Saw the San Diego show on Wed and it was really good. A great mix of new and old songs. Two songs from Machina even (Heavy Metal Machine was insane) and Ava Adore made it's reunion debut. I had never seen the Pumpkins before and was pleasently surprised at the amount of jamming that went on. A lot of the songs were extended or transitioned into what seemed like random covers Billy pulled out (within the framework of the original song).
All in all a really cool experience. I was in middle school when they were in their heyday and never got to see them.
Smashing Pumpkins "reunion"
Pretty cool show in SF, I must say. Although 3 hours is a bit excessive for my taste. Mid show he plays like 3 or 4 songs solo accoustic and suddenly (after not saying a word to the crowd for an hour and half into the show) Billy becomes quite chatty ... kind of annoying actually. 2 or 3 of the songs were written while in their hotel in SF and, let's just say, they need some work. Overall, I'd recommend seeing them, despite no James or D'arcy. It was pretty much the same experience as seeing them back in the day. In that small a venue...perhaps better. Pretty good mix of old and new tunes. New record is quite a bit better than Machina and Adore, but as good as Mellon Collie or Siamese Dream, or Gish.
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fauxrealism
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Pumpkins at Live Earth
Anyone catch them at the Live Earth show?
IMO They sounded awful.
Corgan laid down a pretty good solo, but his voice is terrible, and the arrangement of the tunes was pretty bad.
I would hope they can do a something better but that sneak peek pretty much scared me away. (I had seen them a couple times live years ago and thought they were good.)
I pretty much echo the other comments so far: Gish and Siamese Dream parts of Melancholy are fantastic, then it somehow got really stale in a hurry (for me anyway).
Didn't pick up Zwan or Iha's solo work; maybe I'll scour the bargain bins.
Cheers,
-FR
IMO They sounded awful.
Corgan laid down a pretty good solo, but his voice is terrible, and the arrangement of the tunes was pretty bad.
I would hope they can do a something better but that sneak peek pretty much scared me away. (I had seen them a couple times live years ago and thought they were good.)
I pretty much echo the other comments so far: Gish and Siamese Dream parts of Melancholy are fantastic, then it somehow got really stale in a hurry (for me anyway).
Didn't pick up Zwan or Iha's solo work; maybe I'll scour the bargain bins.
Cheers,
-FR
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sturgeongeneral
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Gish and Siamese Dream and also parts of Mellon Collie, were outstanding. For me then, every subsequent release was patchy. They were always a great singles band for me and the singles on each album after stood out amongst quite a lot of filler.
Corgan sure did know his way around a melody and a pop tune when he wanted to, as those singles testify. But of course he was also up his own arse as well hence the filler on the albums. Zwan for me was the same, good singles and patchy tracks. But for a time there in the 90's they were awesome.
Anyone who hasn't gotten James Iha's solo album Let It Come Down I would urge strongly to get it. Gorgeous album full of light, melodic songs. Nothing like you would expect from a former member of a hard rocking band. Really worth seeking out.
Corgan sure did know his way around a melody and a pop tune when he wanted to, as those singles testify. But of course he was also up his own arse as well hence the filler on the albums. Zwan for me was the same, good singles and patchy tracks. But for a time there in the 90's they were awesome.
Anyone who hasn't gotten James Iha's solo album Let It Come Down I would urge strongly to get it. Gorgeous album full of light, melodic songs. Nothing like you would expect from a former member of a hard rocking band. Really worth seeking out.
Soon after the announcement that the pumpkins were back in the studio, there was an interview with James where he said he hadn't spoke to Billy in years and had no desire to be involved with the project. Kinda strange.
One couldn't really expect D'Arcy to be a part of the reunion as she quit soon after the recording of Machina, where she was replaced by Melissa Auf Der Mar or however you say it until the end. I believe she was also interviewed and gave a similar reply to James.
Kinda strange but as long as the music rocks (sounds like it does) I'm there.
One couldn't really expect D'Arcy to be a part of the reunion as she quit soon after the recording of Machina, where she was replaced by Melissa Auf Der Mar or however you say it until the end. I believe she was also interviewed and gave a similar reply to James.
Kinda strange but as long as the music rocks (sounds like it does) I'm there.
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CanadianVolt
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James wrote Mayonaise on Saimese Dream and did indeed get tracks down on both Gish and Siamese Dream. Just , not a lot. Jimmy Chamberlain is one of the best rock drummers of all time.
Listen to Geek USA. That is pretty much one of the best rock drum tracks ever.
I would have liked to see the original line up, not 50% orig, 50% hired guns. However the pumpkin sound is all Corgan \ Chamberlain so its going to sound like the real deal.
Anyone know what James Iha and Darcy are up to. Last I heard Darcy was caught in a car that had crack in it...that wasa while back.
Zwan was a pretty decent release too. I liked the feel of that cd. I just dont like the goth n god shtick Corgan had going on..
Listen to Geek USA. That is pretty much one of the best rock drum tracks ever.
I would have liked to see the original line up, not 50% orig, 50% hired guns. However the pumpkin sound is all Corgan \ Chamberlain so its going to sound like the real deal.
Anyone know what James Iha and Darcy are up to. Last I heard Darcy was caught in a car that had crack in it...that wasa while back.
Zwan was a pretty decent release too. I liked the feel of that cd. I just dont like the goth n god shtick Corgan had going on..
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seger_and_priest
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Antelope850
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seger_and_priest
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You could say the same thing about Son Volt. Except the Pumpkins are moreso Billy's band (and Jimmy's to an extent). Rumor has it James and D'Arcy didn't even play a note on Siamese Dream.
James wrote some cool songs but the Pumpkins are pretty much Billy.
The new single ROCKS, btw. I like it better than anything since Mellon Collie. I can't wait for the record.
As for the sold-out shows, well, they were one of the biggest bands of the 90s. MCATIS and Siamese Dream sold millions and millions. Their residencies at the Orange Peel and the Fillmore are them playing clubs much too small for them. $20 tickets, will-call only. Pretty cool. Wish I was going.
Hope to catch them on their proper US tour in the fall.
edit: just found this online from Billy:
"Dear Friends, Hello from the Mighty SP! We are just arrived from Old Europe, and would like to send heartfelt thanks to all the fans who saw us play over this last month...the shows were truly memorable, and we are ever indebted and so very grateful for such a warm welcome back... A few words then from us then about our 9 show residency in Asheville, and the 13 show stand at the Fillmore in San Fransico...our stated hope for playing so many shows in a fixed locale is to foster an environment of creativity, risk taking, and mutual community...to attempt to find some new forms (musically and aesthetically) that will point us future forward...this means playing songs not yet written, digging thru some forgotten ones, and a whole lot of rehearsing during the days ahead so the nights will be filled with chance...we hope that each of these performances can be a great adventure, and look fully to capture the spirit of the moment, wherever we all may be... Also, a clear declaration of our new open-source taping policy...everyone is welcome to tape at our shows in whatever capacity they see fit...anyone is welcome and invited to document using audio, video, or picture cameras (cell phones are welcome)...although we do reserve the right to refuse anyone at anytime (especially if we feel the reason for recording is not for entirely altruistic)...God bless BC 6/23/07"
James wrote some cool songs but the Pumpkins are pretty much Billy.
The new single ROCKS, btw. I like it better than anything since Mellon Collie. I can't wait for the record.
As for the sold-out shows, well, they were one of the biggest bands of the 90s. MCATIS and Siamese Dream sold millions and millions. Their residencies at the Orange Peel and the Fillmore are them playing clubs much too small for them. $20 tickets, will-call only. Pretty cool. Wish I was going.
Hope to catch them on their proper US tour in the fall.
edit: just found this online from Billy:
"Dear Friends, Hello from the Mighty SP! We are just arrived from Old Europe, and would like to send heartfelt thanks to all the fans who saw us play over this last month...the shows were truly memorable, and we are ever indebted and so very grateful for such a warm welcome back... A few words then from us then about our 9 show residency in Asheville, and the 13 show stand at the Fillmore in San Fransico...our stated hope for playing so many shows in a fixed locale is to foster an environment of creativity, risk taking, and mutual community...to attempt to find some new forms (musically and aesthetically) that will point us future forward...this means playing songs not yet written, digging thru some forgotten ones, and a whole lot of rehearsing during the days ahead so the nights will be filled with chance...we hope that each of these performances can be a great adventure, and look fully to capture the spirit of the moment, wherever we all may be... Also, a clear declaration of our new open-source taping policy...everyone is welcome to tape at our shows in whatever capacity they see fit...anyone is welcome and invited to document using audio, video, or picture cameras (cell phones are welcome)...although we do reserve the right to refuse anyone at anytime (especially if we feel the reason for recording is not for entirely altruistic)...God bless BC 6/23/07"
Smashing Pumpkins "reunion"
I was a huge fan back in the day and still listen to their first two albums consistently. I'm just wondering if anyone else here is shocked by the tickets they are selling on this so-called reunion tour. Don't get me wrong, they used to kick ass live but without half of their original line-up that's not a real reunion. So how in the hell have they managed to sell out 9 straight shows in Asheville and 11 in San Francisco? Who in the hell is buying all of these tickets? I think it's cool that they are but I'm perplexed.