1991/08/17 - I-Beam - San Francisco, CA
RocketTristessaWindow PaineIha: Bob English come on to the stage, Bob English.Bury MeCorgan: Danke Iha: Mr. Bob English, we want you to report to the stage. Please we're begging you, Bob English, come to the stage, thank you. Thank you very much, it's very nice to be here. Toronto again!Corgan: No way man, San Francisco kicks fucking ass.Wretzky: He says that to all the girls.Corgan: But you should hear what I tell the boys.Iha: Mr. Bob English, get to the stage, get to the stage at any point in time.
― flappy bird, Sunday, 29 April 2018 01:42 (five years ago) link
"It used to be pleasurable to crank up Zeppelin or Nirvana to 12 in your car. Now everyone would complain – it's so piercing, so bright."
― earlnash, Sunday, 29 April 2018 10:50 (five years ago) link
new single "Solara" is out there. officially released tomorrow I think.
BWBW/God drum beat, The Cars "Just What I Needed" guitar hook, vocals way too high, melody isn't bad, lyrics feel like Mellon Collie mad libs, forced moments of JC showoff, too long. Could've been worse, but not much...
― flappy bird, Friday, 8 June 2018 01:25 (five years ago) link
You summed it up well there to me, sadly. An utterly underwhelming song.
― brain (krakow), Friday, 8 June 2018 08:22 (five years ago) link
Sounds like it was recorded on a phone, where is the ATTACK?
― startled macropod (MatthewK), Friday, 8 June 2018 09:06 (five years ago) link
idk what i expected from a rubin-produced sp track but this checks out. v monuments-lite
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Friday, 8 June 2018 12:25 (five years ago) link
lol this is almost identical to how i felt about “glow” when it came out
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Friday, 8 June 2018 12:34 (five years ago) link
Really the song is not bad but the drumming is fucking hilarious
― Simon H., Friday, 8 June 2018 14:57 (five years ago) link
That's some alt-rock paint-by-numbers schlock if I've ever heard any. At this point I'd be shocked if the album has any decent moments let alone a good song.
― Fetchboy, Sunday, 10 June 2018 00:24 (five years ago) link
This is a middling Zeitgeist track. I don't like it. But after a few listens I kinda dig the bridge ("Speculation" etc.).
― Sam Weller, Monday, 11 June 2018 12:26 (five years ago) link
And what's the deal -- this is going to be part of a tour EP, right? Not a full album?
"Drown" just came on after I played "Solara" on my playlist. God, BC really could conjure some magic in those days.
― Sam Weller, Monday, 11 June 2018 12:28 (five years ago) link
Overloud vocals and poorly mixed instrumentation. This is why Rick Rubin gets the big bucks.
― beamish13, Monday, 11 June 2018 15:08 (five years ago) link
Love that there are "reaction videos" on YouTube.
― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 11 June 2018 20:29 (five years ago) link
Literally every riff from the Pastichio Medley is more compelling than this
― flappy bird, Monday, 11 June 2018 20:36 (five years ago) link
which is prob why every time i try to remember how this song goes, i get "glow" stuck in my head instead
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Monday, 11 June 2018 20:37 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRV1n00iga0
v encouraging performance for me, a person who bought tickets lol
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:56 (five years ago) link
James is good there.
― brain (krakow), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 15:46 (five years ago) link
I haven't liked "Zero" since 1997 and that was pretty great.
― Sam Weller, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 15:51 (five years ago) link
Just watched the Solara performance as well and it is significantly better than the released version - again I think I like James's additions most. Billy is very lack-lustre in both performances and they do all seem a little lifeless, but I hope proper shows will be better on that front than tv appearances.
― brain (krakow), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 15:54 (five years ago) link
so James was either a) not on the studio recording, or b) his parts are so buried in the mix that they're almost indistinguishable. Still not a good song but way more interesting with James' parts. re: Zero, Billy's holding back/not screaming for whatever reason - nerves, first performance this year, trying not to strain his voice. But I too have a ticket to this tour. Feeling shiny.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 16:31 (five years ago) link
I cancelled my SiriusXM subscription a while ago but I'm listening to a stream of the Pumpkins on Howard Stern rn, they did BWBW and yeah, same thing as Zero, not screaming. Solara sounds OK. Another thing is that Billy's vocals aren't as high and dry in the mix, which improves the song by an order of magnitude. Howard pressing Billy on the shapeshifter story. Very nice to hear James talk.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 16:37 (five years ago) link
yeah instrumentally tight af, Billy singing a guide vocal
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 20:48 (five years ago) link
usually a band will have some backup vocals
― Tapes 'n Tapes of Osho (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 13 June 2018 20:49 (five years ago) link
and usually it's a choir of Billies
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 13 June 2018 20:52 (five years ago) link
he posted the song titles of the rest of the EP on instagram today. no idea when it's coming out, either during tour or after.
Announced tour dates in London and Bologna today.
― Sam Weller, Friday, 15 June 2018 09:25 (five years ago) link
The title of this article is both sad and hilarious:
https://www.spin.com/2018/06/billy-corgan-shapeshifter-howard-stern-naked/
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Monday, 18 June 2018 00:46 (five years ago) link
The URL is scarier.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 18 June 2018 01:29 (five years ago) link
So I wrote a thing about Adore
http://rockandrollglobe.com/punk/into-the-last-divide-the-smashing-pumpkins-adore-turns-20/
― The Harsh Tutelage of Michael McDonald (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 22 June 2018 23:53 (five years ago) link
flappy bird otm. I'm still marveling over how bland "Solara" is for a lead single. "Tarantula" was not the best, but in comparison to "Solara" it stands out as a f-ing classic.
― Sam Weller, Thursday, 28 June 2018 09:26 (five years ago) link
as much as i think the song is whatever, i think the video is pretty rad, which i haven't thought about a sp video since they broke up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do3tSdZucyA
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Thursday, 28 June 2018 18:44 (five years ago) link
Nice video, way more interesting than the song.
― brain (krakow), Thursday, 28 June 2018 18:53 (five years ago) link
I like that Billy is going full goth again
― flappy bird, Thursday, 28 June 2018 19:14 (five years ago) link
I really like that video a lot. Made me like the song more, but that video deserved a better song. Agree with Brad that it's the best post-2000 SP/Billy video. Noticed his son make a cameo at 3:53.
― flappy bird, Friday, 29 June 2018 02:19 (five years ago) link
Your Favorite Band Sucks podcast features SP on the latest episode.
― banjoboy, Friday, 29 June 2018 02:42 (five years ago) link
So, the tour has started. Was anyone at the first couple of shows? I've watched/listened to a few videos via youtube and they do sound and look pretty good.
You get your money's worth with the apparently 3hr-ish, 30+ song set as well, though I could really live without the Led Zeppelin cover...
https://i.redd.it/st0eld2j5z911.jpg
― brain (krakow), Sunday, 15 July 2018 13:31 (five years ago) link
the setlist is awesome
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Sunday, 15 July 2018 13:50 (five years ago) link
I'd like "I Am One" in there, but otherwise it's hard to fault, bar my Stairway complaint.
https://imgur.com/gallery/vWdeJb1
― brain (krakow), Sunday, 15 July 2018 14:14 (five years ago) link
It is ridiculously good, I'm honestly surprised. Can't see myself going but credit to him for figuring out exactly what would work best.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2018 16:03 (five years ago) link
Store nearby is selling an original Adore 1998 vinyl copy for 40 euros. Yay or nay?
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 15 July 2018 16:07 (five years ago) link
yes! it’s in mono!a friend of mine was at the first show & loved it. One of the many texts I got that night: “I think Corgan’s rocking a kilt.”I’m seeing them in a little less than 2 weeks, v excited
― flappy bird, Sunday, 15 July 2018 16:32 (five years ago) link
Bought it! Looks mint can’t wait to give it a spin when I get home.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 15 July 2018 20:52 (five years ago) link
that kicked a ton of ass
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Thursday, 2 August 2018 03:48 (five years ago) link
all the footage I've seen of it looks pretty fantastic and the best they've been in a long long time, glad you had a good time. hope they bring it here
― ufo, Thursday, 2 August 2018 03:50 (five years ago) link
highlights, avert your eyes if you don’t want to know anything:
- probably the best incarnation of the smashing pumpkins i’ve seen (didn’t ever get to see them until ‘07 lol)- james playing an ebow onstage makes all the difference - the three guitar approach is pretty rich and harmonic throughout the whole show (especially on “stand inside your love,” those guitars sound like the ocean!) only occasionally do they feel like they’re burying each other- “siva” tore the roof off- “porcelina” was fucking unearthly- and “the beginning is the end is the beginning” was amazingly crunchy and gothy, prob the best song of the night which i was not expecting to think- “stairway to heaven” was super unnecessary but i really like the “space oddity” cover????- the visuals were corny and tasteful at the same time? like obviously drawing on mellon collie romantic imagery and weird billy corgan iconography, but it was really effective and playful; the improvisational (?) dance they filmed for “for martha” was actually moving - mark mcgrath filmed two vaudeville... things for this show, one of which is an intro to “blew away”- cried during “33”
k think that’s it
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Thursday, 2 August 2018 04:06 (five years ago) link
- billy sidehugged james for a major portion of "eye," couldn't tell whether james was into it or not
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Thursday, 2 August 2018 04:47 (five years ago) link
I forgot to post after the show here last week. What kind of seats did you have, Brad? I was in the nosebleeds - Billy has never looked smaller. I like arena shows if it's sold out or nearly sold out and basically everyone is into it, which it what happened last Friday. Looked super empty during Metric but by the opening montage (which I loved and was one of the more emotional sections of the show for me) it had filled out to probably 90%. I heard they sold out MSG tonight, which is shocking, there must've been so many walkups. The place where I saw them has notoriously bad acoustics but the band sounded fucking great up there, which was really surprising. Three guitars + keys + JAMES make this feel more like SP than anything since I first saw them, in 2010.
my personal highlights were Porcelina (holy shit) and awkward Billy/James banter, which I always hear on bootlegs and have obviously never heard in person. Just them making lame joke about whatever city they're in. It was... so... awesome.
I felt pretty disengaged from the whole thing though, probably because I was so far away. But they sound great and crafted a really nice setlist + production to remind the public at large about the band. Everyone in the band seems happy and response tends to determine whatever Billy does next so... good news ahead? I'm glad at least 3 of them are on good terms. This show is a loving tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 2 August 2018 05:32 (five years ago) link
wish they were doing The Boy, though. kinda lame that Billy uses Blew Away for a costume change but w/e
― flappy bird, Thursday, 2 August 2018 05:35 (five years ago) link
Hell yeah @ Brad enjoying "The beginning..." most. now let's redo the poll so it can place.
― Impossible Burgermeat. Unlikely Seitan. (Sufjan Grafton), Thursday, 2 August 2018 05:38 (five years ago) link
Ugh this is making me feel a tiny bit regretful about my decision not to see them - I was excited when I first heard they were doing a reunion tour but Billy’s involvement with Infowars makes me feel so angry and disappointed that I just refuse to put any money in his pocket. I idolized the pumpkins when I was a teen, had the hugest crush on billy. I could’ve put aside the fact that he’s actually kind of a dick, but the infowars stuff is just straight up dangerous and hateful. I’m so mad at billy for ruining this for me!
― just1n3, Thursday, 2 August 2018 15:59 (five years ago) link