MTV2′s Subterranean–in which blog-beloved bands get their chance to be on TV during Nielsen-unmetered hours–was picked up by my DVR at 5 a.m. today, and the first video to pop on my screen was the above clip, courtesy of the Kentucky band Cage The Elephant. I feel like I should warn you right now: It’s going to be inescapable this summer, especially if you live near a college town or any other geographic area that houses a lot of young males who are into drinking large quantities of beer at one time.
“Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” peaked in the lower reaches of the UK singles charts when it was released across the pond last year, but it sounds tailor-made to soundtrack recessionary good times this summer. It’s basically a rewrite of the Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” with added flourishes that recall “Loser,” the Bloodhound Gang, and the collected works of Shaun Ryder. (The first frame of the video to flicker onscreen made me actually wonder if MTV2 had dredged a Black Grape clip out of its archives.) And it’s a formula that seems to be working so far: The track is quickly rising up the notoriously molasses-like Modern Rock Tracks chart, and thanks to its being a free single at iTunes last week it’s also being added to libraries on the digital-music-tracking service iLike at a fast clip.
Apparently they are playing this weekend’s parking-lot festival in New Jersey Bamboozle; I am allegedly attending, so further evidence will be gathered then. But for now, consider yourself warned.
Cage The Elephant – Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked [Dailymotion]
Cage The Elephant [MySpace]
Well, at least they have young Bruce McColloch as a lead singer. Although, i bet G-Love is pissed that Young Bruce stole his vocal tics.
Hey Maura,
See you there this weekend. Cage The Elephant are one of the few WTF bands this weekend that don’t really fit in with the rest (Gavin Rossdale, Gwar are among others)
And, I think the song is quite enjoyable.
Kinda sounds like Cracker…
My friend just saw them do an acoustic set at Radio 104.5 in Philly, said they wrecked their acoustic set. Should be pretty cool to see what they do in a fuller setting.
Oh hey, Bran Van 3000 is back!
What a boring song written via ripoff artistry.
Oh, they’re wearing flannel, it must be a 90′s revival!
At least douchebags everywhere have a new anthem. (You know, the people who bought all of those smashmouth albums…)
@Vulture.Protein: Those weren’t douchebags. Those were kids. Douchebags are bigger.
Also, it’s just called “artistry”. The ripoff is implied in art.
@k-rex: The issue is a semantic one between influence and ripoff. Let’s not write an essay on this. I see / understand your point. I guess I shouldn’t have used the word “artistry” at all in regards to these “kids”, this is a band of “entertainers” and not “artists”
. . . And the kids are the ones who should know better.
Synopsis of CTE:
They had an urge to build a cage around the sun and ring the elephant bell, but they caged the elephant, and that has made all the difference.
@goldsounds: Oh hey, Bran Van 3000 is back! Sweet! Who doesn’t love “Drinking in LA” or even drinking in LA (lack of public transportation aside)?
@How do I say this…Throwdini!?!: Bran Van totally had that adorable dear on their promo 12″, it was so cuddly and Clintoian. Even if they were Canadian.
@capnwolflarsen:Just out of curiosity; did they ever actually sell a record, or did they survive solely off of record store clerk goodwill?
You know, I caught part of their set at Coachella while I was waiting for the Hold Steady. I was pretty impressed. It was a lot of fun and they made the best of a small crowd. Their singer knows how to work a room, in that spastic, crazy-kid antics kind of way.
The 90s were the best. The 90s had grunge, REAL post grunge (everclear, live, mb20) not this three days grace crap, REAL punk, power pop, regular alternative, and my favorite, ska. Cage the Elephant sound like regular alternative, with some punk influences. Cage the Elephant and the Dirty Heads give me hope, that music will go back to the best years it ever had.