Incubus @ The Forum Theatre Review

It was a fine, sunny evening in Melbourne (yes, the sun does make an appearance sometimes) on 25 February and a sell-out show at The Forum Theatre for Californian band Incubus, who were supported by two bands also on the Soundwave circuit: Antemasque and Le Butcherettes.

First up were the Mexican garage-punk band Le Butcherettes. They could well be Yoko Ono’s favourite band, and they make Bjork seem as normal as a blade of grass. Ok, that’s an exaggeration but man they were strange.

The lead singer/ guitarist, Teri Gender Bender, was super cute but a little on the nutty side, which artistically made her even cuter. She demonstrates what it would have been like in Bedlam. Her psychotic stage antics shocked the middle-class crowd as she gyrated, twisted and spun about like Linda Blair’s performance in the original ‘The Exorcist’ film — minus the vomiting… but everything else was present.

Le Butcherettes - Image © Carl Neumann

Toward the end of the craziness, Teri jumped off the stage and ran and crawled into the middle of the theatre, then climbed a couple of tables continuing her demonic demonstration much to the amusement, and fear, of the unsuspecting audience. She leaped from the VIP area onto the shoulders of a wide-shouldered man who briefly carried her until she slid off and made her way back to the stage. Climbing the pit fence she mounted the top and suddenly threw herself backward into the crowd who hastily curbed her fall before continuing the on-stage antics.

Next up were alternative progressive rockers Antemasque, featuring members/ ex-members of The Mars Volta and Red Hot Chili Peppers. They portrayed two extremes: full-on and mellow. The lighting stayed an ambient blue throughout the performance with a trickle of smoke puffing out from the drum kit.

Following the prior nuttiness was the periodic appearance of the bass player from Le Butcherettes. He nonchalantly attended a boiling kettle of water on the bass speaker-system and appeared to make himself cups of tea, refilling the kettle as it continued to boil. What made this strange was not many people in the audience actually noticed him — Antemasque's energetic performance kept their attention locked in their space; they seemed completely oblivious to him too.

Antemasque - Image © Carl Neumann

The stage was now set for Incubus. Turkish rugs were rolled out on stage, Jose Pasillas’ golden drums and keyboardist/ DJ, Chris Kilmore's turntables were uncovered and revealed on stage risers, then the amps were switched on. Five minutes before the commencement a huge backdrop-screen started a countdown… three, two, one shouted the crowd and ‘Wish You Were Here’ rolled out the speakers to the delight of everyone.

The refinement of Incubus determined there was something for everyone. The band featured all the big guns ranging from the mellow ‘Drive’ to the heavier, more angsty ‘Nice To Know You’. However, surprisingly, it was ‘Pardon Me’ that drew the biggest antiphon of the night. Also well appreciated were ‘Absolution Calling’ and ‘Megalomaniace’.

Incubus - Image © Carl Neumann

‘Are You In’ was dropped from the setlist — much to the disappointment of the bloke screaming out for it in the front row. ‘A Crow Left Of The Murder’ capped off an impressive night. While Incubus have toned down their sound in the studio, the sextet remains a scintillating live act.

You can still catch Incubus, Antemasque and Le Butcherettes on their Australian tour at Soundwave in Brisbane and Sydney and another Sideshow in Sydney on the Friday 27 February at The Enmore Theatre.

Incubus - Image © Carl Neumann

Incubus at the Forum Theatre, Melbourne setlist:

Wish You Were Here
Anna Molly
Adolescents
Made For TV Movie (with Lionel Richie's Hello snippet)
Absolution Calling
If Not Now, When?
Trust Fall
Talk Shows On Mute
In The Company Of Wolves
A Kiss To Send Us Off
Circles
Promises, Promises
Nice To Know You
Sick Sad Little World
Drive
Pardon Me
Megalomaniac
The Warmth
A Crow Left Of The Murder