Incubus crushes sold-out Eagles Ballroom show
Anyone who thought Incubus’ new direction would hurt the band doesn’t know Incubus.
Last year, the alt-metal group released its eighth studio album, appropriately titled “8,” smoothing out the edges that have been a signature since its turn-of-the-century breakthrough, and enlisting EDM star and friend Skrillex to co-produce and mix the sessions.
Reviews for the album weren’t kind, and its chart success and cultural impact paled in comparison to many predecessors.
But the sonic switch-up is par for the course. From its inception, Incubus has been interested in being different, whether it was incorporating record scratches or elements of funk, grunge and beyond.
And its popularity in Milwaukee hasn’t waned — the band sold out its Friday show at the Rave’s 3,500-person-capacity Eagles Ballroom several weeks in advance.
This audience wasn’t put off by smoother new songs like “Glitterbomb” or “State of the Art,” despite the sweltering conditions in the ballroom. You’ll often see the main floor thin out during duller portions of an Eagles Ballroom show, or suddenly a swell of crowd chatter will drown out the band itself, but that didn’t happen Friday.
Credit Incubus’ energy: The band clearly enjoyed playing the new tunes, with Brandon Boyd theatrically belting and banging a drum for “Nimble Bastard.” (Pity that 2014 arena tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” was scrapped; he would have done well as Judas.)
While the crowd was respectful for the “8” songs, they clearly were there for the older material. Friday’s finale encapsulated Incubus’ anything-goes approach, with the title track of 2004’s “A Crow Left of the Murder … “slipping into a bumping cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony.” Boyd’s flowing mane whipped around in lockstep with Ben Kenney’s bass riffs during “Circles,” and Chris Kilmore’s dreadlocks flew around like cracking bullwhips as he tore into the turntable for “Megalomaniac,” drummer Jose Pasillas II following his lead with a hip-hop cadence.
And despite the unbearable heat in the venue, despite cries from critics that Incubus is past its prime, it was clear, seeing thousands of people sing “Wish You Were Here” along with Boyd, that there was no other place they would rather be.