CAKE

McGrath Amphitheater • Cedar Rapids, Iowa • May 10, 2024

by Jeremy Glazier

Nothing is better than an Iowa Friday night concert under the stars as a great kick-off to warmer weather just around the corner. On the particular Friday night in question, May 10, the McGrath Amphitheater and CREventsLive packed the grounds with a heaping helping of the groundbreaking and always entertaining band, CAKE. The band burst onto the scene in 1994 with their stellar album Motorcade of Generosity, before catching a tidal wave of support with the 1996 album Fashion Nugget and hits “The Distance” and their cover of the Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris song “I Will Survive,” which garnered them a certified platinum album in early 1997.

This band has an incredible ability to write catchy tunes while espousing satirical lyrics and an extensive range of topics, which is why they have been, and will remain, in my weekly, if not daily, playlist since the early ’90s. Like my playlist, the setlist for the evening hit all the highlights and deep cuts, and I was pleasantly surprised to find other concertgoers also singing along with me. The big hits are easy to enjoy, but catching other fans singing along with “Opera Singer,” “Sad Songs and Waltzes,” or “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” was as fun as hearing CAKE perform those songs live.

CAKE took the stage for the evening amidst a minor rain spritzing and opened with my children’s favorite song of theirs, “Sheep Go To Heaven,” and what better way to begin this event. The five-piece band, which is approaching 33 years in the game, did not miss a step sonically as they played through “Frank Sinatra,” “Comanche,” “Long Time,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle,” “Ruby Sees All,” and “Wheels.” They continued the deep dive into their albums with “Opera Singer,” “Sick of You,” “Love You Madly,” and the Willie Nelson cover “Sad Songs and Waltzes.”

The band’s performance showcases their talent and musical versatility from one song to the next. They rolled through “Is This Love?,” “Daria,” “Meanwhile, Rick James…,” “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps,” and “Never There” with remarkable energy and precision. After a brief pause, the encore featured “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and “The Distance,” leaving the stage with thunderous applause. The band’s lineup, John McCrea, Vince DiFiore, Todd Roper, Xan McCurdy, and Daniel McCallum, delivered a show that was both nostalgic and vibrant.

With tour dates listed through the end of September, there’s plenty of time to experience the magic of CAKE live. Check their website for any updates and catch these talented performers before the year ends.

https://www.cakemusic.com/