INCUBUS - Kansas City, Missouri, April 2, 1998

Here's a not-quite-so-metal gem from one of my many boxes of video archives that has never seen the light of day until now. Back in their early days, Incubus was quite a different band than what your likely impressions of them are. Their first major label album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., released in 1997, was an exciting and fresh mix of metal, funk, and hip-hop that drew favorable comparisons to Faith No More. On subsequent albums Incubus adopted a mellower approach that resulted in massive sales and superstardom. They just played a show at Myth in St. Paul earlier this week in support of their latest album If Not Now, When?


This live recording captures Incubus on the S.C.I.E.N.C.E. tour in 1998 when they were still a baby band, touring clubs, trying to make it like everyone else. This post just contains the show audio - I do have video of the entire show that I hope to post at a later time. Alas, my YouTube account is in suspension limbo still, so the video will have to wait.


DJ Kilgore had joined Incubus immediately prior to this tour, and I also interviewed him and vocalist Brandon Boyd before the show. Opening the show was Far and Ultraspank; I've previously posted the Far show, and Ultraspank will be coming soon. Incubus were clearly having fun on the road, and the energy of this show reflects that. This nearly hour-long set contains performances of nearly the entire S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album, as well as two songs from their Enjoy Incubus EP. One funny moment occurs when Far vocalist Jonah Matranga jumps on stage to sing "Eye Of The Tiger" with Brandon, and the band even plays a bit a Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" before launching into "Calgone".


My interview with Brandon later proved valuable in establishing an amazing working relationship with Atlantic Records. One of the PR staff (whose name I'll leave out) at Atlantic happened to be high school friends with Brandon. My interview with him was one of the first in a national publication that she had seen. In appreciation of me giving exposure to her friend, she went far above and beyond the normal call of duty to help me with access to the biggest metal bands and events in the world - Metallica, AC/DC, Pantera, Ozzfest, a private event at the Viper Room hosted by Lars Ulrich - I could go on and on about this. It felt surreal to be the only person allowed to shoot photos at an AC/DC concert alongside the Los Angeles Times. On a last minute lark one week before a major Metallica concert in Los Angeles, I thought I'd see if there was a long-shot chance of being able to shoot some photos. I called my friend to sheepishly ask, and she cheerfully said she'd work on it but she couldn't guarantee anything because all photographers had to be approved by their managers. Amazingly, she called me a couple days before the show to tell me I was cleared - only about one of ten or so people allowed to shoot this show. I'll never forget the loyalty, friendship, and immense help of this individual. You hear a lot about the worst of people in the recording and entertainment industry, but this person was proof that there are genuine, caring people in the industry willing to do anything to help others out.


Enough of my misty-eyed reflections, here's the Incubus set:

Incubus - We Drive Around In A Little Van (mp3 @ 192 kbps)
April 2, 1998
Kansas City, Missouri, Hurricane


1. Redefine
2. Magic Medicine/A Certain Shade Of Green
3. Hilikus
4. Vitamin
5. Idiot Box
6. Eye Of The Tiger/Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)
7. Favorite Things
8. Glass
9. Calgone
10. You Will Be A Hot Dancer
11. New Skin


The download link (to a zip file containing artwork) is here. As always, share, but please share this blog post link rather than the file link.