Cage The Elephant Interview

Cage The Elephant are the hottest old school rock group around at the moment despite all being in their early 20s or teens.

The five-piece recently toured across the country impressing critics and causing havoc in various venues. This summer they will release their debut album featuring killer tunes like current single In One Ear.

It sounds like a punch in the face, said singer Matt Schultz when asked MTV asked about the groups sound. Some of it is punk some is more dancey and we like to keep an organic feel to the music.

Its Rock and Roll, adds Matts brother Brad who plays guitar in Cage.

And that definitely is the best way to explain the bands genre and best selling point. The siblings grew up in a Christian hippy commune in the deep south so got into music late.

We listened to Christian music until we were in high school, says Matt. If we were lucky! Now we listen to everything- Little Richard, Pixies, Nirvana, Talking Heads, The Doors, Beck, Led-Zep, The Rolling Stones, Run DMC, Dr Dre, 2pac, Snoop and Jay-Z.

But its Led Zep and The Stones that comes through in Cage The Elephants songs rather than the gangsta rap.

Frontman Matt writes the lyrics and explained: Its my thoughts on different things. Im a big Bob Dylan fan. Im a fan of lyrics that dont give it all away. They are not personal or political.

He continued in typically funny fashion: Next year I might think its wrong though. I might change my mind. I might figure it all out. Dont follow my message (in these songs) it is f**king wrong!

When the group (including 17 year old Lincoln) came over to the UK their record label (major Relentless) put them up in a house in East London where they got up to mischief and found a taste for Shepherds Pie.

At the same time the Kentucky group were causing a stir with their live shows. Right now we tagged as crazy as hell, Matt told MTV in his Southern drawl. The energy just on stage matches the music that we play.

Brad says the raucous live shows have not always impressed them though: When we throw amps its more out of frustration when things arent going right. People still say that show was amazing even when we get the worst technical difficulties!

Cage The Elephant have already started their second disc. Matt said: Weve got 4 finished songs so were going back into the studio this summer.

He concludes: So much magic can happen in the studio. Brian writes a bunch of punk, Lincoln does Blues, we are always writing. You can turn anything into a song.

Find out more about the band here