This incarnation of the Pumpkins only retains Billy from the original mold. The other members are returning guitarist Jeff Schroeder (from the Zeitgeist album), bassist Nicole Fiorentino (formerly of Veruca Salt), and drummer Mike Byrne. Unlike the Zeitgeist tour, this short 15 city tour is comprised of just the four members.
Let's start with Jeff. He's a talented musician who is very "quiet" musician on stage. Not much movement but he is into the moment, very much like I was when I was on stage...just not as stoic or statuesque as i was.
Mike Byrne. Perhaps one of the luckiest cats in the music business. This kid is just that, a kid. When Jimmy Chamberlin left the band after the Zeitgeist tour, auditions were held for his replacement. This then 19 year old kid got the gig, who worked at McDonald's prior to joining the Pumpkins. And the kid is like a freak behind the kit. From the angle I was at it was hard to see him due to all the crash hardware, but he was definitely laying down some body shakin' thumps. Jimmy Chamberlin is still a better drummer, but the kid is young.
I think I fell in love when Nicole Fiorentino first walked on stage. Long legs, beautiful hair and an assertive, but very feminine walk to her spot on stage. I was further blown away by her stage presence. A very sexy, nay, sensual playing style. She reminds me very much of Melissa Auf der Mar (formerly of Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins), who I also find very attractive. In fact, I would say that Nicole was influenced by Melissa. Her moves include what I call the Melissa Auf der Mar backwards lean and leg step. To me, it is a very sensual rock move. Love it! Not sure if Melissa penned that move, but she is the first one I've seen do that move. And it didn't hurt that Nicole always seemed to have that sexy-come-hither-i-want-you look upon her face. Adorable. I swear she looked my way...more than once!
And front-man Billy, who seems really happy with this incarnation. Multiple times throughout the show, Billy was seen smiling and telling stories and jokes. Yet, Billy is very serious about his art and wants it to be the best rock show he's ever played, every time. There were a few technical issues, but the band played right through them and Billy was able to orchestrate his crew on to the solution. Billy is still an amazing artist and musician.
The stage. For a small to medium venue, there isn't much stage space for a big time act such as the Smashing Pumpkins. Lining the back of the stage was a series of scaffolding and rigging that contained banks of lights. These lights would later be used as an assault on human function. These lights contained blinding power, as well as, a way to impeded human thoughts and functions as the brain seizes from the high frequency strobe effect. For the weak minded, this could be nauseating. Add in color and there is a wide spectrum of feelings and emotions. Book-ending the wall of lights were two identical towers, each containing a large 6 bladed windmills of broken mirrors, fans of broken glass, to help construct the kaleidoscopic effect. These blades would spin with the intensity of the emotion of the song. A battery of directional lights would fire their beams of energy towards the mosaical mirrors and in turn bathe the reflections upon the eager and energetic crowd. The stage setup was simple but effective.
I despise general admission shows, as you are herded amongst the masses to gain the best viewing position possible. Most people are not respectful of your personal space and don't mind pushing into you to gain the advantage of a better, closer glimpse of the artists at work. I will say that this crowd was not that bad, at least from my vantage point. There were only a few instances where my personal space was violated, mainly by a woman that did not know the extent of her girth, or she just didn't care. Once she moved a little to the left, she was out of my airspace and I didn't feel as confined anymore. As with any show, there are the inebriated and the stoned, or the individuals are in some phase of getting to that end item. About 10 feet from me was an individual that ended up puking due to his inability to monitor is alcoholic intake. Luckily, I did not have to suffer the unpleasantness that comes with someone purging their evening meal. And of course, there are several that enjoy partaking in a strong herbal element. Unfortunately, some of those were in very close proximity to me. I'm pretty sure I had a contact high. I was a little hungry following the show. At one point during the show, Billy exclaimed, "It smells like puke and weed in here...it's a strange combination..." I'm guessing this is not his first experience...
Another reason I dislike general admission shows is the tendency for moshing and/or crowd surfing. Since I'm usually a non-violent person, I tend to shy away from events with tendencies for stupidity. This show was void of moshing, but there were a few individuals that felt the need to do some crowd surfing. One guy was even in his business suit. As the individuals reached the front the bouncers quickly snatched them from the crowd and shuffled them out of sight. And these burly guys weren't nice about it...they seriously yanked them from the crowd as if they were nothing more than a light weight bean bag. You could tell that Billy was quiet aggravated with the whole scene. He has been known to stop a show until the crowd surfing stopped. As Billy continued to sing and play the current song, his eyes followed the business man from surfing to his exit. Sure enough, as the conclusion of the song, he made a few remarks in a non-rude manner to stop the crowd surfing. I remember the time at a Finding Reason show where 3 individuals, you know who you are, tried to do the 3 man crowd surf. It was pretty funny.
On to the show itself. There were no fancy entrances. I like the simpleness of it all. Although, I do like intricate and elaborate entrances. The lights went dim and the directional spots illuminated the stage in a calming bluish hue. And the Pumpkins took the stage, and I let out a muffled, "Wow!". Well, it was a lot louder in my head, but that's when I saw Nicole stride across the stage. Yeah, I was stunned. Billy walked from one side of the stage to the other acknowledging the eruption from the crowd. He waved his hellos and thanked the crowd for their undying support. Once everyone took their places with their instruments of tonal bliss and aural destruction, the show began.
"The Fellowship" was the opening song. This is off the new and upcoming album,Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. Teargarden will be an epic multi-disc album spanning approximately 44 songs. Songs are currently being released one at a time and once the project is complete one should be able to experience a story of sorts. Almost immediately the seizure inducing flashes began to attack the central nervous systems of those taking in the spectacle.
"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" off of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was next on the list. I immediately knew the tune as this was one of the covers that I did with Finding Reason. This version had a little more rock to it. It didn't transition from quiet to loud as much as the studio version. I think that is what attracts me to the Smashing Pumpkins. I enjoy the transitions from quiet to loud and then back to quiet, only then to be hit in the chest with a powerful thrust of distorted guitar and bone crushing low end. The anticipation of the climax, the rise and fall, the quickened pulse...that's the taste of good rock 'n roll. Still the light show persisted as if being abducted by the aliens of rock, only to be brought back to the land of normalcy in the quiet, darkened night...
Reaching from the return album, "Tarantula" from Zeitgeist was next to feed our never ending hunger.
"Eye" from the movie Lost Highway was transformed from the original electronica version to rock version without the synths. I almost didn't recognize it at first, but then it all came back to me.
Billy paused to tell a quick story about the next song. He told of a romantic encounter he had with a woman from Houston who first informed him of Lithium. This song was dedicated to her. And perhaps one of the most recognizable intros in all of the Pumpkins catalog began to dance upon our eardrums. The sweet sounds of "Today" from Siamese Dream filled the venue. Perhaps one of the quintessential rock anthems of the '90s. I pulled out my cell phone and began recording video of this piece. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the video doesn't have audio. Probably for the better since it wouldn't have sounded like anything but a garbled mess.
"Ava Adore" from the Adore album and "Drown" from the Singles soundtrack rounded out the next two songs.
We were then treated to another aural drop of fuzzy distortion with "Freak" from Teargarden. "Life is not a dream..."
The heavy weapons of mass distortion and searing solos were traded for a softer sonic pleasing sound...the acoustic guitars. Billy and Jeff picked up the acoustic guitars for Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide". The cover is off of the Pisces Iscariot album. We were afforded a reprieve from the onslaught of visual stimulation as well.
Going back to the Mellon Collie album, "Tonight, Tonight" rang in the air. Next in line was a less ballad-y and more amped up version of "Stand Inside Your Love" from Adore.
Rounding out the set was Siamese Dream's "Cherub Rock" and Mellon Collie's "Zero". Both rocked in expected fashion.
The band left the stage and we were left wanting more. The cheering continued and the chants began. After a short break, the band returned to the stage. "Astral Planes" off of Teargarden was the first encore song. The light storm was in full effect and the windmills of shattered dreams spun with a dazzling effect. And the final song of the evening was "Heavy Metal Machine" from the Machina/Machines of God album. I will say that I was a little let down by the final encore song. I had hoped for something a little more prolific and intense. However, it was a show that ended much too early. I wasn't ready to go home. I wanted more.
Billy carefully set down his guitar which was still grinding away on the last chord struck. He waved his goodbyes and allowed his fans to pay homage to his work. We fans kept cheering and giving him, and the rest of his band, the acknowledgment they deserved. Billy threw the remaining guitar picks into the audience who ferociously fought for the right to be the new owner of said picks. As I was close enough to be a recipient, one did not come nearly close enough. Mike, the former McDonald's employee turned rock star, walked over to my side of the stage and flung several of his drum sticks into the eager masses. Again, the prizes fell close...but not close enough.
The house lights began to burn and the peasants of the rock gods began the journey home to dream of what was and what could have been. The adrenaline coursed through my veins for much of the night, making sleep a near impossibility. It made me miss the stage and guys I once shared it with. Maybe one day I will return to the stage. And I'd be content with a fraction of the success that the Smashing Pumpkins have earned through time.
I wasn't able to get an actual copy of the set list, like I have done on occasion. Usually the beautiful girl I'm with has what it takes to get the set list. I, alone, do not have those qualifications. Perhaps the next show.
Here is the set list from the December 5, 2010, Smashing Pumpkins show in Houston, TX:
1. The Fellowship
2. Bullet with Butterfly Wings
3. Tarantula
4. Eye
5. Today
6. Ava Adore
7. Drown
8. Freak
9. Landslide (Fleetwood Mac cover)
10. Tonight, Tonight
11. Stand Inside Your Love
12. Cherub Rock
13. Zero
Encore:
14. Astral Planes
15. Heavy Metal Machine
I found this nifty website that has the studio versions of the songs. Check it out if you have the time.
Below is a picture I took with my cell phone. Had I known cameras were allowed, I may have brought a better camera. I'm sure there are better photos out there, so I'll link to them if I can find them. For now, enjoy my crappy photo.
My first Smashing Pumpkins experience was great. I should've never waited 16 years to see them. As far as concerts go, this one makes my top 3 list, with David Bowie still taking the top spot. I still haven't decided if S.P. will be number 2 or number 3, but it was a great show.
UPDATE: Here is an article with better pictures from the show.
1 comment:
Sounds like a blast... Good to read about the whole event. I was hula hooping in the freezing cold, forgot to eat, and drove home more nautious than I've been in ages...
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