Washington Post 9:30 Club Concert Review: "Fuck you, Smashing Pumpkins"

The Trashbirds · 07-12-2007, 10:14 AM

At 9:30 Club, Smashing Pumpkins Both Overcooked and Underdone

By David Malitz
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, July 12, 2007; Page C01

Billy Corgan and His Enormous Ego, er, Smashing Pumpkins, visited the 9:30 club on Tuesday, and well before a single note was played, the evening was already quite the spectacle. Corgan threw himself a party on the release day of the new album, "Zeitgeist," although it really was more of a retro, faux-political campaign. The band rolled up late afternoon in classic cars with a fake Secret Service detail. Nominating convention-style posters and buttons were handed out to fans lined up outside. The interior of the club was festooned with Smashing Pumpkins flags and red, white and blue bunting.

President Corgan? Nah, far too democratic. Dictator Corgan? A little closer. Grand Exalted Leader Corgan? There we go. It was a silly if slightly entertaining commotion, but "Gilligan's Island" would have been a more appropriate theme. The actual show was nothing but a three-hour bore.

Yes, three hours. At one point early in the evening Corgan actually muttered, "I'm having one of those I-don't-wanna-play-music moments." Rest assured, that moment passed. Boy, did it ever. The sold-out crowd got treated to bloated, directionless rockers like "United States" and "Heavy Metal Machine," lackluster versions of '90s hits such as "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Zero" and a truly excruciating 20-minute unreleased jam called "Gossamer," which for some reason was saved for the second encore and sent a good third of the audience scurrying for the exits.

It's hard to know how they lasted even that long. There were just a few songs when everything clicked and you were reminded why for a few years back in the '90s the Pumpkins could legitimately be viewed as one of the best and biggest rock bands in the world. "Hummer" found that happy middle ground between the group's early shoegaze tendencies and arena rock ambitions. "Cherub Rock" was a full-on sonic assault, sounding even more vital than it did nearly 15 years ago. "The Aeroplane Flies High" was the one meandering epic that actually felt epic and not totally pointless.

As far as highlights go, that was it.

The very tall, very bald Corgan is an imposing figure on stage and an electric guitar seems like a natural extension of his body. He's a technically proficient player who can make single notes scream and power chords rumble like few others. It was his songwriting ability that was mostly exposed on Tuesday. The best of the new tunes, "Doomsday Clock" and "Tarantula," simply chugged along at a brisk pace. The worst, like "Starz" and "Bleeding the Orchid," would be forgettable if they weren't so annoying. Even when the band broke out mega-hits "Tonight, Tonight" and "1979" it was hard to hear what made them modern-rock radio staples in the first place.

The inclusion of a six-song mini-set of acoustic material was as inevitable as it was intolerable. Corgan's nasal wail is tough enough to take when it's accompanied by massive guitars and thundering drums -- and that's on record, with the assistance of studio trickery. In a live setting, with nothing but an acoustic guitar to accompany his voice and embarrassing lyrics ("This is the song I've been singing my whole life / I've been waiting like a knife / To cut open your heart / And bleed my soul to you" -- there are so, so many more where that came from), it was borderline torturous. Ten more minutes and I would have confessed to war crimes.

After the massive buzzkill of "Gossamer," Corgan and Co. -- that would be original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who has been playing with Corgan for the past several years, and, um, some other people on bass, guitar and keyboards -- actually came back for one final song: "Fuck You."

Yep, that's pretty much how I felt all night.

apetulantfrenzy · 07-12-2007, 10:20 AM

Actually that's written pretty well in terms of concert reviews.
This dude just isn't a fan.

gregoden · 07-12-2007, 10:22 AM

Full Throttle Douche Bottle

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tcm · 07-12-2007, 10:27 AM

too much music! help!

Heat6Jones · 07-12-2007, 10:27 AM

Smashing Pumpkins = most hated band alive.

Heat6Jones · 07-12-2007, 10:28 AM

Which is slightly better than a few months ago when they were the most hated band dead.

goldenmonkey · 07-12-2007, 10:30 AM

yeah, who wants 3 hour shows anyway?

vitaldust · 07-12-2007, 10:35 AM

this review is hilarious

I bet he liked transformers

The Trashbirds · 07-12-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apetulantfrenzy

Actually that's written pretty well in terms of concert reviews.
This dude just isn't a fan.

Really? I thought a lot of it was petty.

"Billy Corgan and His Enormous Ego, er, Smashing Pumpkins"

"Grand Exalted Leader Corgan? There we go. It was a silly if slightly entertaining commotion, but "Gilligan's Island" would have been a more appropriate theme. The actual show was nothing but a three-hour bore."

"it was borderline torturous. Ten more minutes and I would have confessed to war crimes."

"After the massive buzzkill of 'Gossamer,' Corgan and Co. -- that would be original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who has been playing with Corgan for the past several years, and, um, some other people on bass, guitar and keyboards -- actually came back for one final song: 'Fuck You.'

Yep, that's pretty much how I felt all night."

Martyr · 07-12-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat6Jones

Smashing Pumpkins = most hated band alive.

I think you're right.

I knew the record would be exposed to criticism but I always assumed that you couldn't fault them live right now. They're playing audience friendly sets and adding at least another hour to a typical show length.

Eem · 07-12-2007, 10:39 AM

Well-written in my opinion, also. Said what he didn't like and why he didn't like it. So he's not a fan, no big loss.

TicalFSU · 07-12-2007, 10:39 AM

Jesus. Im glad he got to go and a fan didnt.

Charmbag · 07-12-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Trashbirds

Billy Corgan and His Enormous Ego, er, Smashing Pumpkins

lOlLOl~ so true am I right????

apetulantfrenzy · 07-12-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Trashbirds

Really? I thought a lot of it was petty.

Well, all those lines you picked are from his perspective, yes, which is bitter...but he backs up all those opinions with evidence and frames it in a way that a reader will quickly understand why he thinks that way.

My gauge of a bad review is some armchair critic who drops these one-liners without any explanation.

Also, this guy acknowledges that they had the potential to rock. If they played a different kind of show, I have a feeling this review could have been positive. So I'll give him a pass.

dudehitscar · 07-12-2007, 11:09 AM

screw this guy.

silvermachina · 07-12-2007, 11:44 AM

He even attacked Gossamer.

ie. not credible.

mv2007 · 07-12-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudehitscar

screw this guy.

Really. So sorry he had to sit thru 3 hours of SP.

popcicle · 07-12-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Trashbirds

...original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who has been playing with Corgan for the past several years...

Several?

DougieZero · 07-12-2007, 11:55 AM

It is true though, lots of people did leave during Gossamer right?... It makes you wonder who has been buying these tickets?

Some of the Asheville gigs also had lots of confused folks wearing country music t-shirts mixed in the crowd.

It reminds me of myself defending SP in high school, trying to explain that they were a lot harder than 1979 and Tonight, Tonight.

I think I begged my elderly English teacher not to attend one of the Mellon Collie shows, I could just imagine her head exploding during X.Y.U.

commando · 07-12-2007, 11:59 AM

Orchid's one of the worst new songs, eh? Next he'll try to convince me that dicks taste good.

j u n e · 07-12-2007, 12:00 PM

this fellow probably prefers to listen to maroon 5.

The Trashbirds · 07-12-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by commando

Orchid's one of the worst new songs, eh? Next he'll try to convince me that dicks taste good.

I bet you he thinks it does.

panopticon · 07-12-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougieZero

I think I begged my elderly English teacher not to attend one of the Mellon Collie shows, I could just imagine her head exploding during X.Y.U.

OMG

Steve Holt · 07-12-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat6Jones

Smashing Pumpkins = most hated band alive.

100% correct. I think this year, Billy has gotten more heat than ever before. and I believe that most of it is unjust.

yoshinobu's revenge · 07-12-2007, 01:44 PM

Gossamer was too long. I was in the 2nd row and everyone was kinda looking at each other going "huh?".

It's not a bad review. Like someone said, he's just not a fan.

kevinhcraig · 07-12-2007, 02:21 PM

Gossamer may have been a tad self-indulgent as others are claiming, but isn't that Billy Corgan in a nutshell? What else do you expect from an SP show?

Besides, it was quite entertaining...

Snapped some pics of the show:
http://flickr.com/photos/9971324@N04/

Mayfuck · 07-12-2007, 03:16 PM

After listening to some boots from the recent tour the review is pretty spot on. I have no idea why people, albeit a small minority, are buying into this tour? I know I wouldn't care and most people wouldn't but I guess everyone is just sort of amused at this accelerating downfall. Probably the biggest crime of the SP reunion is raping all the old songs in this reformed attempt at bland modern rock. It used to be that I thought Zwan sucked and TFE sucked but I always had the old pumpkins records. Now old cherished songs like Hummer and Cherub Rock have been thrown into the shit pile along with Starz and Gossamer that it all blends in and the old songs have died as a result. This review nails it.

Effloresce · 07-12-2007, 10:03 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...sec-artsliving

Quote:

At 9:30 Club, Smashing Pumpkins Both Overcooked and Underdone

By David Malitz
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, July 12, 2007; C01

Billy Corgan and His Enormous Ego, er, Smashing Pumpkins, visited the 9:30 club on Tuesday, and well before a single note was played, the evening was already quite the spectacle. Corgan threw himself a party on the release day of the new album, "Zeitgeist," although it really was more of a retro, faux-political campaign. The band rolled up late afternoon in classic cars with a fake Secret Service detail. Nominating convention-style posters and buttons were handed out to fans lined up outside. The interior of the club was festooned with Smashing Pumpkins flags and red, white and blue bunting.

President Corgan? Nah, far too democratic. Dictator Corgan? A little closer. Grand Exalted Leader Corgan? There we go. It was a silly if slightly entertaining commotion, but "Gilligan's Island" would have been a more appropriate theme. The actual show was nothing but a three-hour bore.

Yes, three hours. At one point early in the evening Corgan actually muttered, "I'm having one of those I-don't-wanna-play-music moments." Rest assured, that moment passed. Boy, did it ever. The sold-out crowd got treated to bloated, directionless rockers like "United States" and "Heavy Metal Machine," lackluster versions of '90s hits such as "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Zero" and a truly excruciating 20-minute unreleased jam called "Gossamer," which for some reason was saved for the second encore and sent a good third of the audience scurrying for the exits.

It's hard to know how they lasted even that long. There were just a few songs when everything clicked and you were reminded why for a few years back in the '90s the Pumpkins could legitimately be viewed as one of the best and biggest rock bands in the world. "Hummer" found that happy middle ground between the group's early shoegaze tendencies and arena rock ambitions. "Cherub Rock" was a full-on sonic assault, sounding even more vital than it did nearly 15 years ago. "The Aeroplane Flies High" was the one meandering epic that actually felt epic and not totally pointless.

As far as highlights go, that was it.

The very tall, very bald Corgan is an imposing figure on stage and an electric guitar seems like a natural extension of his body. He's a technically proficient player who can make single notes scream and power chords rumble like few others. It was his songwriting ability that was mostly exposed on Tuesday. The best of the new tunes, "Doomsday Clock" and "Tarantula," simply chugged along at a brisk pace. The worst, like "Starz" and "Bleeding the Orchid," would be forgettable if they weren't so annoying. Even when the band broke out mega-hits "Tonight, Tonight" and "1979" it was hard to hear what made them modern-rock radio staples in the first place.

The inclusion of a six-song mini-set of acoustic material was as inevitable as it was intolerable. Corgan's nasal wail is tough enough to take when it's accompanied by massive guitars and thundering drums -- and that's on record, with the assistance of studio trickery. In a live setting, with nothing but an acoustic guitar to accompany his voice and embarrassing lyrics ("This is the song I've been singing my whole life / I've been waiting like a knife / To cut open your heart / And bleed my soul to you" -- there are so, so many more where that came from), it was borderline torturous. Ten more minutes and I would have confessed to war crimes.

After the massive buzzkill of "Gossamer," Corgan and Co. -- that would be original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who has been playing with Corgan for the past several years, and, um, some other people on bass, guitar and keyboards -- actually came back for one final song: "[Expletive] You."

Yep, that's pretty much how I felt all night.

Guys, this is getting beyond ridiculous. Corgan doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. I don't care if you love or hate Zeitgeist.

Dogfighter28 · 07-12-2007, 10:05 PM

THIS IS LIKE THE FIFTIETH POST TODAY ON THIS

deathrockduck · 07-12-2007, 10:06 PM

uh... there is no such thing as negative publicity.

for reals. it's still a fucking article about the show. that's still promotion.

07-12-2007, 10:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Trashbirds Ownz Posts: 537	Washington Post 9:30 Club Concert Review: "Fuck you, Smashing Pumpkins" At 9:30 Club, Smashing Pumpkins Both Overcooked and Underdone By David Malitz Special to The Washington Post Thursday, July 12, 2007; Page C01 Billy Corgan and His Enormous Ego, er, Smashing Pumpkins, visited the 9:30 club on Tuesday, and well before a single note was played, the evening was already quite the spectacle. Corgan threw himself a party on the release day of the new album, "Zeitgeist," although it really was more of a retro, faux-political campaign. The band rolled up late afternoon in classic cars with a fake Secret Service detail. Nominating convention-style posters and buttons were handed out to fans lined up outside. The interior of the club was festooned with Smashing Pumpkins flags and red, white and blue bunting. President Corgan? Nah, far too democratic. Dictator Corgan? A little closer. Grand Exalted Leader Corgan? There we go. It was a silly if slightly entertaining commotion, but "Gilligan's Island" would have been a more appropriate theme. The actual show was nothing but a three-hour bore. Yes, three hours. At one point early in the evening Corgan actually muttered, "I'm having one of those I-don't-wanna-play-music moments." Rest assured, that moment passed. Boy, did it ever. The sold-out crowd got treated to bloated, directionless rockers like "United States" and "Heavy Metal Machine," lackluster versions of '90s hits such as "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Zero" and a truly excruciating 20-minute unreleased jam called "Gossamer," which for some reason was saved for the second encore and sent a good third of the audience scurrying for the exits. It's hard to know how they lasted even that long. There were just a few songs when everything clicked and you were reminded why for a few years back in the '90s the Pumpkins could legitimately be viewed as one of the best and biggest rock bands in the world. "Hummer" found that happy middle ground between the group's early shoegaze tendencies and arena rock ambitions. "Cherub Rock" was a full-on sonic assault, sounding even more vital than it did nearly 15 years ago. "The Aeroplane Flies High" was the one meandering epic that actually felt epic and not totally pointless. As far as highlights go, that was it. The very tall, very bald Corgan is an imposing figure on stage and an electric guitar seems like a natural extension of his body. He's a technically proficient player who can make single notes scream and power chords rumble like few others. It was his songwriting ability that was mostly exposed on Tuesday. The best of the new tunes, "Doomsday Clock" and "Tarantula," simply chugged along at a brisk pace. The worst, like "Starz" and "Bleeding the Orchid," would be forgettable if they weren't so annoying. Even when the band broke out mega-hits "Tonight, Tonight" and "1979" it was hard to hear what made them modern-rock radio staples in the first place. The inclusion of a six-song mini-set of acoustic material was as inevitable as it was intolerable. Corgan's nasal wail is tough enough to take when it's accompanied by massive guitars and thundering drums -- and that's on record, with the assistance of studio trickery. In a live setting, with nothing but an acoustic guitar to accompany his voice and embarrassing lyrics ("This is the song I've been singing my whole life / I've been waiting like a knife / To cut open your heart / And bleed my soul to you" -- there are so, so many more where that came from), it was borderline torturous. Ten more minutes and I would have confessed to war crimes. After the massive buzzkill of "Gossamer," Corgan and Co. -- that would be original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who has been playing with Corgan for the past several years, and, um, some other people on bass, guitar and keyboards -- actually came back for one final song: "Fuck You." Yep, that's pretty much how I felt all night.

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07-12-2007, 10:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
apetulantfrenzy Ownz Posts: 614	Actually that's written pretty well in terms of concert reviews. This dude just isn't a fan.

07-12-2007, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
gregoden Oblivious Virgin Posts: 42	Full Throttle Douche Bottle Add to My Profile \| More Videos

07-12-2007, 10:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,913	too much music! help!

07-12-2007, 10:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Heat6Jones Demi-God Location: North Carolina Posts: 332	Smashing Pumpkins = most hated band alive.

07-12-2007, 10:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Heat6Jones Demi-God Location: North Carolina Posts: 332	Which is slightly better than a few months ago when they were the most hated band dead.

07-12-2007, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
goldenmonkey Oblivious Virgin Posts: 28	yeah, who wants 3 hour shows anyway?

07-12-2007, 10:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
vitaldust Ownz Location: a melting apocalyptic jungle bleeding out of me like a dream (aka NYC) Posts: 750	this review is hilarious I bet he liked transformers

07-12-2007, 10:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
Eem Pledge Posts: 122	Well-written in my opinion, also. Said what he didn't like and why he didn't like it. So he's not a fan, no big loss.

07-12-2007, 10:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
TicalFSU When I travel to the Sun Posts: 458	Jesus. Im glad he got to go and a fan didnt.

07-12-2007, 11:09 AM	#15 (permalink)
dudehitscar Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 2,385	screw this guy.

07-12-2007, 11:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
silvermachina Demi-God Location: Listen to Erlend Oye Posts: 254	He even attacked Gossamer. ie. not credible.

07-12-2007, 11:55 AM	#19 (permalink)
DougieZero Demi-God Posts: 253	It is true though, lots of people did leave during Gossamer right?... It makes you wonder who has been buying these tickets? Some of the Asheville gigs also had lots of confused folks wearing country music t-shirts mixed in the crowd. It reminds me of myself defending SP in high school, trying to explain that they were a lot harder than 1979 and Tonight, Tonight. I think I begged my elderly English teacher not to attend one of the Mellon Collie shows, I could just imagine her head exploding during X.Y.U.

07-12-2007, 11:59 AM	#20 (permalink)
commando Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 1,666	Orchid's one of the worst new songs, eh? Next he'll try to convince me that dicks taste good.

07-12-2007, 12:00 PM	#21 (permalink)
j u n e Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 1,718	this fellow probably prefers to listen to maroon 5.

07-12-2007, 01:44 PM	#25 (permalink)
yoshinobu's revenge Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 1,414	Gossamer was too long. I was in the 2nd row and everyone was kinda looking at each other going "huh?". It's not a bad review. Like someone said, he's just not a fan.

07-12-2007, 02:21 PM	#26 (permalink)
kevinhcraig Amish Rake Fighter Posts: 3	Gossamer may have been a tad self-indulgent as others are claiming, but isn't that Billy Corgan in a nutshell? What else do you expect from an SP show? Besides, it was quite entertaining... Snapped some pics of the show: http://flickr.com/photos/9971324@N04/

07-12-2007, 03:16 PM	#27 (permalink)
Mayfuck womyn as lovers Location: l'isle joyeuse Posts: 56,805	After listening to some boots from the recent tour the review is pretty spot on. I have no idea why people, albeit a small minority, are buying into this tour? I know I wouldn't care and most people wouldn't but I guess everyone is just sort of amused at this accelerating downfall. Probably the biggest crime of the SP reunion is raping all the old songs in this reformed attempt at bland modern rock. It used to be that I thought Zwan sucked and TFE sucked but I always had the old pumpkins records. Now old cherished songs like Hummer and Cherub Rock have been thrown into the shit pile along with Starz and Gossamer that it all blends in and the old songs have died as a result. This review nails it.

07-12-2007, 10:05 PM	#29 (permalink)
Dogfighter28 P4k Reader Baron Burns Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 5,794	THIS IS LIKE THE FIFTIETH POST TODAY ON THIS

07-12-2007, 10:06 PM	#30 (permalink)
deathrockduck Pledge Location: xdirtysouthx, alafuckinbama Posts: 221	uh... there is no such thing as negative publicity. for reals. it's still a fucking article about the show. that's still promotion.