Smashing Pumpkins, The CityRiots @ Entertainment CentreTheatre, Adelaide (14/10/10)

Sun 17th Oct, 2010 in Gig Reviews

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.

The Smashing Pumpkins return to Adelaide after their less then memorable show back in 2008 where they played the full Entertainment Centre to almost a full house. My, my how the mighty have fallen! This time round being relegated to the Theatre within the Entertainment Centre complex with barely a trickle over 500 payers through the door. *Billy Corgan*’s remarks last time to the fans that have afforded him the luxury that he has become accustomed have obviously deserted him in droves.

Surprising because for the most part The Smashing Pumpkins played a reasonable show and whilst it is clearly obvious that Corgan has moved on from previous glory, he made it clear that he “wasn’t going to be a slave to his past”. Opening with The Fellowship the sound was top notch, his band were tight and the stage production was as good as any. Lonely Is The Name followed and then it didn’t take long to delve back in time to play Today. Corgan, the fans you have left want to hear the hits man! The crowd picked up and really got in to this one.

Early in the peace there wasn’t a lot of interaction with the crowd apart from the occasional thank you opting to let the music do the talking. Ava Adore was packed full of feisty and the crowd went off during the big ones Today and Bullet With Butterfly Wings. Of the newer material United States and Spangled were well recognised and there were nods of appreciation.

Unlike last time, Corgan couldn’t help himself by having a few pot shots at his fans. I would have thought after the negative reaction of the last show here he would be a little more respectful to those who forked out ninety bucks for the privilege. To me, this was the real low point of the evening where Corgan went off at his old fans, who obviously didn’t turn out en mass, who are afraid of the future of music and that whilst not dismissive of the past he wasn’t going to be a slave to it. This got quite a few people fired up to the point of yelling abuse back at him especially after being called ‘a bunch of fucking bogans” – charming!

Interestingly enough in a later interaction Corgan proclaimed his love for his girlfriend Jess (who was watching from the sound desk) from The Veronicas who happened to be yawning right at that moment.

Corgan is a smart bloke but his decision to ignore the hits, which is what people want to hear, wasn’t a great one. Sure, play the new stuff but give fans what they want. Tarantula was solid and so to were the likes of Shame and Freak. Some excitement came back in to the set as Tonight, Tonight followed by Cherub Rock followed consecutively. Surely, Corgan in his infinite wisdom must of noticed this, surely!

At this point the band left the stage to return for the encore which consisted of a Fleetwood Mac cover Landslide before closer on Gossamer. Spanning some twenty minutes this was a little lost on me. Great guitar playing but far to long. For the most part The Smashing Pumpkins put on a reasonable show but whether they’ll be back is another question. Kudos to Adelaide favourites The City Riots who played a cracking opening set, well done lads!

Set list
The Fellowship
Lonely is the Name
Today
Astral Planes
Ava Adore
A Song for a Son
Eye
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
United States
Spangled
Stumbleine
Stand Inside Your Love
Tarantula
Shame
Freak
Tonight, Tonight
Cherub Rock

Encore:
Landslide
Gossamer

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.