More about: Incubus

There are few bands more frustrating than Incubus. We mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Just two albums in the last decade (the last coming four years ago) and a relative handful of tour dates and festival appearances – this side of the pond anyway – can leave the most ardent fan disappointed.

That we see less and less of Incubus is understandable. Now in their late thirties, they're raising families and embarking on numerous side projects, like frontman Brandon Boyd's Sons Of The Sea, while guitarist Mike Einziger has lent his plectrum to a host of artists including Avicii and David Guetta of late. And while fans have shown ample appetite for the musical dalliances, nothing beats the real thing.

So it's no surprise that the Apollo was packed as the band continue their tour to promote the first of two new EPs, Trust Fall (Side A). When the band hit the stage and jump straight into headline hit 'Wish You Were Here' from fourth album Morning View, it was almost a religious moment.

'Anna Molly' kept the tempo up. Boyd tells the crowd: "We're gonna take you on a ride tonight – all over the place. New songs, old songs, in between songs." He wasn't lying; of the band's seven studio albums the crowd was treated to tracks from all but one – debut Fungus Amongus.

The relationship between Incubus and their fans is such that the band doesn't have to play a greatest hits set, even 20 years in. The guys play the songs you can tell they enjoy playing live the most. They dictate the pace of the night; tracks like ‘In The Company Of Wolves’ and ‘Here In My Room’, create a weightless, out-of-this-world atmosphere (one that comes with the strong whiff of marijuana). It's punctured by frenetic classics like 'Megalomanic' and 'Kiss To Send Us Off' – openers from albums A Crow Left Of The Murder and Light Grenades.

That's not to say fans weren't treated to the classics. The encore included monster hit 'Drive' – but show closer 'A Crow Left Of The Murder' proves the band has never placed chart success over having fun.

At just shy of two hours, it wasn't short – but it was still oh-so-sweet. Incubus showed tonight why they remain the one of the best rock bands around. It seems that absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

Incubus played:
Wish You Were Here
Anna Molly
Adolescents
Absolution Calling
Vitamin
Are You In?
Trust Fall
In the Company of Wolves
A Kiss to Send Us Off
Nice to Know You
Here in My Room
Sick Sad Little World
Pardon Me
Agoraphobia
Dance Like You're Dumb
Megalomaniac
Encore:
Drive
Dig
A Crow Left of the Murder

More about: Incubus