Incubus - Live at PNC Bank Arts Center, 8/7/09

Even after you see a band in concert – whether it’s for the first time or the twenty-first time – you should always remember that they still have the ability to surprise and amaze you the next time around. I got the proof I needed at one of Incubus’ recent shows at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ.

The show, my second time seeing the band, proved to be a completely worthwhile way to spend $30, especially considering the setup of PNC is just as friendly to the lawn crowd as it is to the people in the first section of seating – my friends and I had a completely clear view of the stage from where we stood.

Some people may think that I’ve missed out on the live performance heyday of the band, seeing as how the only two times I have seen them were both after the release of their most recent studio album, Light Grenades, in 2006. Many think the band should include more of their early work, especially from 1997’s S.C.I.E.N.C.E., but they managed to put together a near-perfect 21-song show at PNC without delving too far into the past.

The band opened with 90’s favorite “Pardon Me,” and right out of the gate it was clear that we were all going to be hoarse by the time their set ended. “Nice to Know You” and No. 1 single “Anna Molly” followed, and our crowdmates wasted no time in taking advantage of the outdoor setting and lighting joints – one of the guys with me pointed out the hazy cloud surrounding one of the spotlights, to which I simply replied, “Impressive.”

Incubus finished off the first “half” of its show with Morning View’s “Just a Phase,” which the crowd easily recognized when the band stayed true to the album version and included the song’s almost two minute guitar and string intro; a good choice.

I say “half,” because although not technically correct, the band did divide the set almost in two with a three-song acoustic session, which included acoustic versions of No. 1 single “Drive,” A Crow Left of the Murder’s “Talk Shows on Mute” and “Dig.” Guitarist Mike Einziger sat on the right side of djembe drum-wielding singer Brandon Boyd during this portion, and the two were accompanied during “Dig” by bassist Ben Kenney – formerly of The Roots – who joined Boyd in the percussion section.

The band’s homage to earlier days came next, as Boyd broke out the didgeridoo for “Redefine,” off of S.C.I.E.N.C.E., and Kenney dazzled the crowd with a blazing fast solo – yes, bassists do those too, and this one was fantastic.

The closing four songs were a masterful choice, as they first played Light Grenades’ opening tracks – “Quicksand” and “A Kiss to Send Us Off” – in quick succession, hit again on Morning View with “Wish You Were Here” and then closed with “Aqueous Transmission” off the same album.

“Aqueous Transmission” was especially a joy to watch, as Einziger played the pipa – a four-stringed Chinese instrument sometimes referred to as a “Chinese lute” – and the entire band played to a spacey backdrop completely suited to the song’s ethereal tone.

To no one’s surprise but everyone’s complete enjoyment, the band came back on stage for an encore after a break that wasn’t quiet for one second thanks to the crowd’s enthusiasm. Looking around the amphitheater was like viewing a city from an airplane – lighters and cell phones illuminated tiny dots in the night.

The crowd erupted into applause as the band opened their encore with whale calls, signaling “The Warmth,” and then launched into “Sick Sad Little World” from Crow, complete with the two and a half minute bridge between the second and third choruses.

For the last song, it took a little while for the crowd to realize what was going on, but once they did, it was a dance fest from there on out. Incubus closed out the show with a cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” which was a hundred times more electric live than it is off of 2009’s Monuments and Melodies – and that’s taking nothing away from the album version. The live song was just that good.

For one of my friends, this show was her first concert ever – simultaneously a good and a bad thing in my opinion. This was a hell of a way to be introduced to the world of live music, but trying to find something to live up to your expectations after it might be a tough task.