Smashing Pumpkins - Are back at their best!

*****
The Pumpkins bring their brilliant show to London town!

Smashing Pumpkins ***** get a lot of un deserved criticism in my eyes they have never released a bad album, yes some might have been different. The thing is different isn't always bad but I think people fear what is different. 'Oceania' is an album that mixes the bands old sound with a slight faint touch of the new. Also the fact that Billy Corgan has decided to add a good selection of old songs into the set has brought the popularity of the band back up.

This might not be the definitive Pumpkins line-up with Billy being the only original member but they have a really strong connection and their seems to be a bond between all four members, this bond has put Corgan back to his best ever songwriting with the new album being a treasure chest of brilliant songs. The line-up does not see old faces like James Iha, D'arcy Wretzky, Melissa Auf der Maur or even Jimmy Chamberlin but who cares when you have great musicians like the ones Billy has picked to join the band.

It would be nice to see the original line-up again don't get me wrong, but Jeff Schroeder (Guitar) plays the songs with ease while young drummer Mike Byrne (Drums) is great to watch and does not miss a beat. Also the stunning Nicole Fiorentino (Bass) really looks the part and joins the ranks of beautiful bass players that the Pumpkins have had, but all these bass players are not only pretty they can really play to and are great musicians.

We are all shocked when they open up with the beautiful 'Tonight' off 'Mellon collie and the infinite Sadness' this moment is magical as everyone is singing from right at the start at the set, I very rarely see this happen so it is really special. Billy is giving the fans what they want burst into the uber famous 'Cherub Rock' a very Rockin' early Grunge track for the band when they had their definitive line-up.

He continues the set with a very strange and odd version of the David Bowie / Ziggy Stardust song 'Space Oddity' which is very different and kind of has an erie-ness about it. Their is a great steady version of 'Disarm' one of the most listened to Smashing Pumpkins track before you are given the chance to hear some of the new material live like the invincible 'Quasar' which opens 'Oceania' and one of my favourite tracks on the whole record 'Pale Horse' which is just a little bit special and a must listen to.

The song also has a melody line that you can't forget and lyrically it is really well put together and catchy too. He follows this with the Electronic Kraftwerk sounding ticking time bomb that is 'Pinwheels' which goes all acoustic half way through, before showing you the power of the title track 'Oceania' which is very atmospheric an shows off some of Corgan's best song writing for years. This song really grabs you by the heart and drags you in and I am totally in love with it. I would of loved to have heard 'Glissandra' off this album a song I just can't stop playing over and over again, so sad they didn't play it but you can't have everything and sometimes you got to leave something for a treat another time.

Everyone loved the album 'Ava Adore' so when they break out into the title track it's met with thousands of cheers, Nicole also does a great job of playing the classic bass line that is noticeable from the start of the song. 'Bullet and butterfly Wings' is as explosive as it ever has been, while 'Today' as a quite cool that is destroyed by the audience going crazy for it. This really is a greatest hits set for the Smashing Pumpkins with songs off the new album added in, but any of these could have easily made it onto the bands greatest hits. These songs are that good and when it comes time for the band to play what has been made into Billy Corgan's signature song 'Zero' you know your having a great time. Jeff also seems really at home playing the new material and does a great job of producing the original sound of the tracks.

'Stand inside your Love' is just mesmerizing and I can't stop starring at the stage because it is just jaw dropping and sends shivers down my spine, whoever said that the Smashing Pumpkins had lost it must not have seen this set. They end the first set with 'United States' off the not so popular 'Zeitgeist' a heavier album for the Pumpkins that I actually quite enjoyed. The stage is filled of projections and lights picturing the stars and stripes and the song is really chaotic and really works as a closer. They go crazy for this song slamming and slapping the guitars like they are going to destroy everything and it looks really good.

They come back on for the encore which is a great stripped down versions of live rarity 'Porcelina' and classic hit '1979' which is a final sing-a-long, These both are done so unique that it makes them really special to listen to and the is a great connection between Billy and the crowd. This was a great evening that I have been talking about since it happened and I can't wait to see them again, Well done Pumpkins!!!.

Smashing Pumpkins - Setlist
----------------------------
Tonight
Cherub Rock
Space Oddity
XYU
Disarm
Quasar
Pale Horse
Pinwheels
Oceania
33
Ava Adore
Bullet and butterfly Wings
One Diamond
Today
Zero
Stand inside your Love
United States
-----------------
Porcelina
1979

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! this live Video of 'Pale Horse' Below...