There is still nothing to beat the ferocious primal energy of a full-on classic rock gig. And tonight does not disappoint. There’s a mixture of gender and age range, teenies sharing floor space with sweaty, testosterone-fuelled gig veterans. Incubus kick off with ‘Quicksand’, from last year’s Light Grenades album. The audience claps along lustily, vocalist Brandon Boyd acting as a mass audience conductor. Another highlight comes in ‘Anna Molly’, its two-word chorus of a title echoing around the room long after the band finish playing. That song is a fine example of what Incubus do best. There’s lots of beefy, chugging riffs to get the heart pounding and a bombastic bass sound that really kicks you in the gut. These guys have a real gift for melody. There’s a real richness in the playing, with Brandon Boyd’s voice well balanced against walls of guitars and scratching. After nearly two hours, the set draws to a lovely, low-key close with ‘Further Down the River’. With tears in our eyes and hope in our hearts, we all go home, our spirits well and truly lifted.
