Fans of alternative rock were treated to a night of nostalgia and high-energy performances as Incubus brought their 2024 “Morning View” Tour to the Amalie Arena located in Tampa on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The show, part of a series celebrating the 23rd anniversary of their critically acclaimed album, “Morning View,” was a blend of old favorites and fresh energy, delighting longtime fans and newcomers alike.
About Incubus
Formed in 1991, the rock band, Incubus, has sold over 23 million albums worldwide, evolving their sound across eight studio albums. The “Morning View” album, released in 2001, marked a turning point for the band, blending rock with elements of funk, metal and electronica, earning them a loyal global following. The band’s album won awards as well, including: the album being certified platinum, the song, “Wish You Were Here,” being No. 4 on alternative charts and “Morning View” reaching No. 38 on the Billboard top 200 chart.
Incubus intended to have their 20th anniversary “Morning View” celebration in 2021, but the pandemic had other plans — instead of the full-fledged tour that was postponed, Incubus held a special livestreamed performance at the house that “Morning View” was recorded at in October 2021.
The Setlist and Performance
Opening with “Nice to Know You,” Incubus immediately set the tone for the evening. The show was advertised as ‘an evening with Incubus,’ with the band performing the album in its entirety as well as a few of their greatest hits such as “Dig” and “Drive.” Lead vocalist Brandon Boyd’s smooth, yet powerful, vocals held the audience captive throughout the performance.
One of the highlights of the night was the performance of “Aqueous Transmission,” a song not often included in their regular shows. The band created a dreamy atmosphere with guitarist, Mike Einziger, strumming a pipa, taking the crowd back to the album’s zen-like influences. Fans swayed along as the stage lighting morphed to match the song’s ethereal vibe.
A Visual Spectacle
The visual production added an extra layer to the concert experience. The backdrop, featuring images of natural landscapes, psychedelic visuals, 3D imagery, lasers and fog that seemed to reach out to the crowd.
Crowd Reaction
The Tampa crowd – spanning multiple generations – was fully engaged throughout the night. Many in the audience wore the band’s merchandise and sang along with the band’s live performances. Boyd often took a moment to acknowledge the loyalty of longtime fans. “We’ve seen some of you at our shows for over 20 years now,” Boyd said, to resounding cheers from the crowd.
A Night to Remember
With the “Morning View” tour, Incubus showed that after two decades, they still know how to put on a memorable live performance. The tour stop in Tampa was marked sold out days before the show, allowing hundreds of fans to relive the experience, making it clear that Incubus and their music remains as relevant and powerful as ever.
