INCUBUS w/ Hundred Reasons venue: Annexet, Stockholm date: 2004-04-18 Between the two bands on the bill tonight there has been only 1 gig played in Sweden. That was a couple of years ago at the inaugural HULSTFRED Festival which draws an abundance of great bands every year and thousands of happy campers. So to Incubus and Hundred Reasons, the Annexet could prove to be a hefty ask for the almost untouched land. All this aside, the 2000 capacitor venue filled early with eager beavers and the floor looks crunched from front rail to mid way back of the venue by the time Incubus are set to take center stage. A great turn out has shone upon them. Hundred Reasons are along for the early European dates of Incubus’ world tour. They are hear to get the punters warmed up as Colin (singer) announces “We know why your all here, we’re just here to warm you up”. Rightly so, the HR lads know how to make the walls come down with crunching “Helmetish” riffs and staggering rhythms that would make Page Hamilton proud. There is a huge amount of energy flowing from the British filled stage as they power through their numbers. HR’s latest long player “Shatterproof is no a Challenge” is set for release while on this tour, they’ve got a mission on their hands to tempt all evenings on lookers to run along to the local record store the next day to pick it up. They cover a range of tunes from both albums and do their best to get the crowd involved - even with the two meter gap between the stage and the barrier. Finishing with crowd pleaser "I'll Find You", they’ve got to be happy with the shy but chirpy Swedish audience. From the opening track, Megalomaniac the almost sleepy looking Incubus held their entire set together with such tightness and awareness you wouldn’t think that they were a rock band. Fortunately for us, they are certainly a rock band, and always stretching beyond their peers to make them one of a kind. Allow Brandon’s stealth and sometimes sultry vocals blending with their rock, jazz fused funk, and oriental influences to shine through in ways that one can only recognise as uniquely brilliant. Having been around since 1990, they recently went through the first band member exchange - Please stand up Mr. Ben Kenny! Formerly of one of the most defiant crews in the Hip Hop world The Roots. Ben adds a new element to the line up now and with this the Incubus album “A Crow Left Of The Murder” has put another defiant stamp into their discography. There is no doubt that when the band take the stage tonight that they are very well received The screams, the whistles and the cheers are enthusiastic as I’ve ever heard them in Sweden and carry on through the evening. With the seemingly regular stage set up of Jose, forward and left then on to Ben, Mike and Kilmore on far right, they’re in a zone. In a flurry they fly through “Warning”, “Priceless” and “Wish You Were Here”. A couple of jams find their way onto the set and even a couple of cover’s are thrown in tonight for the lucky attendees. Brandon’s voice is in amazing form and his mellow, yet charismatic stage approach is oozing with confidents. For the first time I’ve heard of and witnessed Brandon strapped on a guitar and belted out an unknown tune (can anyone help me here?) and staged it for three tunes including the killer “Here In My Room” while Mike dangled with the keys of the piano. With all the trimmings here tonight, Incubus are certainly tapping into the hearts of the Swedish audience. This is how a first off appearance in a new city should be: they are memorable, admirable and exceptional. The set pushes the two-hour limit and Ben and Jose even show of their skills on the bass and drums as all good craftsmen do. What a blinding first date for Incubus and Stockholm! SET LIST: Megalomaniac A Crow Left Of The Murder Warning Idiot Box Just A Phase Priceless **Hey Ya** Beware! Criminal Wish You Were Here *’Unknown #1** Here In My Room **My Girl** Pistola Nice To Know You Vitamin JOSE’S Solo **Unknown #2** Talk Shows On Mute Certain Shade Of Green Sick, Sad Little World +++++++Encore BEN’S Solo Are You In? NOTE: Big ups to Miks for helpin out with the set list /Kaine