A meet and greet session with your favorite band is a double edged sword. For me at least. On the one hand, I just want to admire them from afar and just listen to their music and not shatter any kinds of illusions I have of the band or to make a fool of myself in front of the band, which is kind of inevitable really. On the other, it's a chance to MEET THE BAND! of course you'd take it, even if it's just to shake their hands and thanking them for all the good music they've produced. Even just to hear them say "Nice to meet you".
Mikey was very friendly, speaking conversationally. Like, real casual.
I asked some redundant, run-of-the-mill question "soo…this will be your third time in Malaysia?" of which I already know the answer to. Duh, I was there.
I don't remember the exact words used but what I got from the conversation with Mike Einziger was something to the tune of:
For them, it almost feels like coming for the first time, or starting over (since it's been a while since they've performed new tracks live in Malaysia, since 2004 to be exact). As well as this would probably be among the first few times the new songs from If Not Now, When? will be performed in front of an audience at a full scale concert as previously they've only performed the new songs at smaller venues around the US. So this is their time to see how a big crowd reacts to the new material.
Mikey sounded like he was answering questions for an interview. Speaking so earnestly, it was endearing to say the least :) Kilmore was nice as well, getting up every time someone brought a t-shirt to sign and signing it on their backs. The other guys were very friendly as well, albeit a bit bored and tired from the transit here. Still suffering from jet-lag, having come all the way from the other side of the world, its an amazing feat they can perform with so much energy as they do on stage.
(managed to sneak in a few pics)
It is a great treat to be amongst the first places to appreciate the new songs live. People tend to forget that to truly appreciate Incubus comes in 2 parts. The album and the actual physical live performances. The charisma and energy on stage just blows you away and with these live renditions, some of the seemingly lackluster songs from the new album just explodes to life. There's more dimension, every instrument can be heard loud and clear. Thats when the music shines. The guitar more energetic and melodic, the drums are more in focus, the electronic keyboard, scratch-disks and sound samples more amped up, the base is lustier and the vocal was flawless. Brandon can really belt it out, no doubt, as apparent in the song Adolescents. Another good song from the new album to hear live is In The Company of Wolves. The second part of this 7min song is just so cool and way sexier live. Glad they chose to include Thieves into the mix of new songs performed as well.
Now I have to admit at the first listen I thought the new album was good but not WOW. I have to admit I had some preconcieved ideas of wanting the album to blow me away at first listen but most of the time it doesn't work that way. The album is still very incubus albeit a more mature, mellow, atmospheric, soft rockin' Incubus. After a few listens though it grows on you and sticks with you for the longest time like most Incubus songs do for me. Some of my most favourite Incubus songs didn't knock me off my feet at first listen either but after listening long enough to the complex melodies and understanding the relevance of the lyrics, I feel excited everytime I hear it. It takes a while to understand and truly appreciate good music whaaat. ;)
With this concert, I find myself going back and listening to If Not Now, When? with new ears.
Incubus 2011 Tour Dates:
06/14 – London, UK @ HMV Forum
06/18 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06/19 – Neuhausen, DE @ Southside Festival
07/15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
07/23 – Kuala Lumpur, MY @ Stadium Negara
07/26 – Jakarta, ID @ Istora Senayan
07/28 – Manila, PH @ Araneta Coliseum
07/30 – Niigata Prefecture, JP @ Fuji Rock
07/31 – Jisan Valley, KR @ Jisan Valley Rock Festival
08/05 – Honolulu, HI @ Kaka’ako Waterfront Park
08/17 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/19 – Kansas City, KS @ Livestrong Sporting Park
08/20 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater
08/21 – Chicago, IL @ Charer One Pavilion
08/23 – Indianaplis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
08/24 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/26 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavillion at Nautica
08/27 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/28 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Ampitheater
08/30 – Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
08/31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
09/01 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
09/03 – Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Theater
09/04 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
09/07 – Hartford, CT @ Mohegan Sun
09/09 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
09/10 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
09/11 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
09/13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
09/16 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater
09/17 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless at Encore Park
09/18 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
09/20 – Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park
09/29 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
09/30 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
10/01 – Austin, TX @ The Backyard
10/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theater
10/07 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/08 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
10/09 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Ampitheater
A great quote by the legendary Bob Dylan: You can please all of the people some of the time, you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.
