They dominated radio station airwaves with the hit songs “Stellar” and “Pardon Me,” but it was the addictive tune “Drive” that launched Incubus into super-stardom and earned them a nomination for Best Group Video at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.
Incubus, whose sound is a fusion of funk, thrash-rock and hip-hop, is one hot southern California band: their second album, Make Yourself, is now certified platinum.
The band recently told Rolling Stone magazine that the new material is “some of the heaviest music we’ve ever written [and] at the same time some of the most beautiful we’ve ever written.”
Long associated with the nü metal scene, Incubus earned their first buzz on the Ozzfest and Family Values tours in 1998. But since their upcoming album, Morning View, won’t be released until Oct. 23, the band has set out on a headlining tour around the country, one that will have the group travelling from the Southeast back to their native California.
Among their many stops was Ft. Lauderdale on Oct. 3–a concert that sold out almost immediately.
“The kids started lining up in front of the store for hours the day they went on sale,” an FYE music store employee told Hollywood.com. “After all, it’s Incubus. They are a good band. What do you expect?”
He was right on the money, as tickets were scarce and ticket brokers began charging exorbitant prices immediately. Prices remained high, even at the Sunrise Musical Theatre parking lot just mere hours before the band took the stage.
Lead singer Brandon Boyd was the first to step onstage, greeted by the welcome sound of shrieking teenagers, who were holding onto the railings in the front row, anchoring themselves to prime viewing positions.
It is no surprise that Boyd, 25, has women swooning everywhere he goes. Teen People recently voted him one of “The Hottest Guys in Music” and Spin magazine called him an “accidental sex symbol.” Boyd currently graces the November cover of Spin.
The rest of Incubus followed Boyd onstage, and they performed “Stellar” right off the bat. This drove the audience into a frenzy, as they sang every word and punching empahitcally with fists raised in the air. The fans then started crowd surfing, trying to get close enough to high-five Boyd.
Guitarist Mike Einziger, bassist Dirk Lance, drummer Jose Pasillas and DJ Chris Kilmore remained focused on their instruments, making little connection, if any, with the fans.
“You’ll probably recognize this next song,” Boyd said as he took a seat next to Einziger and introduced “Drive.” The 3,900 people present at the show rose to their feet as one and lit lighters in the air. They also sang along, making it almost impossible to hear Boyd singing the words.
Incubus returned for an encore and performed “Certain Shade of Green” as well as their newest single, “Wish You Were Here,” (not to be confused with Pink Floyd‘s song of the same name) which is already heading up MTV’s Total Request Live charts, weeks before the album hits store shelves.
It was Boyd who carried the band’s magic torch, as they played a 20-song set plus a three-song encore, for an hour and a forty-five minute total concert experience.
“The show was bad-ass and everything I expected, as this was my 4th time seeing them live,” a fan said after the show. “Whoever has this show coming up in their town has a treat coming.”
Until Morning View debuts, Incubus is releasing a different track every Monday at 11 a.m. PT on their official Web site, www.enjoyincubus.com. In addition, the site will feature new content, such Instant Messaging icons for fans on Tuesdays, exclusive video footage from the studio on Wednesdays, Morning View souvenirs on Thursdays and behind-the-scenes footage from Malibu on Friday.
