MANILA, Philippines — Two days after Brandon Boyd turned 42 on February 15, the frontman of multi-platinum American rock band Incubus held an extended birthday celebration in Manila — and even revealed half of his “birthday suit.”
The band opened with a literally pounding “Love in A Time of Surveillance” from their eighth and latest studio album, “8,” released in April last year.
The group, composed of Boyd on vocals, Mike Einziger on lead guitars, Jose Pasillas on drums, Ben Kenney on bass, and DJ Kilmore, performed their biggest hits such as “Warning,” “Anna Molly,” “Megalomaniac,” “Pardon Me,” “Nice to Know You” and “Drive,” alongside less-known tracks from their eight albums. These songs include “Nimble Bastard,” “Glitterbomb,” “State of the Art,” and “Pantomime,” among others.
When it came to their hit “Wish You Were Here” from their fourth album “Morning View,” the band surprised fans by following it up with an excerpt from a Pink Floyd song with the same title.
At first, Boyd came into the stage fully clothed. But eventually, the Philippine tropical weather caught on him, so he shed off his three-fourth-sleeve, olive button-down shirt to reveal his favorite “Yes, Oui, Si” black undershirt, which gave watchers a peek of his robust chest.
But just like in a movie or a soap opera, Boyd kept his fans hanging and guessing if he would give them what they partly came in for.
Eventually, as it got hotter and hotter in the smoky, perfumed stage, Boyd eventually let go of his black undershirt and gave concert-goers more than what their money is worth, as he finally let go of his undershirt to show his world-famous six-pack abs and tattoos.
Fans from down the mosh pit could hear the shrieks and the stomping from the highest fringes of the coliseum.
The band then capped off the set with their highest-charting song, “Drive,” before returning onstage for a bonus number and the curtain call.
In his Twitter and Instagram posts, Brandon reciprocated his fans’ support, saying: “#Manila! You are magical. Thank you so much for pickin up on what we send out. We love you.” — Video by Deni Bernardo, editing by Kat Leandicho