Incubus, Papa vs. Pretty @Hordern Pavillion, Sydney(03/02/12)

Mon 6th Feb, 2012 in Gig Reviews

While Sydney’s pouring rain may have dampened their dreadlocks, spirits were high and dry as the punters packed into a sold out Hordern Pavilion for Incubus’ first show of their Australian tour. There was a buzz of excitement in the air, as well as something with a certain shade of green, as the faithful piled in early to get the best spot for their Southern California idols.

Openers, Papa vs. Pretty are taking their 2011 momentum and steamrolling it right into 2012 with some great festival and support sets. They don’t have a sound that is particularly new, but new isn’t what they are selling. Instead PVP are peddling hyper-dramatic emotions and fat riffs – and in a live environment their business is good.

Their radio presence gives them a sense of familiarity with the crowd so it’s not the usual uphill battle many support acts face, however, credit for their warm reception should be aimed firmly at their stage presence. Rollicking across the stage, they defy the muffled blanket of the Hordern that stifles their sound and make you forget why guitar solos ever went out of fashion.

Incubus may have never been at the top of the nu metal hill at its peak, but they certainly managed to adapt and survive better than most of their dreadlocked peers. Ditching the metal edge and embracing big melodies and broader musical horizons helped them survive the great cargo pants purge of the mid ‘00s. After a brief hiatus and a somewhat lukewarm new album Incubus find themselves back on well loved and well toured Australian shores and any thoughts that the So Cal sextet had mellowed out their live show along with their new record were soon dashed.

Like an experienced fighter, Incubus, knew when to when to hit hard and when to pull back. Speaking of hits; it’s easy to forget just how many these guys have, old favourites seemed to lurk around every corner. Their set played out like a ‘Best Of’ record; Megalomaniac and Pardon Me swinging out early and hitting dead on.

While every member was performing in their roles perfectly, pianist and DJ Chris Kilmore receiving a rousing response every time he was spotlighted, the sound washed out a little at the expense of the guitar. It wasn’t too detrimental to the performance of any song, but you couldn’t help feel that some of the bands more rocking moments lost a bit of their kick.

It was a great night for hit singles but Incubus also stood proud of their new record. While some punters took the moody, more deliberate new music as a sign for a drink break, those who stayed focused were rewarded with some of the night’s highlights; the Zeppelinesque stomp of In The Company of Wolves’ coda rattled to the bones.

The mood was light on stage, everyone seemed to be having a blast onstage and off. Singer, Brandon Boyd, proved he could still make the girls (and boys) scream when he took his shirt off and slipping The Doors’ classic, Riders On The Storm into the bridge of Are You In? sparked a fun, if not jumbled sing-a-long. Their notorious indulgent jams are reduced to instrumental teases, keeping the fun vibe flowing without having people check their watches.

Despite their ever growing and ever changing sounds, Incubus prove that their live show has remained at a consistent high. They haven’t forgotten the songs that made them who they are, but by standing by their new record their have avoided reducing themselves to a nostalgia act. This combined with their fun performance has ensures we haven’t seen the last of them yet.