3x The Smashing Pumpkins - From 'gig' to 'show'!

‘Today is the greatest… show I have ever seen…I’ll burn my eyes out…’ at the Smashing Pumpkins show last Tuesday, as it was an astonishing set design and lighting show (at AFAS Live in Amsterdam). I have called it a ‘show’ explicitly and not a ‘gig’, which would describe the two previous TSP concerts I went to. This ‘show’ was absolutely mind blowing from an esthetic and artistic point of view. Three huge surrealistic style Puppito's - as Billy calls them - raised from the dead and lit up in all combination of colors you can only imagine during the whole show.

​A big contrast to the first TSP show that I ever saw at Rock Werchter Festival back in 1997 (what an amazing line-up by the way...). All members being very shy, not interacting with the crowd at all, just playing their songs, vigorously though. At that ‘gig’ I decided not to watch, but only to listen and shut my eyes to suck up all their great bombastic songs and guitar riffs and solo’s, by using just one sense while banging my head. 

16 years later, I finally got to see them again. Coincidentally, on my birthday, 27th of July 2013 at venue ‘013’ in Tilburg. Billy was a lot more chatty, even slightly funny and he interacted with the crowd, which this small venue let him, I guess. Or maybe, he was more grown up and a little bit less shy than back in the day. That gig was as raw as it gets, and being so close to Billy, it felt very intimate. And last but not least, I catched the drum stick that evening. One of my best birthday presents ever! 

​And now, 6 years later, they have evolved themselves tremendously, upgraded to a bigger but still intimate venue with a full blown show. I was still keeping my head down during most of the songs using one sense until my friend tapped me on my shoulder and said to watch the show, as the Puppito in the middle turned around and had a different face and another vibe to it. Absolutely gorgeous! ​From that moment onwards I decided to use all of my senses. A feast for the eyes and ears.

 I just love it how Billy and his mates, almost back in their original formation, really made an effort with this show and enjoyed it as much as the crowd did. Just like the funny ‘interlude’ (a cover of ‘Friday I'm in Love’ from The Cure) where Billy took a break and James started singing. I believe James messed that one up on purpose, as the sound and his voice was way off from the outstanding level of performance when playing their own songs. In 'epic theatre', you would call that an ‘alienation’ (also a song title from their new album by the way), a complete break from what was happening before in order to get the crowd back into reality, so that the show would have even more impact afterwards.

​Which it really did. The setlist was carefully put together, 2 hours of all of the best songs from almost every album, including a couple of crowd pleasers like ‘Tonight’ and ‘1979’ while embracing their new songs. I really got into their new songs of their latest album ‘Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun’. I really dig ‘Solara’ as it has the same bombastic sound and structure as ‘Cherub rock’, with a new vibe to it. 

​‘Alienation’ and ‘Knights of Malta’ are beautiful songs which let Billy’s voice stand out as it does with ‘Disarm’. By the way, the crowd screwed up ‘Disarm’ a bit for me, as I was only looking at mobile phones when they played it, really annoying. So I put my head down again, using only one sense again. Obviously, I also took pictures and videos, so I guess I am as annoying as them…You just wanna capture these beautiful moments on camera to make them last forever…

As Billy said at the end of the show, ‘we could have never imagined this would be our future 31 years ago’ while pointing at the three huge dolls, the enthusiastic crowd and being grateful for their support over those 31 years. Billy, I would like to thank you for being you and for embracing your carefully composed music and sharing your amazing thoughts through your lyrics. I would also like to thank James and Jimmy for standing side by side again, playing your amazing guitar riffs and solo’s. And guys, I do expect the next Volume of your latest album shortly, can’t wait! (Scroll down for more videos and pics!)