Incubus Live in Manila: The Best Experience Ever!

July 28, 2011. It’s the big day of the big band at the big dome! Neither typhoon, nor Azkals football match could stop the fans from coming to see Incubus perform Live in Manila on their “If Not Now, When?” World Tour concert.

INCUBUS is an American alternative rock band composed of Brandon Boyd (vocalist ), Mike Einziger (lead guitarist), Jose Pasillas(drummer), Ben Kenney (bassist ) and DJ Kilmore. It was their 3rd time to rock the Philippines, but it was just my first time to see and watch them perform LIVE!

I arrived at the Smart Araneta Coliseum around 5o’clock in the afternoon. I chose to come early because I didn’t want to be late on this very very important event. Though I thought it was early, the lines on different gates were sooo long already.

We had our early dinner at Max's first, and then we went to Dencio's to meet Miggy of www.atthewomb.com for our concert tickets and awesome "atthewomb" stickers. It was nice meeting him and the other winners as well. We took a few clicks for souvenir photos.

We entered the gate afterwards. It was almost 8pm and the concert was about to start. I took a snapshot of the stage jut before the show started and noticed a huge number of fans had filled the Coliseum.

Franco was the perfect band to open the event. They performed five songs, including their hits: "Castaway," "Touch the Sky," and "Song for the Suspect." During Franco's performance, the crowd was loud & lively and it was because this local superband really is great! And besides, everyone was excited for Incubus to come out on stage and start rockin'!

And then came time, INCUBUS came out! When they entered the stage, the crowd got louder & wilder! Everyone cheered and screamed like there was no tomorrow. Their first song was “Megalomaniac” and it really set the mood for the audience. The whole band’s energy was contagious and I love how Mike Einziger smashed his guitar and pushed the amps in the middle of the song. I thought it was really cool! Now I know who the bad ass among the band members are. Sh*t happens, and still he rocked it!

We were standing during the whole concert, enthusiastically jumping, screaming, and singing along with the band. The entire concert venue was filled with head-bangin’, slammin’ & rockin’ people. No doubt, it was the best concert ever!

It truly was an amazing set. After singing "A Crow Left of the Murder", the band bid thank you and goodbye to all the fans then they left the stage. I was like: "WHAT??!! They can't just leave like that!! I want more! I want mooore!!!". Minutes passed but the lights were still off, and the other fans were still cheering and shouting "We want more!" again and again. Then after few more minutes, the band went back on stage and performed three more songs.

The band ended the concert with their hit song "Nice to know you". Brandon Boyd thanked the Filipino fans several times in between songs and even knelt on the stage on the latter part just to show the band's appreciation & gratitude to their ever-supportive fans.

Man, what else can I say? It was one hell of a show! I enjoyed everything; the band's amazing set list; Brandon's dance moves, kneeling and "thank yous"; Mike's slamming of his guitar; the crowd's energy; and the free cold Coke Zero & Minute maid at the exits as well. I even got a photo of Brandon when he almost took his shirt off. A big "sayang" for us, fangirls. (And to some fanboys, maybe?) Lol! Can't ask for more. Definitely one of the most unforgettable nights in my life.

Incubus adds meaning to my 21 years of existence. The concert was a blast! It was awesome & great! So awesome that it made me love Incubus and Incubus' music even more. Right now, I'm still suffering from post-concert depression. I'm waiting for their next visit. I hope they'll come back real soon. And when they do, (I promise to myself that:) I'll do anything & everything just to see & meet them up close!