Review: LIVE + INCUBUS
Written by: Soom Dood
Photos by: Jimmy Wah >> SEE PHOTOS
Thursday 11th April 2024
It’s a Sick Sad Little World and the Dolphins are Crying, but Tonight that’s a Good Thing.
So you’ve just heard the songs Drive and Lightning Crashes in quick succession on the radio, which wouldn’t be all that strange if you’re in your parent’s car in 1999, listening to Triple M. Tonight is strange though, because there is no radio playing and you’re at the Hordern Pavilion in 2024. This year has seen Sense Music Media cover NOFX, BLINK 182, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, MUDVAYNE with COAL CHAMBER, THE CRYSTAL METHOD, MR. BUNGLE, COG, MACHINE HEAD with FEAR FACTORY, FILTER… Now LIVE with INCUBUS. I don’t know what world events conspired to start the recent chain of musical nostalgia traps that have been gracing our ears, but I’m all for it.
With the re-release of Morning View on the horizon, INCUBUS are back to remind everyone that they can still pack a heavy punch. Now I know that INCUBUS have made several awesome releases after Light Grenades… but like clapping in an empty forest, do they really even exist if I never actually listened to them? If this question is something that has plagued you as well, then the setlist tonight was for you my friend. As you can expect from the timing of the tour, the show tonight was very skewed towards Morning View bangers with a bunch of Make Yourself and a smidgeon of other older tracks. No Fungus Amongus deep cuts, but did you really expect that? (it would be cool though).
INCUBUS’ sound is large. Mike Einziger’s guitar tone really has no business being that heavy, but it is, and it works. The last time I heard a telecaster sound that filthy, I was watching a very heavy band in a very dimly lit pub. It’s obvious that Einziger has spent the years since these songs initial releases carefully honing his craft to a keen edge. This is characteristic of the band as a whole. Every single original member shows maturity and expertise in their craft tonight, they’re tighter than the lid of the next jar you need open. Newcomer Nicole Row on bass matches this energy well, honestly I haven’t enjoyed the INCUBUS low end this much since the departure of their founding bassist Alex Katunich (Dirk Lance). Overall, the only complaint I have is that the setlist felt too short, but this is only because it was so damn good. Could we have a three hour “evening with” set, complete with a full S.C.I.E.N.C.E. playthrough, next time please? Thanking you in advance.
So it will become outrageously obvious by the end of this review that I may have attended tonight for one band slightly more than the other. I will have you know though, dear reader, that I once borrowed Jimmy Wah’s copy of Throwing Copper for an entire month; and I even listened to it. However, the above facts turned out to be irrelevant. It turns out that I forgot LIVE were a bit of a big deal back in the day, and there were only one or two songs in the entire set that I didn’t recognise from the car radio throughout the 90’s and 00’s. The fact that I don’t hear the name LIVE thrown around more freely these days is downright criminal, and I’m just as guilty as anyone for making it so. These guys were iconic in their prime and tonight they showed why.
All Over You, Selling the Drama, Dolphin’s Cry, Lakini’s Juice, I Alone, Lightning Crashes plus more. If you don’t recognise one or two of these songs just wait for the chorus my friend, I bet you really do. All of these top 40 hits from back in the day are played with absolute aplomb by the original frontman Ed Kowalczyk, who seems almost bashful sometimes between songs but then full of energy and confidence again the second the music starts. It’s endearing; and definitely won over this reviewer. His touring band smash out the songs extremely well, however, having never seen the original line-up I can’t really comment on any comparison. The crowd that has come to see them specifically seem to love it though, so I’d bet on them holding up just fine. If you were a fan of LIVE back in the day and you’ve never seen them on stage but you worry that maybe they can’t tickle your giblets in this current year, don’t - They got it covered.
Once again, tonight was a night for nostalgia and there is nothing wrong with that. We came in after hard Thursday workdays feeling old, but with the assistance of these fantastic entertainers and artists, we left feeling young again. Now you’ll have to excuse me, I need to go add some LIVE songs to a few playlists.
Photos by: Jimmy Wah
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