The Smashing Pumpkins
3Arena, Dublin
★★★★☆
Just a few hours prior to guiding the Smashing Pumpkins through an overwhelming gig at 3Arena in Dublin, band lead Billy Corgan is photographed next to Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott’s statue located near Grafton Street. This tribute to local artists prevails at the concert as well, when after just three songs, the noteworthy 90s auditorium heavyweights launch a U2 cover song, Zoo Station.
“A tune from a local group,” as Corgan states it, leaves an impression that the surprises from U2’s album were not entirely absorbed by the audience, who had not attended the event in the spirit of honouring Bono.
Before this, the double-headliner tour had kicked off with stellar performances by geek rock superstars, Weezer. This doesn’t deter Corgan and the Pumpkins from charting their own course filled with inspiration and self-absorption, with moments of indulgence and brilliance.
The Smashing Pumpkins made their presence felt in the early 90s alongside the rise of grunge. Despite this, they were always too offbeat and intense to be comfortably categorised with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Their 1991 debut album, Gish, took heavy cues from heavy metal and shoegaze. This was followed by the immensely successful Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – albums that, even after 30 years, define the era as perfectly as their contemporaries’ work.
Both albums feature heavily in a performance that spans over two hours. However, Corgan is not one to spoonfeed his audience, incorporating these old numbers within the contemporary framework of the Pumpkins’ recent music.
The opening act for the show is bound to venture into the realms of sci-fi, set to the riveting instrumental from Atum, a comprehensive three-disc rock opera that shares musical ties with Pink Floyd’s The Wall, The Sisters of Mercy’s Floodland, and Gene Rodenberry’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The dramatic sequence makes way for The Everlasting Gaze, a signature prog-rock number from the enigmatic 2000’s death metal record, Machina/The Machines of God, signalling the disbanding of the original lineup of the Pumpkins.
Their legacy, however, lives on, as three of the four musicians find their footing together once again. Every strum adds to the anticipation as Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha claim the stage at 3Arena. Delighting the crowd as well is Kiki Wong, the latest addition to the troupe, having emerged victorious amongst 10,000 hopefuls, along with Corgan’s children who add a touch of whimsy with their dance moves.
The performance is a mind-bending spectacle, oscillating between nostalgia and intrigue for certain seasoned fans. A U2 cover gradually morphs into Today – a traditional 1990s indie rock piece that explores the quiet/loud/quiet dynamic extensively. Such is the decibel level that the Smashing Pumpkins push boundaries, taking it one notch above 11 and at times, appearing to surpass 12 as well.
Enthusiasm fills the crowd as the Pumpkins skillfully steer themselves through the majestic Tonight, Tonight and Corgan embraces his goth persona during Ava Adore, an industrial intensity track. The recent additions to their repertoire do their fair share of justice, especially for those keen on cosmic space rock. However, the Pumpkins never shy away from challenging their fans – evident during Gossamer’s performance, perceived as a trying test of endurance that transitions from a chilled-out funk jam to a profound contemplation on infinity, reminiscent of Stephen Hawking.
The night proceeds on a high note as the Pumpkins celebrate Chamberlin’s birthday, inaugurating the occasion with a cake, and transitioning into the iconic Cherub Rock. The lead song from Siamese Dream, it boasts one of the finest opening riffs, where the strumming of guitar strings is sublimely drowned in a sea of fuzz.
The road taken hasn’t always been a simple one, yet by the conclusion of the evening, the Smashing Pumpkins have mastered the task with a performance that honours their body of work without being tied down by it. It is a perfectly executed trip down memory lane – a compilation of their best songs presented with a contemporary twist and a clear gaze set towards what lies ahead.