Before I begin, let me say that, in my opinion, Smashing Pumpkins produced one the the best CDs of the 1990's in Siamese Dream. I used to absolutely love this band. I can remember hearing Rhinoceros on WFNX here in Boston in early 1991 and instantly taking a liking to it. I recall going to the store the day Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness came out securing my copy. I kept on buying Smashing Pumpkins CDs long after the general public had given up on them. I own copies of Adore, Machina/The Machines of God (still in the running for the worst album title ever in my book), Pisces Iscariot (I am a Pisces after all) and Zeitgeist. There can be no doubting my fandom. The thing is; I have to decide whether I'm still as big a fan as I once was or if Smashing Pumpkins are just a shaky live proposition. There's no shame in that really. I've seen a lot of concerts and some bands just can't make the transition live. Other bands don't even try. As I've noted in previous posts two of my favorites, XTC and Steely Dan, have checkered touring histories (in fairness though Steely Dan has righted the ship and tours fairly regularly these days...for them anyway). Even The Beatles, arguably the greatest band in the history of rock music, didn't care much for touring. I don't think this is Smashing Pumpkins issue, but I really struggled with last night's concert at The Wang Center here in Boston. I wish I could say otherwise.Before the show, in fact before any show in this general vicinity, that I see at The Orpheum, The Wang Center, or The Wilbur Theatre I stopped for dinner at Silvertone Bar & Grill at 69 Bromfield Street near Park Street Station. Long time Bostonians know of this awesome restaurant, but if you've never been there you should check the place out; great food, drink, vibe, service and prices. It's a great place to go before and after any event within a ten block radius. Sometimes it's a victim of its own success as the concert and show traffic collides with the regulars, but if you give yourself enough time nothing is better. Where was I? Oh yeah, Smashing Pumpkins. One of the head honchos over at Silvertone, my friend Josh, always asks me "who you going to see this time?" When I mentioned Smashing Pumpkins we started talking about them. He mentioned that they had 15 great songs and several good ones. He mentioned Bullet With Butterfly Wings. I got to thinking about that and made my own mental list; Rhinoceros, Cherub Rock, Today, Hummer, Mayonnaise, Disarm, Here is No Why, Porcelina of The Vast Oceans, Zero, Muzzle, Tonight Tonight, Ava Adore, Appels + Oranjes, Pug (a HUGE sleeper cut on their catalogue), probably Stand Inside Your Love and my all time favorite; Drown from The Singles Soundtrack. That's a tad more than 15, but Josh had it right. After the initial 15-20 though, the drop is pretty steep. Still, after spending all day yesterday prepping for the concert by listening to Smashing Pumpkins records I was confident that I was still a big fan. This morning I have doubts.
Didn't I just get done saying how I think more bands should play completely different shows in stops where they are playing more than once in a given city? Well, this time it backfired on me. I did a cursory search to find the set list for the show I witnessed last night, but I couldn't find anything definitive so I'm using the set lists from a prior two stop show in Washington, DC. From what I can gather, the set list from the second show was fairly identical to what I witnessed last night. First, I deserve severe criticism for showing up late for the concert. I didn't call the Wang in advance or search the web for evidence of a warm up band. As a veteran concert goer you have to be aware of a venue's predisposition for entertaining rock crowds. If memory serves, The Wang Center was once known as The Music Hall many years ago. I can remember seeing Heart on the Bebe Le Strange Tour in the late 70's or very early 80's there. Take that Sarah Barracuda. Anyway, the building has a long history with rock music. Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead played there to name just two of thousands. For the last 25 years or so you'd be much more likely to see Jerry Seinfeld, The Nutcracker or 10,000 Maniacs than you would be to see an all out rock band like Smashing Pumpkins. My point is I was guilty of winging it and showing up 45 minutes after the doors opened figuring there would a warm up act. A venue like the Wang Center is more likely to start the show a little earlier so they can get you out of there earlier. The poor ushers were all used to seating, shall we say, a more family friendly crowd. The ones I saw were older (than me!) and wearing concert plugs. This time they were justified. Sadly I can now add this show to the list of shows over the years where I've misjudged and ended up being late. It doesn't happen often and it's every concert goers nightmare, but I was having a good time at Silvertone. What can you do? As it turns out I missed Ava Adore if the Washington, DC set list matches what they played last night, but aside from that 1979 was never a big song for me. We showed up during Soma missing the first six songs. I was on my third or fourth concert inside of two weeks so I wasn't too broken up about it honestly. I had seen the Pumpkins fizzle in the past and I wasn't expecting much here. Be careful what you wish for.
My friend Marc, who attended the show with me, and I caught Cherube Rock, Zero, Bodies, Landslide (I made a beer run, but Marc was happy he caught that one...and I'm the big Fleetwood Mac fan...go figure) and Disarm. Suffice to say that the Pumpkins do not sound in concert like they do in the studio. The wall of noise and distortion overshadows the music to me. I thought the songs were played too fast and that the band was going through the motions a bit. Billy Corgan is an eclectic dude no doubt, but this is his baby. The Pumpkins are the only vehicle he has to shine as far as I can tell. I don't pay much attention to personnel changes I'm ashamed to admit. I know this is a shell of the original Pumpkins, but as long as Corgan is manning the ship you would expect a decent product. From Disarm on we got, as far as I'm concerned, nearly an hour of feedback, banging, speed metal thrashing and very little in the way of melody. Marc and I left before the encore was over. I don't know...yes only three of my top 15-20 Smashing Pumpkins favorites were played, but I'm not that hard to please when it comes to live music. I'm not hypercritical of set lists or covers or rearrangements. All I ask is that I can discern the lyrics and something akin to an actual melody. I really couldn't do either last night so I'm giving this show the thumbs down. Sorry Billy. No offense intended...to anyone. I'm sure there were many Pumpkin fans in attendance last night that enjoyed this show, but I wasn't one of them. I just can't recommend these guys live anymore.
I'm leaving you with Drown since it reminds me of better times with regard to my relationship with Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins. I hope they keep recording, but with ticket prices and the economy these days I think I've bought my last ticket to see them live.
The Set List for Washington, DC 11-12-2008 - Ava Adore, Cupid de Locke, 1979, 99 Floors, Owata, Sunkissed, Soma, Cherub Rock, Zero, Bodies, Crestfallen, I of The Mourning, A Song For a Son, Landslide, Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, Galapogos, Gossamer, As Rome Burns, The Sounds of Silence/Li'l Red Riding Hood/The March Hare/Suffer, Age of Innocence.
Encore - That's The Way (My Love Is), I Am One Part II.
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