Incubus / A Sonic Pilgrimage Two Decades In The Making

When Incubus released Morning View in 2001, it became the backdrop to heartbreaks, late-night drives, and restless dreams. Over two decades later, the band returned to London’s The O2, inviting fans to relive that moment with a performance that promised more than nostalgia — it promised resurrection.

Incubus – Lucinda Chua

The O2, London – 26 April 2025

Words And Photography: Gina Smith

Tonight was not just a replay of old memories. It was a full-blooded celebration of an album that still burns brightly today. With Morning View XXIII breathing fresh life into the original tracks and a handful of greatest hits woven into the set, Incubus proved they are a band that evolves without losing their soul.

Tonight, Incubus also promised their new album, Something In The Water, will be out this year on Virgin Music.

Brandon Boyd’s timeless vocals, Mike Einziger’s textured guitar work, José Pasillas’ effortless rhythms, and Chris Kilmore’s atmospheric layers all collided once more. Now they are joined by Nicole Row on bass, adding a fresh charge to the band’s unmistakable sound.

The O2 was not just another tour stop. It became a gathering for fans whose lives had been shaped by Morning View. Down in the pit, I met three fans who had travelled from the north of Scotland, waiting all day to claim their spot at the barrier.

Inside a sold-out arena, Morning View did not feel like a memory — it felt like right now.

From the opening notes, the performance was electric. Wish You Were Here instantly lifted the arena into a roar, with thousands standing, singing, and dancing in their seats.

Brandon Boyd’s vocals wrapped around each lyric with the same mix of grit and grace that first drew fans in. Midway through the set, Boyd introduced bassist Nicole Row, sharing it was her first time playing London, a moment that drew one of the night’s loudest cheers.

The energy in the room was wild and loose. A few over-excited fans were escorted out, but even that only added to the sense that this was a night where nothing else mattered but the music.

During Blood On The Ground, the band stripped things back, gathering together in a tight circle for an acoustic version that did not slow the energy. It sharpened it.

Sitting side by side, they let the strength of their musicianship and connection shine, drawing the crowd even closer to the heart of the set.

Are You In? included a powerful section of Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight, with a slow, haunting guitar line that had The O2 under its spell. Brandon Boyd’s vocals lifted it higher, building steadily until the crowd took over in full voice before the band dropped straight back into their own groove with a searing guitar solo.

During Under My Umbrella, Incubus gave a playful nod to Rihanna’s Umbrella, weaving a section of her melody into their own track. Mike Einziger dropped to his knees, guitar in hand, while Brandon Boyd leaned down towards him with a grin — a spontaneous, light-hearted moment that brought a fresh twist to the performance and a big reaction from the crowd.

Aqueous Transmission offered a different kind of high, washing over the arena like a dream and showing how effortlessly Incubus could shift gears without losing momentum.

The lighting design told its own story: waves of green, blue, red, and white lights, giant backscreens pulsing purples and golds, flashing between abstract effects and live footage of the band. The visuals made the night feel even bigger, as if the whole album was unfolding, not just in sound but also in light.

By the end of the night, it was clear: Morning View has not just survived — it had evolved.

Incubus delivered a show that was raw, fearless, and alive, proving that great records do not age. In a sold-out The O2, with every voice raised and every memory reignited, they made sure this was one for the books.

Lucinda Chua

Stepping in last minute for Paris Jackson, London-based cellist and composer Lucinda Chua opened the night with a set of meditative, ambient pop. Known for her ethereal debut album YIAN and collaborations with FKA twigs, Chua delivered a performance that was both intimate and expansive. 

The audience offered warm support for her debut at The O2, and Chua was visibly moved — sharing that performing for Incubus, a band she grew up listening to, left her speechless.

Her melodic, minimalist sound was a surprising contrast to the headliner, but it cast a gorgeous spell over the arena — a gentle, grounding start to the night.