Just before rocking the stage at this year's iHeartRadio ALTer EGO presented by Capital One, Cage The Elephant reflected on everything from opening massive shows to hitting a major milestone in their career — with a tease of what’s coming next — during a backstage interview with iHeartRadio's Booker & Stryker.

As the band opened the show, they shared their thoughts on opening sets versus closing out a show. “I went my whole life thinking closing shows was the way to go, but maybe low-key opening is much better,” the host joked, prompting the band to agree that it depends on the crowd — but that there’s something satisfying about being done first. “I feel really good about being first done because, you know, it just feels good,” they shared.

That opening slot recently placed Cage The Elephant in front of some massive crowds, including their stint opening for Oasis at iconic venues like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The band called it “an honor” to be asked to join the tour and said the scale of the venues perfectly suited the performances. Beyond the thrill, opening night after night became a learning experience. “Yeah, every night for sure,” they said when asked if they picked up anything new. “Always watch your heroes and pick up little things watching the performances.”

As the conversation turned reflective, the band looked back on just how far they’ve come. In 2026, Cage The Elephant is celebrating 20 years together — a milestone that still feels surreal. “When you’re young and have all these dreams, they’re not fully realized and you don’t even know what that looks like in real life,” they shared. “To have been able to do the things that we have has been amazing.” From Grammy wins to sharing stages with legendary acts, their journey has exceeded even their biggest early expectations.

Despite their veteran status, the band isn’t slowing down anytime soon. When asked about what’s next, Cage The Elephant revealed they’re currently working on a new record. “We actually are. We’re working on a new record,” they confirmed, adding that the goal is to release it before the end of the year. For fans, it was the perfect way to cap off a nostalgic, forward-looking interview — a reminder that even after two decades, Cage The Elephant is still evolving.

Check out the full interview below.

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