Musings From The Petri Dish - Music Forums - Music Forum

Gaz@NokiaMusic · 09-01-2009

Welcome to all!

All those who are interested in anything I have to say and all those who only come here to laugh at me, either way... welcome!

I decided to start a journal because I wanted somewhere to share some of my old gig reviews, brag about some of my beloved collectables and generally just talk rubbish.

Hope you enjoy your stay...

Lord Grendel · 09-01-2009

Love talkin' rubbish Gaz, I look forward to reading your journal.

Oblivion · 09-01-2009

Same here ! enjoy writing it and I'll enjoy reading it.

Gaz@NokiaMusic · 09-01-2009

The Smashing Pumpkins are without a doubt a cornerstone band for me. I shared a love for them with my high school sweetheart but never got to see them live as they only ever toured my home country once. I did have tickets for the first time they announced it but it was later postponed with a refund. When it was rescheduled I missed out on tickets, and then like so many they disbanded.

Finally in 2006 they reformed with the album Zeitgeist and when they toured in 2007 (although heartbreakingly without James Iha and D'Arcy) I got tickets to a warm up show in a 2000 capacity venue...

Picture 2.jpg
Picture compliments of a friend

The Smashing Pumpkins
Shepherds Bush Empire
London 19th June 2007

Seven Years Disbanded, a new line-up and 2000 devotees to what once was make for an unnerving air of apprehension and surely the band can feel it too. For The Smashing Pumpkins this is zero hour.

To thunderous applause the band take to the stage and Billy extends a reserved greeting not unlike a shy child facing a crowd for the very first time. This awkward behemoth of a man breaks a crooked smile and it's in this instance that it all becomes clear how much this means to him and quite clearly all of us here tonight.

Set opener "United States" puts the listener square into the bands present headspace, from the get go they make it clear that they've ostracised themselves from their homeland's current political state. Such is the album's theme, the image of Lady Liberty knee high in floodwater. The song paints this picture beautifully making the audience feel literally drowned in sound by drawing on typical Pumpkins guitar noise-makery (to coin a phrase) simulating what can only be described as whale song or perhaps even the sound of a bending iron structure.

In my opinion The Smashing Pumpkins are not so much "back", but rather here for the first time again! New Bassist Ginger Reyes grinds up against her guitar with so much sexual suggestion that D'Arcy and James Iha could be forgiven for refusing to regroup.

The band touch base early in the set with fan favourites "Today" and "Hummer" among countless others but it's "Tonight Tonight" that sends us stratospheric with it's endless wave of marching drum rolls done like only the immortal Jimmy Chamberlin can.

Billy Corgan, with an apparent renewed life optimism uncharacteristically finds the time to make a gag about football. We are then treated to a variation in proceedings with a mini acoustic set before returning with an earth shattering performance of "Zero". Certainly one of the highlights of the evening for most.

Just about 3 hours in and the encore culminates in arguably two of the biggest sing-a-longs in the Pumpkins catalogue. "Cherub Rock" and personal favourite of the night "Muzzle" as Shepherds Bush Empire sings in unison: "I fear that I am ordinary just like everyone" and as I share an immediate audience with the likes of The Killers, seeing them air drumming with each other just as my friends and I used to in our adolescence, leaves me feeling like a kid again...

...Always under your SPell indeed!

Trey · 09-01-2009

One of my favorite new members has created a journal, and a good one at that! Excellently written Gaz.

Smashing Pumpkins...I have only one album, Siamese Dream.

You've inspired me to que it up and play it today (it's been awhile)! I never checked out the entire 2007 release, but I liked the song Tarantula. It got a fair amount of play on my sat channel when it first came out.

Gaz@NokiaMusic · 09-02-2009

Tarantula's a great track, I'm convinced the video is 3D... if you got some specs check it out!

Doomsday Clock, 7 Shades Of Black, Bleeding The Orchid and United States are my favourites on that album.

Siamese Dream is still arguably the best but I love Machina and even though Jimmy Chamberlin didn't drum on Adore that album is still a very sentimental one for me.

Magic · 09-02-2009

I believe you are right, Gaz, that video is in 3D. I had a pair of those paper glasses from the movies, and it sure made the video look alot different

Trey · 09-06-2009

I've never seen that video, so thanks for posting. I didn't happen to have a pair of 3D glasses laying around like Magic, though.

I'm going to go look up the other tracks that you mentioned you liked now.

Tricky · 09-06-2009

I hadnt heard this song before, i likes it, it takes me back to school days when id listen to Mellon collie for weeks on end.

Bry-Fidelity · 09-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaz@NokiaMusic

The Smashing Pumpkins are without a doubt a cornerstone band for me. I shared a love for them with my high school sweetheart but never got to see them live as they only ever toured my home country once. I did have tickets for the first time they announced it but it was later postponed with a refund. When it was rescheduled I missed out on tickets, and then like so many they disbanded.

Finally in 2006 they reformed with the album Zeitgeist and when they toured in 2007 (although heartbreakingly without James Iha and D'Arcy) I got tickets to a warm up show in a 2000 capacity venue...

Attachment 889
Picture compliments of a friend

The Smashing Pumpkins
Shepherds Bush Empire
London 19th June 2007

Seven Years Disbanded, a new line-up and 2000 devotees to what once was make for an unnerving air of apprehension and surely the band can feel it too. For The Smashing Pumpkins this is zero hour.

To thunderous applause the band take to the stage and Billy extends a reserved greeting not unlike a shy child facing a crowd for the very first time. This awkward behemoth of a man breaks a crooked smile and it's in this instance that it all becomes clear how much this means to him and quite clearly all of us here tonight.

Set opener "United States" puts the listener square into the bands present headspace, from the get go they make it clear that they've ostracised themselves from their homeland's current political state. Such is the album's theme, the image of Lady Liberty knee high in floodwater. The song paints this picture beautifully making the audience feel literally drowned in sound by drawing on typical Pumpkins guitar noise-makery (to coin a phrase) simulating what can only be described as whale song or perhaps even the sound of a bending iron structure.

In my opinion The Smashing Pumpkins are not so much "back", but rather here for the first time again! New Bassist Ginger Reyes grinds up against her guitar with so much sexual suggestion that D'Arcy and James Iha could be forgiven for refusing to regroup.

The band touch base early in the set with fan favourites "Today" and "Hummer" among countless others but it's "Tonight Tonight" that sends us stratospheric with it's endless wave of marching drum rolls done like only the immortal Jimmy Chamberlin can.

Billy Corgan, with an apparent renewed life optimism uncharacteristically finds the time to make a gag about football. We are then treated to a variation in proceedings with a mini acoustic set before returning with an earth shattering performance of "Zero". Certainly one of the highlights of the evening for most.

Just about 3 hours in and the encore culminates in arguably two of the biggest sing-a-longs in the Pumpkins catalogue. "Cherub Rock" and personal favourite of the night "Muzzle" as Shepherds Bush Empire sings in unison: "I fear that I am ordinary just like everyone" and as I share an immediate audience with the likes of The Killers, seeing them air drumming with each other just as my friends and I used to in our adolescence, leaves me feeling like a kid again...

...Always under your SPell indeed!

Holy crap dude! I can't believe I just barely found this entry! The Smashing Pumpkins are my religion when it comes to music. To see someone not only praise them or essential it's main songwriter at this point when so many people want to denounce Billy for still trying to be creative is awesome! Your story about almost seeing them and then having the show canceled only to be robbed of the experience because of their breakup is exactly what happened to me. I never got to see them until their new incarnation as well but it was still everything I could've wanted. Have you seen the "If All Goes Wrong" DVD. I loved what Billy has to say about art and how it's a battle between the artist and pleasing the audience when it comes to creating art in music. Definitely check it out!