums that can accommodate nearly 90,000 attendees. Shultz admits that performing at such a scale remains awe-inspiring, pointing to the passionate fans who arrive early and energize the venues night after night. Their setlists artfully weave together explosive alt-rock favorites like “Spiderhead” with more reflective songs such as “Telescope,” which often transforms arenas into a shimmering landscape of illuminated phones.

The band’s audience has also evolved significantly over time. A major factor has been the unexpected resurgence of “Cigarette Daydreams,” a melodic acoustic ballad from their 2013 album "Melophobia," which has attracted a younger and more diverse listenership. The track has now exceeded 1.2 billion streams on Spotify, affirming its status as a contemporary standard. Michael Goldstone, an A&R executive at indie label Mom + Pop Music at the time, immediately identified the song’s crossover appeal and encouraged Shultz to finish recording it. His foresight proved accurate—today, “Cigarette Daydreams” is regularly covered by emerging artists alongside era-defining hits like Oasis’s “Wonderwall.”

Although Shultz has occasionally met both Gallagher brothers at festivals over the years, he notes that the Oasis touring environment remains tightly knit and family-oriented. While offstage interactions have been limited, Shultz has made a point of watching every Oasis performance from the front row, describing their return as one of the most electrifying events in recent rock history. Sharing the stage each night has also deepened his appreciation for his own creative collaboration with brother Brad, strengthening their bond amid the tour’s exhilarating pace.