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INCUBUS AT SMART ARANETA COLISEUM APRIL 25, 2024
by Angel David
Come One, Come All Into Twenty-Twenty Four!
It's been more than a month since I saw Incubus live here in Manila. I can still feel the thunderous roar of the crowd in Araneta when 'Nice to Know You' started playing. It was my first concert. I missed their visit in 2018. I made the mistake of choosing a cheap hooker bar over them. To be precise, I chose a side boob over one of my favourite bands in the world. Last month, I made a decision—bands over girls. That's why my poor girl waited outside the coliseum while I was rocking and banging at the Big Dome. Joking aside, I was only able to buy a ticket because it was sold a few days after I received my 13th-month pay.
It was a loud concert, and I was located 5 rows from the stage. Standing in front of me was Mike Einziger himself. Although I barely know how to play the guitar, I was told that he throws a pick every time they finish a song in my direction. There was a time when he recalled smashing his guitar a long time ago here in Manila, and the crowd instigated him to do it again that night.
The place was filled with Titos and Titas from Manila. As expected from a band that debuted in 1991 and became a hit in 1999, that was the crowd I was expecting, and I was happy. I saw women wearing wedding rings who lost their sh*t, and Brandon took off his shirt. I saw men ten years older than me; some of them were bloated, most were professionals now, and if my eyes didn't deceive me, I'm sure the place was packed with aspiring musicians like me. We all came down there to see this band that mesmerised us some 25 years ago, when 'Drive' started playing in our local radio stations.
And there was Brandon Boyd. My California Jesus. The one that I emulate when I sing drunk in karaoke bars. There he was, no shirt, one hand on the mic, dancing on the stage like a San Francisco crackhead, singing the anthems of my long-lost teenage years. It was one hell of a night. We were brothers and sisters for at least a couple of hours, screaming the dirges of an era when better music like this ruled the world.
Less than a week after that night, the band released an album in which they re-recorded their album Morning View for its 23rd anniversary. To be honest, I'm not sure if I have the capability to listen to it for now. I'm still living in the memory of April 25th, 2024.
Set List:
1. Quicksand2. Nice to Know You
3. Anna Molly
4. Stellar
5. Sick Sad Little World
6. Circles [New Outro]
7. Consequence
8. Pardon Me
9. Karma Come Back
10. Come Together [The Beatles]
11. Are You In? (Insert: Riders on the Storm [The Doors])
12. Vitamin
13. Glorybox [Portishead] (half)
14. Warning
15. Megalomaniac
16. Let's Dance [David Bowie]
17. Drive MY
Encore:
18. Wish You Were Here MV---
E-mail Angel David at angel@jamlemonrecords.com