Incubus Set Daytona Ablaze with a Soul-Baring Rendition of “Pardon Me” That United Generations at Rockville 2025
Incubus’ performance of “Pardon Me” at Welcome to Rockville 2025 wasn’t just a nostalgic throwback—it was a visceral statement from a band that still burns with creative fire. As the sun dipped behind Daytona International Speedway, the band launched into the track with a slow-building intensity that made the crowd roar in anticipation. Brandon Boyd’s voice, textured with experience yet defiant as ever, pierced through the dusk like a rallying cry.
The moment that first riff dropped, you could feel the collective release from tens of thousands of fans. It wasn’t just another live performance—it felt like a declaration. “Pardon Me” may have been born in the late ’90s, but in that moment, it felt as current and furious as any modern rock anthem. And the way Incubus delivered it, they didn’t just revisit their past—they resurrected it with fire.
Boyd’s stage presence was spellbinding. Shirt unbuttoned, arms wide open, eyes closed—he looked more like a spiritual conduit than a frontman. As he belted out the lyrics, you could see how deeply he still connected with the message. It was raw, it was real, and it echoed through the crowd like a confession. No theatrics. Just pure, emotional release.
Lead guitarist Mike Einziger laid down those signature riffs with surgical precision, his fingers dancing effortlessly across the fretboard. His tone cut through the humid Florida air with clarity, each note a blade slicing through years of distance between the band and its audience. You could almost hear hearts catching in throats during the breakdowns.
Incubus didn’t just rely on nostalgia. Their musicianship proved they’ve evolved while staying true to what made them special. “Pardon Me” pulsed with the tension of inner rebellion, the sort that only deepens with age and life experience. The crowd didn’t just sing along—they screamed every word like it was their own battle cry.
The energy in the pit was nothing short of cathartic. Fans who grew up with the band locked arms with Gen Z kids discovering them for the first time. It was sweaty, chaotic, and absolutely electric. Every time Boyd screamed “while I burst into flames,” a sea of voices erupted in unison, fists raised to the sky.
Incubus has always existed in their own lane—too melodic for nu-metal, too experimental for straight alt-rock. But in a live setting, that uniqueness becomes their superpower. “Pardon Me” became a sermon for the alienated, the misunderstood, the overwhelmed. It wasn’t angry for anger’s sake—it was about transforming frustration into something beautiful.
By the middle of the song, the audience had stopped filming and started feeling. No phones. Just waves of people swaying, headbanging, and howling the lyrics like they’d been waiting for this moment since 1999. The unity was almost spiritual, like everyone was burning the same internal fuel.
Ben Kenney’s bass work throbbed beneath the surface, keeping the song grounded while adding weight to every line. His grooves never demanded attention, but without them, the entire structure would’ve collapsed. And as he locked in with drummer José Pasillas, the rhythm section became a living, breathing force.
Pasillas, always the quiet engine of the band, played with a balance of precision and passion that elevated the performance to new heights. His cymbals crashed like waves, his snare punches were perfectly timed exclamation marks to Boyd’s lyrical explosions. Together, they turned “Pardon Me” into a volcanic ritual.
Lights pulsed in red and gold as the song neared its climax, matching the emotional heat of the performance. With the final chorus, Boyd stepped back from the mic, letting the crowd take over. Thousands of voices carried the melody forward, and for a few seconds, it was as if the band had disappeared into their fans’ collective heartbeat.
And just like that—it ended. No pyrotechnics, no overdrawn fade-out. Just silence and the sound of tens of thousands cheering in disbelief. Boyd cracked a smile, bowed slightly, and mouthed “thank you” into the mic. It was subtle, but the weight of that moment said everything. The fire still burns—and always will.
After the set, fans flooded social media with reactions. One post read, “I’ve seen Incubus five times. But this? This was next level.” Another simply said, “I cried during ‘Pardon Me.’ I wasn’t ready.” Clips from the show spread fast, with fans praising the performance as one of the most powerful moments of the entire Rockville weekend.
What made it unforgettable wasn’t just how good the band sounded—it was how much they meant it. After nearly three decades, Incubus still finds new meaning in songs like “Pardon Me.” It’s not about recreating the past. It’s about reinterpreting it, reshaping it, and sharing it again with just as much heart.
No matter where you were in that massive crowd, you felt it. That tension between rage and reflection. The fire of youth tempered by time. It was a reminder that good music doesn’t age—it evolves. And for one perfect evening in Daytona Beach, “Pardon Me” wasn’t just a song. It was a lifeline.
