The Smashing Pumpkins: Concert Review

Alternative Rock Legends Celebrate 20th Anniversary

Dec 5, 2008

On Friday November 17th, fans crowded into The United Palace Theater in New York City to see The Smashing Pumpkins perform for their 20 year anniversary tour.

A lot has changed since the Smashing Pumpkins formed in 1988. This concert chronicled that change: the remaining members of The Smashing Pumpkins played a lengthy and diverse set list that included songs from each and every time period of the bands career.

What Did The Smashing Pumpkins Play?

The band played a mix of material ranging from hit songs, unreleased new material, and everything in-between. Fans went absolutely berserk during the performance of most popular songs (1979, Cherub Rock, Zero, Disarm). However, many fans appeared confused and agitated during some of the bands newer material.

The new songs that the Pumpkins have written since the release Zeitgeist (2007), received mix reviews from fans. Many of their new tracks were more experimental; Corgan played with guitar pedals to create different sounds. Many of the new songs were progressive, free-form, and droning at times. Some songs were nearly twenty minutes in length and sounded much different from what fans have previously heard from The Smashing Pumpkins.

The Smashing Pumpkins Perform Live

The Smashing Pumpkins played a solid performance, no doubt. The set list for the concert was over two and a half hours long (they played 25 songs). To their credit, they instilled new life into many of their old songs. Crestfallen was played on guitar and many songs included extensive instrumentals not included on the recorded versions. During the most expansive and elaborate instrumental sections there were as many as nine musicians on stage at one time.

This is a noteworthy change vonsidering the band has had as few as three members in the past. They expanded many of their songs instrumentally - adding in a cello, pianos, and two horns. Most importantly, the band sounded good. They played their songs well, and vocalist Billy Corgan’s voice was right on key.

Overall, this was a solid concert. Tickets were reasonably priced. The band played for a long time, and played a combination of songs, both new and old. The Smashing Pumpkins performance was an encompassing experience: it highlighted the best moments of the bands' history while providing promise for its future.

The copyright of the article The Smashing Pumpkins: Concert Review in Alternative Music is owned by Todd Christopher Petty. Permission to republish The Smashing Pumpkins: Concert Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.