the smashing pumpkins tour review

'Blistering rock 'n' roll': Smashing Pumpkins go wild at TD Garden in Boston

Review: Smashing Pumpkins "Spirits on Fire" tour, with Jane's Addiction and Poppy, Sunday, Oct. 16 at TD Garden.

BOSTON – On Sunday night, the Spirits on Fire Tour touched down at TD Garden headlined by Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction, a pair of rock bands from the 1990s with interesting, and even difficult histories. Both groups were kind of post-punk but pre-grunge, although their music has shadings of both those styles. Both veer between straight, hard rock and heavy metal elements, with punk rock fervor and insouciance, and are comfortable straying into the room-rattling thunder that characterizes grunge. And both have fascinating front men who are the essential parts of their respective bands.

Sunday night’s little soiree, attended by a crowd estimated at 14,000, or about two-thirds of capacity, offered more than three hours of music, delivered by talented and focused veteran musicians. There were moments of fiery, blistering rock 'n' roll, a few quieter segments that spotlighted the imagery in the bands’ lyrics (which are too often lost in the din), and some stretches where the sound seemed to be bludgeoning for the sake of bludgeoning.

Concert review: Aerosmith jumps back in the saddle with 'frenetic,' 'fiery' show at Fenway Park

Smashing Pumpkins began in Chicago in 1988, with singer/songwriter/guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin as the key members. By the time the group’s 28-song double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” hit it big in 1995, the Pumpkins were well on their way to selling more than 30 million albums, with a handful of memorable singles. The Pumpkins broke up in 2000, but Corgan and Chamberlin launched the short-lived but potent Zwan in 2001. Since Corgan’s poetic, yearning and oft-melancholy songs were always the music’s focal point, he has continued with various projects and the prospect of a reunion was never far away.

Corgan and Chamberlin reunited in 2006 with guitarist Jeff Schroeder. Chamberlin left in ’09, but was back by 2018, with Iha also back in the fold. The band has been producing new work ever since, with “Shining and Oh So Bright” (2018), and “Cyr” (2020) reviving their national profile before the pandemic. Now Smashing Pumpkins is readying “Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts,” to be released as a trio of albums released in sequence. The problem for this tour, 32 dates through Nov. 19, was that the first chapter in the "Atum" trilogy won’t be out until Nov. 15. But the setlists on the tour have pretty steadily leaned towards Pumpkins’ favorites from the past, with five cuts from “Mellon Collie” and just four from the forthcoming work, among the 20-song sets they’ve been performing.

'Feels like a rock concert': Duxbury grad returns to Boston in hit musical 'Hairspray'

Corgan, 55, and the touring band – which includes Schroeder and Iha on guitars, Chamberlin on drums, and touring musicians Jack Bates on bass and Katie Cole on keyboards and backing vocals – began with “Empires” from the forthcoming album, with the serrating guitars framing Corgan’s pointed lyrics. The singer was wearing a black robe that went below his knees, making him look like either an evil monk, or perhaps a vampire ghost – an impression heightened by the black makeup under his eyes. Thunderous drums announced the start of “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and the crowd reaction to that Smashing Pumpkins nugget was immediate as it became a rowdy singalong.

A bit later, “We Only Come Out At Night” seemed like the quintessential Corgan song, full of yearning and angst and building from a slow beginning to a bust-out chorus and catharsis. The title cut to that 2020 album, “Cyr” bore some fresh synthesizer sounds for added variety as Corgan strode the stage and Cole’s harmonies on the chorus added heft. The band has been doing its cover of the Talking Heads’ “Once in A Lifetime” on the tour and its slower take on it rides throbbing bass and some of Schroeder and Iha’s most brain-curdling guitar lines. But that Gothic take on the old hit didn’t have any of the original’s quirky rhythmic pull and the audience seemed just a bit confused.

The tune called “Eye” was a riddle wrapped in an enigma, to steal a phrase. Corgan sang as lyrics appeared on the screen behind him, phrases like ‘I lie, I repent,’ and then as the midtempo ballad downshifted with the guitars lending a Middle Eastern feel, he concluded by simply stating "Thank you, Boston, from the bottom of our broken hearts.” While everyone was weighing that, the funkier rock sound of “Ava Adore” got matters back on track. But that was also when a trio of ghostly scarecrows were slowly wheeled out onto the back of the stage to overlook the rest of the show.  

Corgan noted the band’s long history of playing Boston and recalled a show at the long-gone T.T. the Bear’s in Cambridge where it was so packed it was “137 degrees.” He then joked that when they’d started visiting, ‘the Cubs were no good, and the Red Sox were ... eh ... but then Theo Epstein rescued us both ... But Theo’s like me, he always ends up leaving.”

'A Beautiful Noise': Will Swenson shines bright as pop giant Neil Diamond in new musical

An acoustic duet by Corgan and Iha on “Tonight, Tonight” was a lovely interlude, where that sweet, sort-of-love-song and its lyrics really stood out. The straight-ahead power rocker “Stand Inside Your Love” was a glorious avalanche of churning guitars and bashing drums. The pulsating chestnut “I Of the Mourning” finished with the singer chanting “Radio, Radio, What Is it You Want.” The full bore “Cherub Rock” was another number that had the crowd singing along wildly, and Corgan added his own screeching guitar solo. The night’s best singalong might have been “1979,” a midtempo tune that is just as urgent now as it was when it was released 27 years ago.

The new tune “Beguiled” was loud, with repetitive, sawing power chords, but it just didn’t seem to congeal into anything you could get your ears around. One of rock’s most furious lost love songs, “Silverf-xxx” began like a guitar jam, with Corgan’s howling vocals interspersed, and was rather delightfully a crazed jam all the way through. There was a heavy keyboard/synth sound underlying “Neophyte,” but that variety again worked well on the visceral march. 1993’s “Disarm” was one more opportunity for Pumpkins fans to join in with a beloved classic, with its signature chorus "the devil in me is the devil in you …”  The night ended with one more pounding blast of squalling guitars on “Harmageddon,” and if the set had some hits and misses, Smashing Pumpkins proved they are still one of America’s most interesting – sometimes befuddling, but never boring – musical groups.

Jane's Addiction, a 'metal buzz-bomb'

Jane’s Addiction hails from Los Angeles and got its start in 1985, with the charisma of singer Perry Farrell and guitar Dave Navarro making them almost instantly successful. By 1991 they were playing their farewell tour, but there have been numerous reunions and lineup changes ever since. This year’s tour was supposed to boast the original lineup, but Navarro is sidelined by long-Covid, so the quartet recruited Troy Van Leeuwen from Queens of the Stone Age to step in on guitar. But with bassist Eric Avery back for the first time in 12 years, it is as close as you can get to the original foursome.

At Boston's Orpheum: 'It's Not Unusual' for Tom Jones to put on a great show

Jane’s Addiction threw some curveballs into the setlist they’ve been doing on this tour and welcomed a couple of guest stars to their Boston show.  During their old nugget “Whores” the band was also joined by – how should we say this? – three models in bikinis who did gymnastics-type routines on parallel bars and other frames at the side and rear of the stage, along with just basic twerking.

Jane’s Addiction was joined by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer (who played with Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019) for the blistering punk-metal “Three Days.”  A bit later, Daniel Ash from the band Bauhaus was a guest on an acoustic guitars version of “Jane Says,” adding extra poignance to that tragic portrait. Ash stuck around to join the quartet on a jangly rendition of Bauhaus’ “Slice of Life.”   The models returned, in different bikinis, to cavort during the astral guitar tones of “Ted, Just Admit It,” and this time there was a hobby horse involved. There was no denying the potency of the metal-like charge ironically titled “Stop!,” and Jane’s Addiction’s finale of the industrial metal buzz-bomb “Been Caught Stealing” left fans calling out for more, but their one-hour set was done.  Los Angeles pop-metal singer Poppy opened with a short set, while most of us were still navigating the Expressway.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. Please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription.  Here is our latest offer.

• Environment
• Real Estate
• Beer & Wine
• Cocktails & Spirits
• Openings & Closings
• Restaurant Guide
• Restaurant Reviews
• Top 100 Bars
• Top 100 Restaurants
• Concert Calendar
• Local Music
• Music Festivals
• New Times Pizza Week
• New Times Out to Brunch
• New Times Tacolandia
• Vote Now: Best of 2024 Readers' Choice Poll
• Arts & Entertainment
• Eat & Drink
• Shopping & Services
• Sports & Recreation
• Readers' Choice
• Best of Miami Party
• Classifieds
• Advertise with Us
• Flipbook Archive
• Newsletters
• Promotions & Free Stuff
• Where To Find Miami New Times In Print
• Sign Up/Sign In

Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's Addiction Took Hard Rock Live Back to the '90s

• "Up the Beach"
• "Ain't No Right"
• "Three Days"
• "Jane Says"
• "Been Caught Stealing"
• "Mountain Song"
• "Ted, Just Admit It..."
• "Ocean Size"
• "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
• "We Only Come Out at Night"
• "Once in a Lifetime" (Talking Heads cover)
• "Ava Adore"
• "Tonight, Tonight"
• "Stand Inside Your Love"
• "I of the Mourning"
• "Cherub Rock"
• "Silverfuck"
• "Harmageddon"

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email, sign up for our newsletters.

8 Best Record Stores in Miami

By Douglas Markowitz

Just Announced

Charli xcx and troye sivan announce sweat tour, coming to miami in october.

By Jose D. Duran

Latin Music

Latin grammys announces return to miami for 25th anniversary.

By Osvaldo Espino

Concert Reviews

Madonna still has plenty of "wild" in her on first night of the celebration tour in miami.

By Celia Almeida

• View This Week's Print Issue
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Things To Do
• New Times Events
• Advertise With Us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Voice Media Group
• Dallas Observer
• Denver Westword
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• Phoenix New Times
• V Audience Labs
• V Digital Services

Smashing Pumpkins, Jane’s Addiction tour a double dose of rock that has endured for decades

Over three hours and 27 songs at the united center, it was hard not to recall the first time you heard ‘today’ or saw the ‘been caught stealing’ video..

Billy Corgan sings with Smashing Pumpkins on Saturday at the United Center, backed by the band’s original drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times, Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Everyone had a story Saturday night at the United Center. In the merch line, some were reminiscing about their first time seeing Smashing Pumpkins play the Metro in ’92. In the women’s bathroom, there was a mini high school reunion where old friends recalled wearing out their cassettes of Jane’s Addiction’s debut, “Nothing’s Shocking.”

Since it kicked off in early October, the Spirits on Fire Tour featuring the two ’90s mainstays has become a music fan’s scrapbook pasted together with decades of sentimental glue, perhaps to the chagrin of Billy Corgan, who has often vocalized his thoughts on dreaded nostalgia. But he tapped into his memory bank on this night, asking bandmate James Iha if he remembered the early “Gish” days, with Corgan then sharing he could recall “every moment” over the past three decades of the band.

As the Pumpkins and Jane’s combined three hours and 27 songs played on throughout the night, it was hard not to recall the first time you heard the former’s “Today” or first came across the latter’s wild video for “Been Caught Stealing.”

The pairing of the two bands for the first time on a bill together since 1988 feels like a birthright moment, an inimitable double dose of some of the most solid music and musicians that rock has birthed in the past 40 years, not the least of which were drummers Jimmy Chamberlin and Stephen Perkins, true stars of the show. It was hard to forget that on the other side of the country on this night, a handful of bands were being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and here on stage at United Center were two legacy acts just as worthy.

“It’s so great to be home,” Highland Parker Corgan said midway through the Pumpkins’ set, bowing to the crowd and thanking them for 34 years of support. (Saturday’s show also felt like a homecoming for Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell, who recently inked a new 10-year contract with the city.) Of course, the pinnacle moment in the Pumpkins’ set came during a pared-down, acoustic version of “Tonight, Tonight” featuring just him and Iha surrounded by a backdrop of twinkling stars on a wraparound video screen. It’s almost a given the Pumpkins will play the song in Chicago, as the giant echo of the proud crowd singing back the lyric “the city by the lake” is unique to our town.

The Pumpkins also had a few local guests, including photographer friend Dicky Shay (who once also worked on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”), who Corgan said saved the tour a few weeks back by flying in with forgotten passports, as well as Corgan’s two young children, who came out for a dance-along to new song “Beguiled.” But it was the guest appearance of local saxophonist Frank Catalano on “Silverf- - -” that was a prime moment, adding an alluring and dark jazzy layer on top of the explosive live song.

The 17 tracks were an excellent curation of the Pumpkins’ well-hewn discography, similar to the setlist from an intimate show at Chicago’s Metro in September as part of the venue’s 40th anniversary celebrations, where the Pumpkins got their feet wet so many years ago. Surprises on this night included “Eye,” their “Lost Highway” soundtrack contribution and a sublimely heavy cover of the Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” that was drenched in the Pumpkins’ psych rock and metal influences. It was another great example of the band’s incredible guitar frontline made up of Corgan, Iha and Jeff Schroeder that remains pivotal to the band’s sonic identity. (There was still no D’arcy Wretzky to round out the band’s full original lineup, as Jack Bates continues his stint as the touring bassist while Katie Cole fills in on backup vocals.)

Before the Pumpkins, it was a relief to see Jane’s Addiction take their rightful place Saturday night after a few issues that have marred the tour. Notably, guitarist Dave Navarro has not been able to join due to issues with long-haul COVID, and more recently the band had to cancel a few stops due to an undisclosed injury suffered by Farrell.

Though they were in fine form on this night, with the talented Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age) doing justice as a fill-in for Navarro and original bassist Eric Avery rounding out the compatible-as-ever lineup. The band tore through 10 songs that showed the unmistakable range that has always bucked trends and made Jane’s un-categorically diverse.

“We can do it all,” Farrell said at one point, introducing a “folksy” stripped-back take on “Jane Says.” His penchant for jazz scat vocals on this night also added unusual flair on a few songs, as did his wild banter that took on everything from the price of wine to his thoughts on spanking. Mid-set stunner “Three Days” was the prize of the performance, slinky and dangerous in its approach, added to by the choreography of Farrell’s wife Etty Lau and her tribe of dancers. The song was also full of long-sweeping solos that showed off incredible musicianship, begging for rumors to be true the troupe is working on new music.

• Environment
• Openings & Closings
• Restaurant Guide
• Restaurant Reviews
• Top 100 Bars
• Top 100 Restaurants

Concert Reviews

• Concert Calendar
• Local Music
• Observer Burger Week
• Observer The Morning After Brunch Event
• Observer Tacolandia
• Arts & Entertainment
• Food & Drink
• Shopping & Services
• Sports & Recreation
• Readers' Choice
• Newsletters
• Advertise with Us
• Flipbook Archive
• Promotions & Free Stuff
• Where To Find Dallas Observer In Print
• Sign Up/Sign In

Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's Addiction Kicked Off Their American Tour in Dallas On Sunday

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email, sign up for our newsletters.

Stewart Copeland Brings His Police Deranged Show to Dallas for a High-Energy Treat

By Andrew Sherman

The Best Taylor Swift Listening Parties in Dallas

By Carly May Gravley

The Best Instrumental Bands of the Last 20 Years

By David Fletcher

Pop Punk's Not Dead Fest Brings a Stacked List of Millennial Favorites in its Biggest Iteration Yet

By Alex Gonzalez

• View This Week's Print Issue
• Arts & Culture
• Things to Do
• Observer Events
• Advertise With Us
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Voice Media Group
• Denver Westword
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• Miami New Times
• Phoenix New Times
• V Audience Labs
• V Digital Services

• Classic-Era Fleetwood Mac Songs
• Pearl Jam Album Review
• Mellencamp Tells Fans to Behave
• Rock Hall Fan Vote Ends
• Black Crowes Don't Know Music

Smashing Pumpkins Debut Two New Songs at Triumphant Tour Kickoff: Review, Set List

No small feat following up Jane's Addiction 's  ferocious set  at Sunday night's Spirits on Fire Tour kickoff, but the Smashing Pumpkins rose to the occasion with a dynamic headlining performance that blended massive hits, old-school deep cuts and a sprinkling of brand-new, unreleased songs.

The Billy Corgan -fronted outfit opened its hour-and-50-minute set with "Empires," a recently released song from the upcoming three-part rock opera  ATUM . The 33-track set will serve as a sequel to the band's chart-topping 1995 double album  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness , as well as 2000's  Machina/Machines of God .  Mellon Collie was the most-represented album in the Smashing Pumpkins' oeuvre on Sunday, accounting for six of the evening's 22 songs.

The group dished out the aggressive, anthemic "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Zero," treated the audience to an acoustic version of "Tonight, Tonight" and summoned the biggest singalong of the night with "1979." They ended the set with a brutal, knuckle-dragging rendition of "X.Y.U.," contrasting nicely with the delicate  Machina II cut "If There Is a God" that preceded it.

Other requisite hits and set-list mainstays —  Siamese Dream  smashes "Cherub Rock" and "Disarm,"  Adore 's "Ava Adore" — made their appearances, but overall, the Smashing Pumpkins' tour kickoff was hardly the warm, fuzzy nostalgia trip that some audience members had hoped it would be. Along with the darkly seductive  ATUM  track " Beguiled ," the band debuted two new songs from the upcoming album. The first, "Neophyte," was a melancholy, synth-inflected number whose " It ain't right " refrain was emphasized by the words broadcasted on the screen behind the band. The second, "Harmageddon," was a riff-heavy thrasher that bore a passing resemblance to the obliterative  Siamese Dream  track "Silverfuck," which also appeared late in the set.

Corgan and the band seemed most engaged when they indulged that heavy side, including a doomy, larynx-shredding rendition of Talking Heads ' "Once in a Lifetime" that became an early set highlight. They also excited hardcore fans by dusting off  Mellon Collie 's "We Only Come Out at Night" and  Machina 's "I of the Mourning," which they hadn't played since 2008 and 2013, respectively.

Not everybody was receptive to the curveballs, though: It was easy to telegraph when fans would take their seats or make a run for the bar and bathroom as the band broke into newer or lesser-known material. No arena act is immune to this kind of apathy, and the Smashing Pumpkins have never been afraid to defy audience expectations, even at the expense of their popularity. And besides, the newer songs still had their perks, like a gobsmacking drum solo from Jimmy Chamberlin in the middle of 2018's "Solara."

If the Smashing Pumpkins' tour kickoff eschewed the instant gratification of a pure greatest-hits set, it also offered a defiant, often virtuosic display of dynamics from a band that still feels like it has something to prove — and isn't that all we want from our rock stars anyway?

Watch Smashing Pumpkins Play '1979' Live on 10/2/22

Watch Smashing Pumpkins Cover Talking Heads' 'Once in a Lifetime' on 10/2/22

Watch Smashing Pumpkins Debut 'Neophyte' Live on 10/2/22

Watch Smashing Pumpkins Debut 'Harmageddon' Live on 10/2/22

Smashing Pumpkins, 10/2/22, American Airlines Center, Dallas 1. "Empires" 2. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" 3. "Today" 4. "We Only Come Out at Night" 5. "Cyr" 6. "Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads cover) 7. "Solara" 8. "Eye" 9. "Ava Adore" 10. "Tonight, Tonight" 11. "Stand Inside Your Love" 12. "I of the Mourning" 13. "Cherub Rock" 14. "Zero" 15. "1979" 16. "Beguiled" 17. "Silverfuck" 18. "Neophyte" (new song, live debut) 19. "Disarm" 20. "Harmageddon" (new song, live debut) 21. "If There Is a God" 22. "X.Y.U."

Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins, Oct. 2, 2022

More from ultimate classic rock.

• Arts & Leisure
• Scores and Schedules
• Campus Voices
• Latest Podcasts
• RaiderVision Site

Concert Review: The Smashing Pumpkins “Spirits on Fire” Tour

October 19, 2022

Paulino Mercenari

The Smashing Pumpkins were joined by Jane’s Addiction and Poppy for their “Spirits on Fire” tour. The concert lasted for an impressive four-and-a-half hours.

How do you bring out every rock subgenre— every mom and dad that once prayed to Van Halen, every vinyl hoarding die-hard, every saggy-skinned, tattoo-laden metalhead, every Woodstock 99’ wannabe, every thrift store yuppie, self-proclaiming non-conformist— to one place?

You bring The Smashing Pumpkins to town, that’s how. Oh, and early-90s, alternative rock legends, Jane’s Addiction. Oh, and the internet-breaking, viral sensation slash anomaly turned heavy metal artist, Poppy, creator of genre-melting tracks with metal, pop, and pop-punk influences.

I find there to be a beautiful duality in the idea that Miami is a city which can host a sold-out Bad Bunny tour over at FTX Arena, but also welcome The Smashing Pumpkins to a sold-out Hard Rock Live for their “Spirits on Fire” tour. 

Seeing the variety in the sorts of people entering the venue was as diverse as the city it took place in. However, one independent factor ruled supreme: the obscene amount of Smashing Pumpkins merch worn by almost every attendee. In what seemed to be the second-coming of the smiley Nirvana tee, the star-riding Mellon Collie was there in all her Infinite Sadness .

At 6:30 p.m. many of the eventgoers, including ourselves, went to go take our seats. Little did any of us realize that the concert would run on for the next four-and-a-half hours including intermission, taking everyone in the audience on a wild trip until 11:00 p.m.

Paulino Mercenari , Editor-in-Chief

American singer Poppy went viral after posting offsetting performances on her YouTube channel. Now, Poppy is known for experimenting with different styles to create an industrial sound.

Arriving twenty minutes late, Poppy and her accompanying band mates were the warm-up to a concert venue whose seats were still half empty. With her hair tied up and an oversized t-shirt on, Poppy looked more like an angsty teen who had just come downstairs for breakfast; definitely not like rockstar material for the older concertgoers who were looking to “rock and roll”. 

If attendees thought they could just glaze over Poppy’s set while waiting for the main bands to come on stage, they thought wrong. It didn’t take many of her awing high-pitched, guttural screams that left the skin crawling for those seated to have their eyes glued to the stage. 

Poppy’s set felt like an industrial pop-punk fever dream. The energy was there, the guitar riffs, and the sudden power chord-changes that halted into abrupt melodies left an impression on everyone present. If this had been her own concert, she could have been done more justice. Yet she was forced to end short of her twenty-minute set time due to the late appearance.

Jane’s Addiction

Formed in 1985., Jane’s Addiction is made up of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery. Although forming in Los Angeles, Dave Navarro is a Miami local.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m not a big Jane’s Addiction fan – I just didn’t get it. 

It took one live performance to spin me in a 180 degree direction. Perry Farrell is the ultimate archetype of a rockstar and he commands your presence while he’s on stage. His voice is one that sounds like it’s been shredded after thirty years of raging vocals and whines. Farrell’s trademark tone is still there, but the wear and tear from his years on stage have definitely done numbers to it. This didn’t take any less power away from Farell as he powered through the set alongside Queens of the Stone Age guitarist, Troy Van Leeuwen. Leeuwen was subbing in for Dave Navarro who unfortunately is still recovering from a Covid infection. I was let down by the news as I knew that Navarro, who also temporarily played for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has an especially unique way of carrying himself on guitar, channeling the unbridled, wild yet masterful essence of Jane’s Addiction into the instrument. However, I felt that Leeuwen played well while regrettably having little of Navarro’s charisma. Farrell did most of the talking for the show, talking about his experience having grown up in Miami. 

“In Hollywood [Florida], I learned to surf, but in LA, I learned to rock.” 

Jane’s Addiction very well felt like its own rock show, with songs like “Mountain Song” and “Ocean Size” melting the ears and eyes through bright flashing lights and instruments that were turned up to eleven.

The Smashing Pumpkins

Created in 1988 by guitarist and frontman Billy Corgan in Chicago, IL. The Smashing Pumpkins broke through into the mainstream along the same time as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

By this point I felt as if I had gotten my money’s worth. I was being treated to three entirely different, altogether great rock concerts in the course of one night. This time though, it transcended what the previous two had done: beyond attending a concert, I was entering an experience. For the next two hours, the black robe repping, combat boot strutting, wholly bald Billy Corgan took the audience on a journey through the entirety of The Smashing Pumpkins discography. Corgan’s signature voice carried itself through acoustic solos on songs like “We Only Come Out At Night” or even a surprising take on “Tonight, Tonight” that had the entire crowd singing along. In duality, Corgan screamed into life “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” or “Zero” which left me and many other audience members throbbing from all the headbanging. 

Going in line with the personality of the methodically mystifying, self-described “goth vampire” persona Corgan jokes about, he at one point strutted off stage to address technical concerns with whoever must have been the sound guy. Original member of the band James Iha would try to fill up the awkwardness of these moments by talking about the strange nature of Floridians and alligators. Upon Corgan’s arrival back on stage, Iha posed the question:

“What do you think about gators?” Corgan responded “I just want to rock.”

At one point The Smashing Pumpkins performed a frankensteined composition of The Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Corgan pumped the crowd full of excitement for what would come next by reciting the famous first existential lines. On the big screen overhead flashed grids filled in by Corgan making exaggerated monologues. Oh look… sigh, a bunch of Talking Heads. The audience waited in anticipation, and instead, received a bloated, chopped-up, drowned out track that quickly just left everyone confused over what we had just heard. This was understandably the let down of the concert. Thankfully, few other disappointments could have really been measured.

The set design complimented the tone of each song perfectly. At first, crucified scarecrows and shining spotlights were a powerful introduction for the first part of the set where equally powerful songs reigned supreme over the audience. It was almost as if The Smashing Pumpkins were solidifying their entrance through songs like “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” led by the noise of swirling, distorted guitars.

I can admit that a lot of the concerts I attend leave me questioning if I got what I paid for, if my money could have been better spent elsewhere. The “Spirits on Fire” tour is one that in retrospect, I would have happily paid ten times the amount to relive the experience. I was taken back to one of the greatest, most influential eras of rock and able to live it through ear-blasting vocals and finger-bleeding guitar solos, but also in the form of grand, soaring melodies and melancholy solos. Jane’s Addiction and The Smashing Pumpkins are getting older with each year. And last Saturday, I was granted the opportunity to see the legends come alive.

The Raider Voice • Copyright 2024 • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNO • Log in

Comments (4)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Donny • Nov 22, 2022 at 3:10 pm

I was at the Nov 18th show in Phoenix. I thought once in a lifetime was a highlight! Their whole set was a tour de force of emotion. A well crafted sonic journey. I went for Jane’s Addiction, wasn’t disappointed, and now find myself going through the extensive back catalog of Pumpkins’ albums. I wasn’t as into them when i was younger. Remedying that mistake!

Steve • Nov 2, 2022 at 4:18 pm

The concert was terrible! Left early. Dave Navarro, didn’t even show up. We paid money to see Janes Addiction!! St. Louis show was bad , don’t waist your money

Mark Darling • Oct 28, 2022 at 7:59 am

Just caught the Montreal show. One of worst concerts ever. So bad I left early. *****.

Peter Mitchell • Nov 1, 2022 at 4:12 pm

Terrible take, was at this show. It was amazing.

• Statistics Stats
• You are here:

Concert Review: The Smashing Pumpkins at The Forum in Los Angeles

• Last updated: 31 Aug 2018, 20:13:14
• Published: 31 Aug 2018, 20:13:13
• Written by: Asal Shah
• Photography by: Tim Mosenfelder
• Categories: Reviews Tagged: The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins at The Forum Shiny And Oh So Bright

The rumors are true, The Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour, Shiny and Oh So Bright, is indeed well over three hours long. I know this first hand because I got to witness it in all its glory as each hour flew by last night at The Forum in Los Angeles. The show started promptly at 8:15PM and by the time I was heading out it was almost midnight. And while I was getting a bit tired by the end, I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.

The first hour started strong. Billy Corgan comes out alone to sing “Disarm” as childhood photos of himself are projected on the giant LED screen that curtains the stage. The childhood photos are digitally graffiti'd with satanic scribbles, but like in a totally cool way, you know? “666” and upside down crosses and all that jazz. Soon after, the whole band comes out, James Iha in a magnificent white suit may I add, and the heavy riffs soar right into “Rocket.” Each song after that is an OG fan's dream come true, because you get “Siva” and “Rhinoceros” right after that.

The next part is when the first cover song comes in, a very Corgan-ified version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” This also marks the first of Corgan’s many costume changes. During this cut, he’s dressed in a cloak and performing on and off a moving staircase structure. I should also note that during the entire set, the visuals are very all-encompassing. It’s basically like each song performed gets its own uniquely made music video projected on the screen behind the band. And they are all very on par with SP’s vibe. You can thank creative director Linda Strawberry for that.

After a head-banging performance of “Zero” comes the cuts from later in their career (1999/2000 era). “The Everlasting Gaze,” “Stand Inside You Love,” “Thirty-Three” and “Eye” are all clumped into the setlist together. Then, after an absolute enthralling performance of “Soma,” the band disappears into the darkness as a larger than life, Vaudeville version of Mark McGrath (yes, the Sugar Ray guy) appears on the screen. He’s there to introduce James Iha back onto the stage as he sings and performs “Blew Away” off of Pisces Iscariot .

At this point, the crowd was so emotional, so engulfed in the show that it’s hard to believe over an hour had passed. The rest of the night was equally engaging, as we got to witness amazing guitar solos during crowd pleasers like “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans” and “Cherub Rock,” and we even got to see the alt-rockers do an incredible cover of “Stairway to Heaven.” James Iha afterward took to the mic proclaiming -

“I bet you guys weren’t expecting that were you. The Smashing Pumpkins Covering ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ Cross that off your bucket lists."

I got to cross a LOT off of my bucket list last night as I sang along to all my favorite SP tracks with Billy and air guitar-solo to all the memorable guitar parts. By hour three, the set started to close with four strong SP tracks after another: “Hummer,” “Today,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” and “Muzzle.” They even delivered a two-song encore after ALL THAT! Landing on 31-songs for the night.

I can only describe the show so much, but it’s an experience you really need to indulge in yourself. Head to their website to check out their remaining dates, because nostalgia has never felt this good, people.

Latest News

Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment Return For Kiss of Death Tour

Marquee Memories: The Dandy Warhols

Guess Who May Affect Lenny Kravitz's New Tour

Luke Combs Kicks Off Tour With Touching Live Debut in Wisconsin

Most played songs.

• Bullet With Butterfly Wings ( 921 )
• Today ( 888 )
• Tonight, Tonight ( 868 )
• Cherub Rock ( 857 )
• Disarm ( 762 )

More The Smashing Pumpkins statistics

Gigs seen live by

17,351 people have seen The Smashing Pumpkins live.

Mikewallach1818 MellonCollie24 tommaier0 Kdrosas snowden75 kidamnesiac723 Jeremy93 Ryanconner U2dmthecure Moops Briansikorski polkadotpam quistis AstroCreep23 capnfantasy MaximusFidei Csturbins Yes_ok MadCritter LuxuryMonk Epithetical monsterfeend121 mypeenfat slackerpo Tlstapp Briannalexis4 ayale99 scomurphy velcrofly80 lanezh04 Siamiesedreams edhack mitchdoner Printindy jpregno04 threesunrises FergsConcerts Bestcushyone tfox37 bhuttner83 Pardue-75 capA9 Lamborghini333 Shakedown_1979 Doink317 w411f10wer MidwestConcertG Fauxgenius RyderB777 Kymart

Showing only 50 most recent

The Smashing Pumpkins

More from this artist.

• More Setlists
• Artist Statistics
• Add setlist
• Setlist Insider See the artists dive into their own setlist data.
• Live Debuts Witness the first time a song is performed live.
• Setlist.fm Exclusives Videos, photos and interviews - see it here first.
• Covers Better than the original? You decide.
• Guest Appearances Keeping track of the on-stage cameos.
• Setlist History Looking back on moments in music history.
• Tour Dates How to catch your faves: The who, what, where and when.
• Festivals News about the multi-artist, multi-day extravaganzas.
• General News Other music-related news.
• Apr 16, 2024
• Apr 15, 2024
• Apr 14, 2024
• Apr 13, 2024
• Apr 12, 2024
• Apr 11, 2024
• FAQ | Help | About
• Terms of Service
• Ad Choices | Privacy Policy
• Feature requests
• Songtexte.com

Concert review: Corgan delivers Smashing Pumpkins music with a dose of pessimism, optimism

The last time The Smashing Pumpkins performed in Columbus — in Value City Arena August 2018 — the band played 32 songs during more than three hours, extending familiar tunes from their early days with spacey jams. That tour celebrated the return of founding guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

With a far shorter set in Kemba Live last night — one hour and forty-five minutes before encore — the group delivered a tour of its 30-plus year songbook that was simply a fine, solid rock 'n' roll show, one that testified to the five musician’s history together. It is fitting that the tour is titled “Rock Invasion 2.”

The Pumpkins set the rocking tone from the opening tune, “Colour Of Love” from their most recent album, 2020’s “Cyr.” It also represented the way lead singer and songwriter Billy Corgan consistently undercuts the essentially hopeful romanticism of his catalogue. For every wildly idyllic picture of love and life, there are another three declarations of doubt and pessimism.

Summer music: Columbus Summer Fun 2022: Pop goes the music at indoor and outdoor concerts and festivals

Corgan took the stage in a long black robe with his black combat boots, shaved head and what looked like a big fish hook painted on his forehead, his presence was downright vampiric. His singing was strong as ever: passionate, supple and snarly all at once.

If the second song, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” doubled-down on the dark side, the follow-up “Today” countered with Corgan’s obsession with the ecstatic possibilities of living in the moment. It also sealed the bond with the audience as they sang along loudly.

Corgan and guitarists Iha and Jeff Schroeder mostly kept their solos compact, with the frontman contributing a concise but smoking guitar solo in “Drown.” Schroeder added —as Corgan said — “a little Eddie Van Halen” to one tune. Iha was off the hook in the metal crusher “Zero,” and Corgan and Iha got nicely spacey together in “Solara.”

The guitar jam at the end of “Eye,” though, just sounded tacked on for dramatic effect.

Interestingly, one of the evening’s highlights came with band founders Corgan and Iha strapping on acoustic guitars for a lovely reading of the euphoric “Tonight, Tonight,” which the singer dedicated to the audience and its loyalty for more than 30 years. It was a sentiment echoed a few songs later when Corgan noted that last night marked the 31st anniversary of the release of the band’s debut album “Gish.” Promising something special to mark the milestone, the band launched into “Snail,” a song that according to Corgan the group rarely performs live.

Summer movies: Columbus Summer Fun 2022: 'Top Gun' sequel kicks off blockbuster movie season

If the band’s aim was simply to provide a night of fun and powerful rock 'n' roll, it succeeded. “It’s Saturday night in Columbus,” Corgan declared, “There’s gonna’ be some children made.” Later, in “If There Is A God,” he sang, “If there is a God/I know he likes to rock.”

In interviews in 2020, Corgan said the group’s next album would be an epic completion to the dramatic arc begun with 1995’s ambitious double album “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.” That was repeated by Schroeder more recently, who said the sprawling project is now mostly recorded. If the group tours it, there’s a good chance the shows will be more like 2018 and less like 2022.

Promising Columbus band AEIR — recently signed to Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins’ new label Perkins Palace — opened last night’s concert with a short but energetic set that ended with a cover of the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.” 

• Live Review
• Local Spotlight
• Around Town
• Stars and Bars

Live Review: The Smashing Pumpkins w/ Jane’s Addiction @ Capital One Arena — 10/18/2022

The Smashing Pumpkins perform at Capital One Arena on Oct. 18, 2022. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / @kgustafson)

The Spirits on Fire Tour featuring The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction paid visit to Capital One Arena last week featuring two bedrocks of the ’90s alternative rock scene taking different approaches to their sets.

At Capital One Arena on Oct. 18, headliners Smashing Pumpkins, led by alt-rock curmudgeon Billy Corgan, were ostensibly promoting their upcoming triple album, Atum, which is being released in three phases with Act 1 arriving on Nov. 15. The band’s set featured four new songs from Atum, “Beguiled,” “Empires,” “Harmageddon,” and “Neophyte.” “ Beguiled ” is out on your streaming service of choice, and it’s the best thing Corgan and Co. have done in years.

Watch the official music video for “Beguiled” by The Smashing Pumpkins on YouTube:

The aforementioned “Empires”  led off the night and was quickly followed by “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Today” had the capacity crowd all on their feet. The next phase of the show was more for the hardcore fans and the energy in the venue dragged a bit when the band played a gothy cover of Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” and the industrial-sounding tracks “Eye” and “Ava Adore.” However, a heartfelt acoustic version of  “Tonight, Tonight” by Billy and guitarist James Iha was a nice change of pace and got everyone’s attention back.

A late set 1-2-3 punch of “Cherub Rock,” “Zero,” and “1979” showed the breadth of the Pumpkins sound and returned the crowd’s energy level to 10/10 for the final few songs.

All in all, not a bad performance (certainly better than their somewhat stodgy 2019 show at Merriweather ) that showed Billy Corgan still has things to say that are worth hearing.

One thing Billy Corgan has been very good at recently is choosing excellent openers for his tours. In 2016 for Billy’s “Plainsong” tour he brought Liz Phair and in 2019 Noel Gallagher did the honors . This time around it was Jane’s Addiction, a band that somehow I had never seen. I still regret not seeing their 2009 NINJA co-headlining show at Merriweather with Nine Inch Nails but I unsuccessfully tried to see the Beastie Boys in Baltimore that night. 

I did not have high expectations for their set, especially with Dave Navarro’s absence due to long covid (get well soon, Dave!) but I could not have been more wrong. Perry Farrell and Co. sounded brilliant and aside from one cover, stuck to material released before 1991. Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen filled in at guitar and with all respect to Navarro, he fit in seamlessly and you’d have never known this was his first tour with the band. 

We got all the band’s best known songs, “Ocean Size,” “Mountain Song,” “Stop!,” Been Caught Stealing” and of course, “Jane Says.”

Watch the official music video for “Jane Says” by Jane’s Addiction on YouTube:

Perry Farrell’s voice was magnificent and the rhythm section of bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins supplied the tribal beats and basslines that propel the band. The 10-minute epic “Three Days” was a particular highlight and a song I’ve waited decades to hear live.

Here are photos of Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction performing at Capital One Arena on Oct. 18, 2022. All photos copyright and courtesy of  Kyle Gustafson .

Smashing Pumpkins set:

Empires Bullet With Butterfly Wings Today We Only Come Out at Night Cyr Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads cover) Solara Eye Ava Adore Tonight, Tonight(acoustic) Stand Inside Your Love I of the Mourning Cherub Rock Zero 1979 Beguiled Silverfuck Neophyte Disarm Harmageddon

Jen’s Addcition set:

Up the Beach Whores Ocean Size Ain’t No Right Three Days Mountain Song Jane Says Slice of Life (Bauhaus cover) Ted, Just Admit It… Stop! Been Caught Stealing

[…] – Jane’s Addiction @ Capital One Arena — 10/18/22Somehow I had never seen Jane’s Addiction before this show. I am still kicking myself for not […]

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Our Partners
• Thrushie Awards

• Advertising
• Denver Fashion Week
• Denver Fashion
• Outdoor & Travel
• This Week’s Events
• Denver Music
• This Week’s Concerts
• Concert Reviews
• Restaurants
• Beer, Bars and Booze
• ‘Burbs
• Capitol Hill
• Cherry Creek
• Downtown Denver
• Highland / Northside
• RiNo / Five Points
• South Broadway / Baker
• Wash Park / DU
• Recent Articles
• Editor’s Picks

Review — Ball Arena Caught ‘The Spirits On Fire Tour’ with The Smashing Pumpkins

Ball Arena was a rock hot spot last night as L.A.’s Jane’s Addiction and Chicago’s Smashing Pumpkins turned up the volume during their “Spirits on Fire Tour.” Aside from a malfunctioning amplifier — courtesy of James Iha from The Smashing Pumpkins — the night went on without a hitch. Before the two headliners graced the stage, Moriah Pereira, better known as Poppy, showed the crowd why she was there.

The 27-year-old singer who paved her way to stardom via Youtube in 2014 now has over 1.8 million listeners on Spotify and over seven full-length albums. Stylistically, her music differentiated from the other artists of the night but her energy and attitude behind the music were one and the same. Haunting and harnessing, the singer’s vocals go from zero to one hundred at the switch of a verse. Whether it was electropop or nu metal, one thing remained certain — no eyes or ears could glaze over her opening act.

Jane’s Addiction. Photo courtesy of Jane’s Addiction on Facebook.

The Smashing Pumpkins

The group performed its biggest hits including “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” “Zero,” an acoustic version of “Tonight, Tonight” and a surprise performance of  “Rhinoceros” due to their amplifier issues. There was a lack of action but not of energy. Few danced but all felt the connection from the lyrical precision and stage performance of the unique band.

The Smashing Pumpkins

How good are they live, live rating  , real live certified  , critic consensus, festivals in 2024.

Latest release

Artist info, critic concert reviews, parklife dc (usa).

Full Review

Exclaim (Canada)

Live in limbo (canada), utah concert review (usa), the music (australia), sydney morning herald (australia), music-news.com (uk), past critic reviews published in, image credit.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Sign up to our newsletter

Artists on tour.

Melanie Martinez

The Wallflowers

Steve Miller Band

Depeche Mode

Rina Sawayama

Black Pumas

Arooj Aftab

Olivia Rodrigo

Graham Nash

All artists, featured festivals.

Roadburn Festival 2024

The Metal Fest 2024

Moon Crush Pink Moon 2024

High Water Festival 2024

Two Step Inn Festival 2024

Pandemonium Rocks Melbourne 2024

All festivals.

How good are they LIVE?

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR Newsletter

Smashing Pumpkins Announce ‘World Is a Vampire’ Summer Amphitheater Tour

• By Tomás Mier

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

The Smashing Pumpkins are going on a summer tour this year. On Tuesday, the Billy Corgan-fronted group announced their 26-stop “World Is a Vampire” tour — and they’re bringing some awesome bands on the road with them.

Interpol , Stone Temple Pilots, and Rival Sons will join the group for select dates on the road as they head across the country, performing in cities such as Dallas, Irvine, Tampa, Toronto, and Charlotte. The tour will arrive after the group releases the final act of their three-part album ATUM on May 5.

“I grew up in a world where I needed to know bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cure existed, it meant there was a place for people like me to hang out and belong. That’s what The World Is A Vampire is about,” Corgan said in a press release. “Bringing back that sense of community. If you don’t fit in, you belong here. It’s about having a shared experience and respecting others, but ultimately having fun.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Smashing Pumpkins (@smashingpumpkins)

Presale tickets go on sale Tuesday at 12 p.m. local time, while general on-sale tickets start Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

The group celebrated the new tour dates Tuesday by releasing their song “Spellbinding,” after dropping the first two acts of ATUM earlier this year, featuring songs such as “Beyond the Vale” and “Beguiled.”

Quentin Tarantino Scraps Film 'The Movie Critic,' Which Would've Been His Last

Trump forced to see mean memes about him shared by prospective jurors, kelly clarkson's ex-husband denies 'every allegation' after lawsuit over $2.6 million ruling, cher's son argues she's 'unfit to serve' as his conservator.

July 28 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan July 3 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan Aug. 1 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre* Aug. 3 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre* Aug. 5 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre* Aug. 6 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater* Aug. 7 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre* Aug. 9 – Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre* Aug. 10 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre* Aug. 11 – Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Resort & Casino** Aug. 13 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater^ Aug. 15 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavillion^ Aug. 16 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP^ Aug. 17 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater^ Aug. 19 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre^ Aug. 2 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre^ Aug. 22 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion ^ Aug. 24 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center ^ Aug. 25 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion^ Aug. 3 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater^ Aug. 31 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live ^ Sept. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage^ Sept. 3 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre^ Sept. 6 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre^^ Sept. 8 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater^ Sept. 9 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center^

^ w/ Interpol & Rival Sons * w/ Stone Temple Pilots & Rival Sons **w/ Stone Temple Pilots ^^ w/ Interpol

Tessa Thompson Brings Night-Blooming Romance to Arooj Atfab's 'Raat Ki Rani' Video

• By Brenna Ehrlich

Watch Chris Stapleton Improvise a Song About John Stamos on 'Kimmel'

• Late-Night TV
• By Emily Zemler

Kelly Clarkson's Ex-Husband Denies 'Every Allegation' After Lawsuit Over $2.6 Million Ruling

• Motion to Dismiss
• By Charisma Madarang

City Girls' JT Asks Fans to Defy UMG's TikTok Fight to Promote Her Next Single

• By Ethan Millman

Grupo Frontera Announce Album 'Jugando Que No Pasa Nada' With Nicki Nicole, Morat Collabs

• Frontera 2.0

Most Popular

Ryan gosling and kate mckinnon's 'close encounter' sketch sends 'snl' cold open into hysterics, o.j. simpson's lawyer reverses opinion on payments to goldman family (exclusive), michael douglas is the latest actor to make controversial remarks about intimacy coordinators, masters 2024 prize money pegged at $20m, up $2m from prior year, you might also like, hipgnosis songs fund agrees to $1.4 billion takeover by concord, hill house home opens new south carolina store featuring fashion, homewares & snacks, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, call netflix’s dallas cowboys cheerleaders docuseries what it is: ‘cheer’ season 3, aaron judge’s big toe trouble stubs yankees’ hot start.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Live Review: The Smashing Pumpkins & Jane’s Addiction give Sydney a superplex – The Hordern Pavilion (19.04.23)

• April 20, 2023
• Live Reviews
• Amyl and The Sniffers
• Battlesnake
• Jane's Addiction
• The Smashing Pumpkins
• The World Is A Vampire

After more than thirty years, you could be wondering whether Jane’s Addiction and The Smashing Pumpkins are past their prime. But judging by their performances as part of Billy Corgan’s global-scaling The World Is A Vampire Festival , they’re showing no signs of slowing down.

This wasn’t a concert. Let’s get that out of the way first. This was a one-venue festival, running through Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and kicking off in the afternoon before wrapping up around 11 PM. Jane’s Addiction and The Smashing Pumpkins, two of the most iconic rock bands of the 90s, were the two big attractions here but Aussies Battlesnake and Amy & The Sniffers held their own well.

In fact, Amyl & The Sniffers in particular looked right at home on the lineup, aligned perfectly with the guitar-licking, crunchy rock & roll that the bigger bands are known for. And peppered in between? Oddly enough, short wrestling matches between Billy Corgan’s National Wrestling Alliance and the Wrestling Alliance of Australia . The festival was nowhere near short of on-stage theatrics, even if none of that seemed to matter once the two biggest names in the building hit the stage.

Jane’s Addiction has not been to Sydney for many years now,  and I’ve seen them live quite a few times. The legendary rock band still feels like a band you’re watching in its prime. This is remarkable given lead Perry Farrell is clearly getting on with age. Age hasn’t, however, affected his paramount charisma as the rock dandy struts around the stage, either serving as solemn rock god on “Mountain Song” or dropping the pretentiousness and dipping into fan service with “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Stealing”. Just as good as the last time I saw them in 2010.

The biggest surprise, however, was that Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha were in a good mood. The Smashing Pumpkins have developed a reputation for Corgan’s noted prickliness, but standing tall on stage the one-of-one frontman seemed to be in very high spirits.

Perhaps it’s Corgan’s lifelong admiration of wrestling that helped build morale. Yet, whatever it is, this was the finest set I’ve seen from The Smashing Pumpkins out of the four-or-so times I’ve seen them. And that says a lot, given my personal favourite “Disarm” was sadly left off the setlist – a mixed-bag of songs both old and new, all tied together by some resoundingly excellent musicianship from all band members, particularly Iha who stayed on with Corgan for an acoustic run while the rest of the band briefly sat on the sidelines.

Corgan knows how to put together a set list. He starts with a breathless run of hits, switches through to deeper cuts, and then heads back to some consecutive hits again. “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” has become the band’s signature song over the years and it was only second on the set list.

While Corgan has most definitely faded as far as screaming “CAAAAAAGE” goes (or pronouncing “believe” in a brilliant acoustic version of “Tonight, Tonight”), the fierceness in the man’s voice was clearly expressed. Even more so since it was juxtaposed with a genuinely playful, slightly sardonic stage presence that saw Corgan and Iha crack plenty of jokes and banter with the crowd.

“Ava Adore” was a mid-set highlight, brilliantly executed with perhaps the best arrangement I’ve heard from that song to date. Yet it was the behemoth trilogy of hits towards the end of the set that remained the highlight of the night. “Cherub Rock” was up first, quickly bleeding into a perfectly performed “Zero” before doubling down on the heavy bass of “1979”.

And the crowd. Well, the show sold out. And for a ’90s band that has been here more than a few times, that’s something that speaks highly of how relevant and beloved The Smashing Pumpkins will always be. After all, there is no other band in history that sounds like them.

FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

All photos: Bruce Baker – you can see more photos from Sydney HERE

Share this:

More to explore on the au:.

Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Here Is The Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘The World Is A Vampire Tour’ Setlist

Last fall, The Smashing Pumpkins’ show at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles was amplified by a surprise appearance from Willow Smith , who joined them for a rendition of “Cherub Rock.” This year, the Billy Corgan-fronted band embarked on their The World Is A Vampire Tour . Interpol and Stone Temple Pilots are serving as openers.

“I grew up in a world where I needed to know bands like Siouxsie And The Banshees and The Cure existed, it meant there was a place for people like me to hang out and belong,” Corgan said in a statement upon the tour announcement this March . “That’s what The World Is A Vampire is about. Bringing back that sense of community.”

He continued, “If you don’t fit in, you belong here. It’s about having a shared experience and respecting others, but ultimately having fun. A true alternative festival, where all the self-proclaimed weirdos and outsiders of the world can get together and have a party.”

The World Is A Vampire Tour kicked off with two shows at The Chelsea At The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on July 28 and July 30 before hitting Salt Lake City, Utah on August 1. The next scheduled show is for Thursday, August 3, at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. See all the remaining North American dates here .

Below is The Smashing Pumpkins’ setlist for The World Is A Vampire Tour (as chronicled on setlist.fm ).

1. “The Everlasting Gaze” 2. “Doomsday Clock” 3. “Once In A Lifetime” (Talking Heads cover) 4. “Today” 5. “Perfect” 6. “Disarm” 7. “The Celestials” 8. “Purple Blood” 9. “Ava Adore” 10. “Tonight, Tonight” 11. “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” 12. “This Time” 13. “Spellbinding” 14. Hubble Bubble (Toil And Trouble)” (Manfred Mann cover) 15. “Jellybelly” 16. “Empires” 17. “Hummer” 18. “Beguiled” 19. “1979” 20. “Cherub Rock” 21. “Zero”

The Smashing Pumpkins are back in Australia, and they haven't sounded this great in years

• X (formerly Twitter)

Halfway through The Smashing Pumpkins ' set at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel, frontman Billy Corgan jokes about how miserable he must be, given how much miserable music he's made.

It's funny, because the guy has never seemed happier.

His The World Is A Vampire mini-festivals allow Corgan to combine his passions for music and wrestling, bringing the band he helms and the wrestling league he owns (National Wrestling Alliance) to people around the world.

It's now brought him to Brisbane, a place you'd assume he knows fairly well – even if he does call it Bris-bain – for the first show of the festival's run around Australia , and he's here with some damn fine company.

Unapologetically Amyl

Amyl & the Sniffers are a finely tuned rock'n'roll beast these days. They're one of those unique entities that sound like so many other bands – AC/DC, Black Flag, Turbonegro, Radio Birdman, Rose Tattoo, to name a few – yet also come across completely unique. 

In their case, that's thanks to fierce frontwoman Amy Taylor .

She's a magnetic presence whose greatest asset isn't necessarily her snarling rasp, but her unapologetic insistence to be fully herself.

This afternoon they pummel through their best songs – including 'Security', 'Maggot', 'Hertz' – but it's the intense 'Knifey' that feels most powerful.

It's a well-executed change of pace and a genuinely intense moment. Most of the set is a bash over the head, but a moment like this demonstrates their range.

The band, and Taylor's voice, are aggressively not to everyone's taste. That's why they're so glorious. They do what they do, and after years of relentless touring, they’ve got it down to a fine art.

The sleaze and skills and Jane's Addiction

Seeing Perry Farrell yell 'Aussie Aussie Aussie' is the weirdest thing to happen on stage tonight.

Sure, Jane's Addiction 's cast of dancing women gyrate acrobatically on scaffolds, sex swings and even a rocking horse at various stages through the set, but at least we were expecting that.

It's the legendary Los Angeles band's   first Australian show in 12 years and we all breathe a sigh of relief when Farrell lets out his first big cry of the night in the explosive 'Ocean Size' – his voice still sounds incredible.

Sadly, guitarist Dave Navarro isn't here as he continues to recover from long COVID. Thankfully another ex-Chili Pepper in Josh Klinghoffer is here, and that's an incredibly safe set of hands in which to leave these fast, shred heavy rock classics.

It really is nothing but classics tonight. 'Ain't No Right' has an immense, rumbling power, Farrell's roar in 'Mountain Song' is incredible, and the sassy energy of 'Been Caught Stealing' is still such a thrill after all these years.

Through the set, Perry stops to chat. Between swigs from his bottle of red wine, he tells us he wants to grow a mullet, tells us that he shot up curry powder on his first trip to Australia, tells us how orgasmic certain songs feel.

The only moment years of wear shows on his voice is in the anthemic 'Jane Says', where he doesn't even try and replicate its main hook. The rest of his performance is so good, we can let it slide.

As great as Farrell is as a vocalist and entertainer, and as impossible to ignore as those dancers are, the musicality on display from the rest of the band really is the most staggering thing about the show.

Stephen Perkins is a monstrous drummer and the way he and Eric Avery play together shows off not just their talent but their experience. They are living proof that the best way to remain great is to simply play hundreds of shows together across 35 years.

This makes Klinghoffer's work even more impressive. To be dropped in the middle of a legendary band with so much history, and to be replacing a guitarist of such unique and significant talent, is no mean feat.

He's done it before , though, and tonight he proves he could do it again if anyone needed him.

The band tear through a wild version of 'Stop' to close things out, and then take their time leaving the stage, soaking up the applause. It took over a decade for them to get back here, who knows when they'll return?

Wrestlers, Talking Heads covers, and a string of undeniable anthems

These days, The Smashing Pumpkins are made up of founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlain, with not-particularly-new member Jeff Schroeder. Tonight, they're joined by Jack Bates on bass and Katie Cole on backing vocals.

This matters, because tonight's show is the first time Iha has joined the band in Australia in 25 years, and, for Chamberlain, it's been 15 years. It's the closest we've been (and probably the closest we will ever get) to a reunion of the iconic Chicago grunge band's band's classic line-up.

We can immediately tell the difference. This is the best The Smashing Pumpkins have sounded on an Australian stage in a long time. 

They open on new single 'Empires', one of four tracks from the band's ambitious latest release, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts that the band play tonight.

But their set is largely a reminiscence on some of the most emotive, atmospheric rock of the 90s.

'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' is searing and vitriolic, 'Today' is enormous and anthemic. Corgan leans into frontman mode for 'Eye' (from the soundtrack to David Lynch's Lost Highway ) and 'Ava Adore', jettisoning his guitar and confidently strutting the stage in his dark, flowing robe, animatedly calling for crowd participation.

Iha and Corgan perform a quick, acoustic cover of The Church's 'Under The Milky Way' and it is the most genuinely unexpected moment of the night. They don't seem completely thrilled with their rendition, but they're wrong: they do a good job and it's very endearing.

This leads into a beautifully intimate take on 'Tonight, Tonight', and we barely even miss the big, sweeping strings that make it so epic on record. In fact, the stripped back version is just a stronger reminder of how good this song is.

It's also really pleasant to see a bit of back-and-forth between the two members, given the prospect of Iha joining the Pumpkins was still a pipe dream last time they were here.

The end of the show is dynamite. The riff that opens 'Cherub Rock' threatens to tear a hole in the sky above us, the hectic and beautiful lighting during 'Zero' is almost as impressive as the song itself, and '1979' gets the mildly distant crowd the most vocal they've been all night.

It often seems cruel when a band drops a new song in this fierce run to the finish line. Credit where it's due, last year's 'Beguiled' slots into this hit parade surprisingly well, even though the addition of a couple of wrestlers pulling some moves mid-song is absolutely ridiculous.

The whole thing ends with a messy and chaotic 'Silverfuck', a rare moment where the band don't necessarily do justice to their recording, but it's still a fittingly huge end to the set.

This is not a perfect gig. Their heavy, grinding cover of 'Once In A Lifetime' makes this Talking Heads fan irritable, neither 'Stand Inside Your Love' nor 'Space Age' inspires much energy from the audience, and, while Chamberlain's drum solos are incredible, those drawn-out, jammy moments ('Solara' especially) only appeal to a certain sector of Pumpkins fans, boring the hell out of others.

These are nitpicky concerns though. The band have put together a very approachable setlist for this tour that will please the most casual of Smashing Pumpkins fans, while hopefully offering their most dedicated supporters enough to stay excited about.

Playing their own shows means the production is perfectly tailored to their set, which you see in the brilliant lighting design befitting of songs that sound this epic.

If, for some reason, you didn't love this show, perhaps you can rest easy in knowing you've helped make poor, miserable Billy Corgan's dreams come true.

The World Is A Vampire tour continues through April:

Tuesday 18 April – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (sold out)

Wednesday 19 April – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Saturday 22 April – PICA, Port Melbourne 

Sunday 23 April – Kryal Castle, Ballarat

Wednesday 26 April – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Thursday 27 April – PICA, Port Melbourne

Saturday 29 April – Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Sunday 30 April – Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast

Loud Flash.com

The website for loud music.

• [ 04/16/2024 ] SET IT OFF Concert Reviews
• [ 04/15/2024 ] DEATHBYROMY Photos
• [ 04/15/2024 ] CROWN THE EMPIRE Photos
• [ 04/15/2024 ] CASKETS Photos
• [ 04/11/2024 ] ELVENKING Photos

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

Still rock hard.

In the early 90’s when grunge was in full swing, I could not help myself but not love this ‘alternative’ band called The Smashing Pumpkins.

But I always ask myself what makes this band from Chicago so unique at the time?  To me, it all comes down to the voice of the vocalist.  Lead singer Billy Corgan just has that perfect angst abrasive type singing that stuck out to most grunge rock that was playing at that time.  I mean, when you look back, what made those bands a success (and still relevant) was the vocalists.  Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam),Chris Cornell (Sound Garden) were the face of those bands and the driving forces behind them.  Billy Corgan was no exception, along with strong song writing ,catchy chorus’s and a heavy guitar sound, The Smashing Pumpkins really stood out at the time.

Tonight (Courtesy of Live Nation) The Smashing Pumpkins play at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena with Jane’s Addiction to remind all the generation X’ers what a great time that was for music in the 90’s.   When I look around the near capacity crowd (Climate holds 17459) the look in their 40’s and 50’s and were ready to be time tripped back when their teen lives were filled with malaise and plaid.  They have a history of producing class “A” alternative rock,, with 11 albums in the Discography and another soon will be birthed in 2023 called Atum .

So who is in this band after all these years?  Billy on vocals, who is and has been the lead writer and creative mastermind of this band since 1988.  You will recognize James Tha on guitar, who still has the long hair, Jimmy Chamberlin on drums too, who both are also ‘originals’ from the bands beginnings. We also see   Jeff Schroeder (guitar), Jack Bates (Bass) and Katie Cole (backing vocals, keyboards) round out the rest of the musicians

The lights go out and we get a huge white butterfly projected on the massive backdrop along with some music that I suspect is coming off the new album Atum .  They casually stroll out and begin with “Empires” which is indeed off Atum. It’s actually a pretty heavy droning guitar sound too..I am digging it!   Lots of lights shooting all over the place, with really cool imagery projected behind the band.

After that phenomenal start, the momentum continues with a drum beat that everyone recognizes.  Billy howls out “The world is a vampire” at song 2 and the crowd is ecstatic.  Surprised they play that one so soon in the set, but it works to get that crowd pumped for what’s yet to come.

They don’t unplug the guitars yet either with what I think is one of the defining songs of the grunge era with “Today”,   Only thing that is missing is that ice cream truck and hat that Billy wore in that famous music video.   Speaking of style, Billy is wearing some gnarly designed eye makeup and a long jacket that makes him look more like a classy unmasked Darth Vader rather than an pissed off rocker.  But Darth Vader might like the “burn my eyes out before I get out” or “tear my heart out before I get out” lyrics.   Got to admit, that song was a real time trip for me to listen to, and they did it perfect this night.

Also notable, Song 7 we get “Solara”.  At this point I am really impressed with the sound in Climate Pledge arena, they did a great job of this for concert settings.   Within Solara we get an old fashioned drum solo from Jimmy Chamberlin, I really enjoyed that as we rarely see that these days.  Think the last time I saw one was with God Smack.  Some cool guitar jamming from Billy and James on this one too.

However the 55 year old Billy Corgan was battling voice issues and at Song 10 “Tonight, Tonight” he got some audience participation to help him out.  It was just Billy and James on the acoustic guitars on this one as Billy did a long pause as the crowd cheered as he finished the last “tonight” in the lyrics.  That was a must play song and a highlight for me.

Another observation with this band as a whole, they don’t move around a lot or get the crowd involved..  They stay to their perspective areas for the entire set.  Not a bad thing but maybe age has crept up on them and they just don’t need to be running around posing the audience like some bands would.  They are likely saving their energy and intent on getting the music correct for the fans.

Songs 11 to 14 (14 songs in total), played exclusively to what the target audience that came to see them with “Cherub Rock”, “zero”, “1979” and show ender “Silverfuck” which are all off their critically acclaimed albums Siamese Dreams (1993)  and Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995).  They played 8 off those 2 albums, which I was extremely happy with and others I talked to that night agreed.

Overall it was an outstanding show for us that love to hear these “older” songs, but I was also taken back by the first song of the set too, which had them continue with the high gain guitar sound.  Spectacular lighting, sound, and musicianship all contributed to this rather entertaining evening   Will we see more of that one new upcoming album Atum ?  I am interested to listen to it and see what they have come up when Atum is released….

• alternative rock
• Climate Pledge Arena

Related Articles

CONQUER DIVIDE

Photos of Michigan based band Conquer Divide who were on tour support for Solence and Electric Callboy at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle WA on August 26 2023.

We caught this fresh upstart Sludge/Noise rock band MUÑECA  at the El Corazon in Seattle as they were first on the bill with Colony Drop, Lacabra, DeathCAVE and headliner Crypta on March 2 2024.

Photos and Video footage of Texas Hardcore band Judiciary at the El Corazon in Seattle on April 2 2024.  They were supporting with Momentum, Sunami and headliners Kublai Khan TX. https://youtu.be/wqRXb262He0https://youtu.be/CBtm1F24Q_Qhttps://youtu.be/wtZRw8FjaOc

Be the first to comment

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© 2024 Loud Flash Media Inc. All rights reserved.

The Smashing Pumpkins triumph at Canadian Tire Centre concert

You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Article content

The Smashing Pumpkins returned to Ottawa for the first time in a couple of decades on Sunday and proceeded to make up for lost time with a dazzling show at the Canadian Tire Centre that went a long way towards re-establishing their position in the upper echelons of modern rock music. 

The Smashing Pumpkins triumph at Canadian Tire Centre concert Back to video

Formed in Chicago in the late 80s, the Pumpkins have experienced plenty of drama in their career, some of it instigated by the whims of founder and creative force, Billy Corgan, a towering, bald-headed figure who appeared even more imposing Sunday with his goth-inspired eye makeup and long black coat. 

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.
• Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.
• Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
• Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
• Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Sign In or Create an Account

After breakups, personnel changes and other challenges, the current iteration of the Pumpkins is a monster of a band, with long-time guitarist James Iha back in the lineup, along with drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, guitarist Jeff Schroeder, bassist Jack Bates, and keyboard-playing backup vocalist Katie Cole, who was the only woman on stage of the three-act bill. Opening acts Rival Sons and Interpol both sported all-male lineups. 

Considering the Pumpkins have a new triple album, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, released over the past year, a casual fan might have had concerns about hearing unfamiliar new material in concert. That’s not the case on this excursion, dubbed the World is a Vampire Tour. Corgan has constructed a setlist based on the hits, including just three tracks from the ambitious new project, which, by the way, fit right into the melodic, guitar-driven intensity of the night.

The band was on fire from the opening song, Everlasting Gaze, with Corgan’s grating voice cutting through the staggering wall of sound. While his singing can seem harsh on the ears, the unique dissonance lifts the songs and he leans into them with passion, plus he has a theatrical stage presence that makes it tough to take your eyes off him. 

Your weekly guide to eating, listening, reading, watching, playing, learning and living well in the capital.

• There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Out of Office will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Adding to the theatricality was the incredible lighting design that framed the set with an ever-changing array of multi-coloured beams of light. 

Between songs, Corgan and Iha bantered like old pals, with Corgan sharing an anecdote about spending the day in Ottawa with his two children. Strolling along the Rideau Canal, he said somebody overheard his kids wondering about the statue of Lt. Col. John By (whom he referred to as “Mr. By”). 

“A Canadian went by and said, ‘Hey, he’s the guy who built the locks, eh?’” Corgan said, making a valiant attempt to mimic a Canadian accent. “Always helpful, the Canadians,” he added. 

The band started strong and gained power as the show progressed, thrilling the estimated 10,000 or so in attendance. Highlights were numerous, including sing-along hits like Today, Disarm, Bullet with Butterfly Wings and 1979, as well as some unexpected cover songs, specifically a deconstructed version of the Talking Heads’ classic, Once in a Lifetime, and the obscure Manfred Mann tune, Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble). 

Another moment that showed the human side of Corgan the rock star came during the anthemic new tune, Beguiled, when the bandleader’s young son and daughter, wearing protective headphones, joined their dad on stage and danced along enthusiastically. 

Earlier in the evening, the two opening acts each played a generous opening set. Nashville’s Rival Sons demonstrated a testosterone-fueled style of blues-influenced back-to-basics that included a heartfelt message on the perils of addiction, while New York City alt-rockers Interpol put an artful spin on their late-90s moodiness.  In all, it added up to a four-hour-plus marathon of rock ‘n’ roll that cemented the stature of Smashing Pumpkins, re-introduced us to Interpol and gave Rival Sons a chance to hit hard and collect new fans. A great show, despite the gender imbalance. 

[email protected]

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

One dead, two injured in early morning crash on Hwy 417 near Airport Parkway

Opp investigating human remains found in ottawa river in clarence-rockland.

Royal Canadian Navy leadership covered up for serial sexual offender, Commons committee hears

Deachman: how my 89-year-old neighbour, joe, taught me to enjoy going slow, this speed bump (correction: speed hump) cost ottawa taxpayers $16,000.

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

You've reached the 20 article limit.

You can manage saved articles in your account.

and save up to 100 articles!

Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!

You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.

• Latest News

The Best Terri Clark Songs: Powerful, Witty Country Essentials

‘extras’: how the music of the jam spread into the 1990s, ‘his ’n’ hers’: the birth of modern-day pulp, ‘steppenwolf live’: rock heroes take one more top ten album trip, pillar stone: clyde stubblefield, james brown’s ‘funky drummer’, ‘the prisoner’: how herbie hancock found musical freedom, sinatra at budokan: a performance of consummate artistry, kate hudson announces new album, ‘glorious,’ shares ‘gonna find out’, ‘bob marley: one love’ to return to theaters for 4/20, library of congress selects records from abba, blondie, and more for national recording registry, the commodores and the pointer sisters announce co-headlining tour, craft latino celebrates 60th anniversary of fania records with year-long celebration, seminal jimmy buffett albums to be reissued on vinyl, the beatles’ ‘let it be’ film to launch on disney+, the smashing pumpkins announce ‘the world is a vampire’ tour.

The run is set to start on July 28 at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Published on

The Smashing Pumpkins have announced their 26-date North American The World is a Vampire Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the run is set to start on Friday, July 28 at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

The tour will feature special guests Interpol, Stone Temple Pilots, and Rival Sons as support on various dates, as well as some of the world’s biggest champions from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), who will be competing in most cities.

The World is a Vampire Tour has already sold out 30k plus capacity shows in Mexico City this year, as well in cities across Australia this spring, and is set to expand to more countries in the future. Artist pre-sale begins today, March 28 at 12pm local until Thursday, March 30 at 10pm local. General on-sale starts Friday, March 31 at 10am local.

Best Liz Phair Songs: 25 Extraordinary Tracks From The Indie Rock Pioneer

Says Billy Corgan of the tour: “I grew up in a world where I needed to know bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure existed, it meant there was a place for people like me to hang out and belong. That’s what The World Is A Vampire is about. Bringing back that sense of community. If you don’t fit in, you belong here. It’s about having a shared experience and respecting others, but ultimately having fun. A true alternative festival, where all the self-proclaimed weirdos and outsiders of the world can get together and have a party.”

When The Smashing Pumpkins first emerged out of Chicago in 1988, the world had never heard a band quite like them. They spun together rock, pop, shoegaze, metal, goth, psychedelia, and electronic into a kaleidoscope of saccharine melodies, fuzzy distortion, bombastic orchestration, incendiary fretwork, eloquent songcraft, and unshakable hooks. Upon their formation, their sound was different, iconoclastic, and wholly new—and it still is today.

Visit The Smashing Pumpkins’ official website for more information.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Accessories
• Transcriptions
• Terms of Use

Sign up for the Bass Magazine Newsletter

Stay in the loop for the latest news on all things low end delivered right to your inbox.

The Smashing Pumpkins Announce 2024 Tour

They will also take part in Europe and North American stadium performances with Green Day, as part of The Saviors Tour

Expanding an already stacked schedule, two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning iconic rock band  The Smashing Pumpkins  reveal a string of new North American headline performances in 2024. In addition to a combination of arena and headliner festival dates in Europe and North American stadium performances with  Green Day , as part of  The Saviors Tour , the band added additional solo arena bookings that span July through September. This new run of dates kicks off on July 31 in Muskoka, Ontario at Kee to Bala, rolls through markets such as Kansas City, Cedar Rapids, St. Louis, and concludes on September 27 in Las Vegas, NV at Fontainebleau. Plus, they will close out Osheaga Festival as one of the headlining acts in Montreal, QC on August 3. 

Tickets for the new dates will be available starting with an artist presale beginning Tuesday, April 2 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 5 at 10am local time at  https://smashingpumpkins.com/tour/ .

Check out the band’s full confirmed tour itinerary below.

The Smashing Pumpkins  continue firing on all cylinders live. During 2023, they headlined and curated their very own  The World Is A Vampire Tour  joined by  Stone Temple Pilots  and  Rival Sons , while 2022 saw them canvas North America on the  Spirits On Fire Tour  alongside  Jane’s Addiction . A spectacle of eye-catching stage production and a setlist sequenced like a film with moments of heavy guitar catharsis and transcendent melodic singalongs, their shows have consistently incited widespread critical applause.  NME  professed,  “it’s indisputable that the band are responsible for many of the ’90s’ best rock songs, and this is as good as you’re going to hear them . ”  Meanwhile,  The  Patriot Ledger  proclaimed,  “[The] Smashing Pumpkins proved they are still one of America’s most interesting – sometimes befuddling, but never boring – musical groups.”  Miami New Times  attested,  “the band took the audience back in time to when alternative music was the mainstream, and the idea of browsing on your phone during a fantastic concert was bad sci-fi satire.” 

Last year,  The Smashing Pumpkins  completed the three-act trilogy  ATUM , releasing the 33-track project in its entirety. Among many highlights, it boasted  “Beguiled , ”  which catapulted to #6 at Active Rock and #12 at Alternative Radio Charts.  “Spellbinding” emerged as the #1 most-added at Alternative Rock. Plus.  Rolling Stone  applauded,  “ ATUM  is clearly meant to be the kind of record that requires your full attention, and  Act Three  makes for a nicely trippy conclusion to the whole project, as well as an intriguing listening experience in and of itself . ”  In a  “4-out-of-5 star”  review,   NME  raved,  “This sci-fi-inspired epic is ambitious and complex . ”

The Smashing Pumpkins  are currently in the studio recording the follow up to  ATUM  as they prepare to release new music this year.

Recently,  National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)  and   President  Billy Corgan  proudly announced an exclusive streaming deal for  NWA  with  The CW . Under this newly minted all-encompassing partnership, multiple  NWA  programs will be streaming and on-demand via  The CW  platform and portal in the United States. Democratizing access to action-packed wrestling from some of the sport’s biggest, boldest, and brightest personalities, all programming is notably available free of charge and without a subscription via  The CW  app. It represents a monumental power move for  NWA . The partnership not only amplifies the brand’s presence throughout popular culture and the zeitgeist, but it also sets a precedent for wrestling, at large.

2024 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

^ w/ Weezer

^^ w/ Interpol

** w/ Tom Morello

6/7 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena^

6/8 – London, UK – The O2^

6/10 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena^

6/12 – Glasgow, Scotland – Hydro^

6/13 – Manchester, UK – Co-Op Live^

6/14 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Castle^

6/16 – Paris, France – Accor Arena**

6/19 – Moenschenglabach, Germany – Sparkassenpark (outdoor)^^

6/21 – Hannover, Germany – ZAG Arena^^

6/22 – Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide^^

6/24 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle^^

6/26 – Zagreb, Croatia – Inmusic Festival

6/28 – Luxembourg – Luxexpo^^

6/29 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Ahoy^^

6/30 – Antwerp, Belgium – Live is Live

7/2 – Gilwice, Poland – PreZero Arena Gilwice^^

7/4 – Prague, Czech Republic – 02 Universum*

7/6 – Lucca, Italy – Lucca Festival**

7/10 – Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool

7/11 – Lisbon, Portugal – Nos Alive

7/13 – Barcelona, Spain – Cruilla Festival 

7/16 – Athens, Greece – OAKA Indoor Arena**

2024 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

*The Saviors Tour with Green Day

Newly announced dates in BOLD

7/29 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park*

7/31 – Muskoka, ON – Kee to Bala

8/1 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre*

8/3 – Montreal, Quebec – Osheaga Festival

8/4 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Bank Amphitheatre

8/5 – New York, NY – Citi Field*

8/7 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*

8/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park*

8/10 – Hershey, PA – HersheyPark Stadium*

8/13 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field*

8/14 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

8/16 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair

8/17 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field*

8/20 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall

8/21 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

8/22 – Cincinnati, OH – Great American Ballpark*

8/24 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field*

8/27 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park

8/28 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park*

8/30 – Nashville, TN – Geodis Park*

9/1 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park*

9/4 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park*

9/7 – Denver, CO – Coors Field*

9/10 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheatre at Snowden Grove

9/11 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field*

9/14 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium*

918 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field*

9/20 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park*

9/21 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort

9/23 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park*

9/24 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest

9/25 – Portland, OR – Providence Park*

9/27 – Las Vegas, NV – BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas at Fontainebleau

9/28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park*

About The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the most iconic, iconoclastic, and influential bands of all time, shaping alternative music and culture. Since forming in Chicago during 1988, the group have sold over 30 million albums worldwide and garnered two GRAMMY® Awards, two MTV VMAs, and an American Music Award. Their catalog includes seminal offerings such as the platinum  Gish  [1991], the quadruple-platinum  Siamese Dream  [1993], the diamond-certified  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness  [1995], the platinum  Adore  [1998], and the gold  Machina/The Machines of Go d [2000].  Rolling Stone  cited both  Siamese Dream  and  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness  among its  “500 Greatest Albums of All Time . ”  It would also be impossible to envision alternative music and culture without their signature iconography such as the idyllic album artwork for  Siamese Dream , the black Zero shirt, the laissez faire bliss of the “1979” music video, the gothic metamorphosis of “Ava Adore,” or the multi-dimensional live shows that sell out worldwide to this day. 2018 saw The Smashing Pumpkins unveil the  SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, VOL. 1 / LP: NO PAST. NO FUTURE. NO SUN.  and launch the immensely successful  Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour , which packed arenas. Maintaining this momentum, the band released their eleventh full-length double album  CYR  [2020], representing yet another evolution, and more recently,  ATUM  [2023] ,  the sequel to 1995’s  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness  and 2000’s  Machina/Machine of God . As prolific as ever, The Smashing Pumpkins are currently working on new music. More details to come.

• Next »

“The work ethic gifted to me by the Pumpkins helps me get prepared… I’m excited to be playing with these amazing, legendary musicians”: Ex-Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Pooley will join Garbage on their upcoming tour

Garbage will be the latest A-list artist on Pooley’s resume, after stints with The Smashing Pumpkins and Gwen Stefani

Ginger Pooley is best known for being the bassist and backing vocalist of The Smashing Pumpkins between 2007 and 2010. However, she has toured around the world playing bass , with her post-Pumpkins career including stints with Gwen Stefani and Lea Michele. 

While Pooley has had an illustrious career so far, she can now add Garbage to her already-hefty resume. In an exclusive interview with GuitarWorld.com, Pooley revealed she'll be joining Garbage for their European tour this summer.

She explains how the opportunity to flex her bass skills with Garbage came about: “Things are kind of winding down. My daughter is going into high school in the fall, and I feel like, in a way, I've graduated from a certain phase of life.”

“This came up recently, and I'll just share that I'm very excited. I'm working on learning the songs, and I'm really excited to go out on tour again.”

Ginger is no stranger to working under pressure. In the upcoming GuitarWorld.com interview, Ginger reveals how playing bass with The Smashing Pumpkins was “definitely a mental workout.” She continues, “It was not an easy gig, and I would never say it was. I'm proud of having been able to do that. Next to raising my daughter or giving birth, that gig is up there.”

On the flip side, she mentions how the work ethic cultivated by the Pumpkins has helped her prep for any last-minute scenarios and switch to work mode: “The work ethic gifted to me by the Pumpkins helps me get prepared,” she says. “I can hear it in my ear, like, 'Okay, time to get to work.'”

She also reveals that she's knuckling down and learning Garbage's catalog, which consists of a total of seven studio albums, with the latest – No God No Masters – released in 2021. And as for the gear she'll be touring Europe with this summer? 

Get The Pick Newsletter

All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

“I'm not totally sure yet. We're still working on all that. I'll probably bring my [Fender] P-Bass , and there's some drop D involved, so as far as the rig does, we're still in talks with what all that entails.”

Garbage's European tour kicks off in Milan, Italy, on 26 June, and ends with a celebratory rock extravaganza at London's Wembley OVO Arena on 20 July. This tour follows the April 5 release of the vinyl reissue of their 2005 album Bleed Like Me . 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN .

• Andrew Daly

“He’d pull off bass riffs that were just amazing – he doesn’t just follow the roots”: Listen to Geddy Lee’s “flamenco” strumming technique on Rush’s Snakes & Arrows

Antigua is back in the USA: Fender’s divisive finish has been revived for four limited-edition Squier ’70s Classic Vibe models – including the first ever Antigua Bass VI

“I strongly believe that if you give a guitar to five different players – same guitar, same amp – each one of them is going to sound different”: Alex Lifeson takes us behind the scenes at Lerxst to talk gear, tone and the possibility of new music

Most Popular

Steve-O Says He Asked Bill Maher Not to Smoke During Interview Due to His 16 Years of Sobriety, Claims Maher Refused and Called It a ‘Dealbreaker’

By Zack Sharf

Digital News Director

• ‘Fantastic Four’ Star Joseph Quinn Isn’t Worried About Superhero Fatigue After Recent Marvel Box Office Misses: ‘We Want to Get This Right’ 15 hours ago
• Henry Cavill Jokes ‘I Don’t Have Much Luck With Post-Credit Scenes’ After His Superman Return in ‘Black Adam’ Didn’t Pan Out: ‘I May Give Up on Those’ 16 hours ago
• Jerrod Carmichael Regrets Criticizing Dave Chappelle to the Press, Says He’s ‘More Important Than Ever’ and ‘I Want Him to Focus His Genius’ Away From Trans Jokes 17 hours ago

Steve-O said on a recent episode of his “Wild Ride!” podcast that he had to turn down a request to appear on Bill Maher ‘s podcast because Maher allegedly refused not to smoke pot during the interview. “Jackass” alum Steve-O is 16 years sober. Maher is often seen smoking marijuana during his “Club Random” podcast interviews.

Popular on Variety

“Mike Tyson’s podcast is called ‘Hotboxin,'” Steve-O said. “Be real! All of these prolific potheads, I’ve been on their shows and it wasn’t so important to them to blow marijuana smoke in my face, but for Bill Maher it was a dealbreaker.”

Variety has reached out to Bill Maher’s team for comment.

As Steve-O’s story gained traction on social media platforms like X, some users pointed out that Maher had in fact respected his guest’s boundaries for marijuana in the past. During Sheryl Crow’s appearance on “Club Random,” Maher told her: “That’s when I need a joint … but I’d never light one up in front of you.” He refrained from smoking in front of her.

Watch Steve-O’s full episode of “Wild Ride!” in which he talks about Maher in the video below.

More From Our Brands

Tessa thompson brings night-blooming romance to arooj atfab’s ‘raat ki rani’ video, astronaut richard gordon’s ultra-rare gold omega speedmaster is up for grabs, aaron judge’s big toe trouble stubs yankees’ hot start, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, jimmy kimmel says he ‘might’ host 2025 oscars in response to donald trump rant, verify it's you, please log in.

The National, André 3000 and PJ Harvey among first names for Montreux Jazz Festival 2024

Montreux Jazz Festival has unveiled the programme for the 58th edition of the festival which takes place from 5-20 July 2024 on the Lake Geneva shoreline.

RAYE, Sting, Massive Attack, Kraftwerk, Janelle Monáe, PJ Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Jungle, Duran Duran, André 3000, Laufey, Vulfpeck, Tyla, Brittany Howard and Air are among the first names announced for Montreux Jazz Festival 2024.

This year, the festival features a brand-new layout in the town of Montreux due to construction work on the Convention Centre which typically hosts the festival’s main stages. In its place is The Lake Stage, a main stage constructed on the surface of Lake Geneva with the backdrop of the Alps. The festival also returns to the Casino, which is steeped in history, having burned down in the seventies and inspired Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the Water”. The festival has also invited the group back for their tenth performance at Montreux.

Tickets are on-sale from 19 April at 11am via montreuxjazzfestival.com .

• RIIZE shares new single, "Impossible"
• Shelf Lives return with the brand new single, "Uncle Fred"
• Lambrini Girls join growing list of bands pulling out of The Great Escape Festival 2024
• English Teacher , Jessie Ware and Slowdive join Øya Festival 2024
• Lava La Rue unveils their latest single, "Humanity"
• Jungle , Ibibio Sound Machine and Alabaster DePlume feature on Joe Goddard 's forthcoming album, Harmonics
• The National , André 3000 and PJ Harvey among first names for Montreux Jazz Festival 2024

Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday

Chanel Beads Your Day Will Come

Lucy Rose This Ain't The Way You Go Out

Maggie Rogers Don't Forget Me

Lynks Abomination

Asha Jefferies Ego Ride