| Aisha Sweetness 16.06.2005 14:11 |
Just wanted to share with you all that tomorrow night i'm gonna see a man who has inspired me so much. I've loved the Smashing pumpkins ever since i heard gish back when i was a geeky grungy teenager, his lyrics are just so amazing and the energy he gives off on stage is just electric(not as good as Freddie obviously). Last time i seen him was at the pumpkins gig in the Point(venue in dublin)when melancholy came out, God near on 10 years ago that gig had to be stopped half way thro cause the crowd were going crazy and a girl got crushed to death. My friend naimh and i are hopefully gonna get meet and greet passes, she's in a band called "Ham sandwich" and her manager is trying to get them for her wouldn't that be mental... I'm so excited i have to bring my camera. Rant over... does anyone else like Billy? |
| Gunpowder Gelatine 16.06.2005 14:24 |
That's great! I love The Smashing Pumpkins and I think Billy Corgan is so talented and an amazing lyricist. |
| Mr.Jingles 16.06.2005 14:29 |
I had the pleasure of shaking Billy Corgan's hand while the Pumpkins were promoting 'Machina: The Machines of God' back in 2000. They were signing autographs at the HMV store here in NY, so this friend of mine an I were waiting for like 5 or 6 hours hoping to meet 'The Smashing Pumpkins'. We didn't get early enough to see them play a small gig they did at the store, but after freezing our asses outside the store (it was in February), we were almost willing to give up and go home. Then the line started to slowly move and we were getting our hopes back. Finally we were able to have them right in front of us. They were all very nice, especially Melissa the then new hired bassist who replaced D'arcy. One thing that shocked me was that Billy Corgan is so freakin' tall. He looks like a gigantic alien. Anwyays, it was an awesome experience to meet them. |
| doremi 16.06.2005 14:59 |
I heard his new album is supposed to be quite good and he did a duet..with HIS idol Robert Smith of The Cure (who I adore despite Smith dissing Queen, but I LOVE The Cure), on a cover of The Bee Gees, "How Deep Is Your Love". Corgan has also been getting alot of press for his own website/personal diary of his life. It's on link or something like that. He not only talks about a very rough childhood, but holds no bars in being fed up with his fomer bandmates drug use and non professionalism. He seems like a down to earth together guy and talented musician. |
| Wreckage 16.06.2005 18:18 |
I actually had the pleasure of seeing the great man at the Kentish Town Forum last night. However, the pleasure was 'dubious' to say the least. You see, the setlist was made up almost entirely of brand new songs from his forthcoming debut solo album (he also threw in covers of the BeeGees 'To Love Somebody' and AC/DC's 'Its a long way to the top (if you wanna rock and roll)', which I was completely unfamiliar with. Disapointingly, all of the songs (including the covers) were electronic based, and although Billy has composed such 80's derived electro/industrial pop before, I was honestly expecting something more guitar based (I had been informed that his new album would pick up where Zwan left off, which has turned out to be completely untrue). To top it all off, the sound mix was none to great from where I was sitting - the keyboards and synth noises all converged into a single mush, and Billy's vocals were incredibly muffled. (Honestly, I'm getting fed up with crappy sound at gigs - do bands even bother with soundchecks anymore, or are all venues in London cursed with bad acoustics?) So, for an hour and twenty minites, I was listening to songs I didn't know, performed in a style I am not used to, which I couldn't hear properly, so I couldn't even pass an honest judgement on the quality of his new songs. I didn't even recognise the covers until about 3/4 of the way through. Still, the bathroom wall style video/animation screen on stage was impressive. I don't regret going. Billy Corgan remians my all-time hero of Alternative Rock, and I have passed up the opportunity to see him before (with Zwan). And he seems to be in very good spirits right now, which given the trials and traumas of his life so far, (have a look at his life story on his website if you do't believe me), is most pleasing for genine Billy fans. (Although he didn't speak much to the crowd, he was cheerful throughout). Well, Aisha. I hope you have a better time tomorrow night than I did on Wednesday. |
| The Real Wizard 17.06.2005 12:44 |
I saw Zwan two or three years ago, and they were a fun band. Their musicianship was nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed the show... great atmosphere. And - I got one of Jimmy Chamberlain's drum sticks. Billy's new single is crap. |
| Aisha Sweetness 18.06.2005 04:42 |
Wreakage, have to agree with most of what you said the album only came out so no-body knew any of the songs but personally i was impressed with what i heard.The acoustics in the venue(the ambassasor)were excellent and the other guy's in the band were good.All the weird and wonderful instruments that were all covered in this strange metal casing (very HR Geiger) were cool, the girl playing keyboards was HOT( and i'm not that way inclined)!!!Billy was in a very good mood probably cause it was the last gig of the european tour and his voice was on top form, the stage set up was amazing and it really made up for no-one knowing any of the lyrics. During one of the songs he played a little rift from "Today" and everyone went wild but he was only teasing us. I was dissapointed he didn't play anything from pumpkins or zwan but i knew he wouldn't. He was in such great form and the audience were all total fans which was good. I was in the front row and got some excellent photo's and he came close enough the the end and tried to shake hands with anyone who could reach.Although i think he was trying to get to my friend in particullar as he was staring and winking at her all through the gig!!! I did'nt get to meet or greet in the end Supposidly he wasn't doing any (well that's what we got told) but i enjoyed the gig and cant wait to go home and listen to the album. What did you think of the support band Gliss? I quite liked them the way they all swapped instruments so they all got a turn on drums, bass and guitar but the singer sounded like he was having an orgasm all through the set, the way he sang was bizare... xxaishaxx |
| iGSM 18.06.2005 10:54 |
"For a 6-foot-3 guy with no hair and a whiny voice, I've done all right." Heh, I like that quote. |
| Wreckage 19.06.2005 13:20 |
Aisha Sweetness wrote: What did you think of the support band Gliss? I quite liked them the way they all swapped instruments so they all got a turn on drums, bass and guitar but the singer sounded like he was having an orgasm all through the set, the way he sang was bizare... xxaishaxxI quite liked thier sound - good dream-pop/techno rock, reminded me of the Velvet Underground, Joy division and even very early Smashing Pumpkins. The constant instrument swapping was interesting too, don't think I know of any other bands who do that. However, they do not appear to have any strong songs as yet. But what did I care - I was too busy, erm 'admiring' the female member of the group, ahem. (I must, however, disagree with you about Billy's keyboardist - I don't dig girls with tatoos, as a rule). You know, at one point I swore I heard Billy play the riff to 'Drown' but no-one else semmed to notice. To be honest, I think his new songs have a lot of potential - the lyrics were certainly heartfelt and the musicianship was sound throughout. I also noticed a lot of audience members with 'Cure' T-shirts on - hoping for a guest appearance by Robert Smith, perhaps? I agree with you on the stage set, probably the most interesting I've evr seen. The winamp-style visualisations on the screen complemented the music perfectly. I'll probably get 'thefuturembrace' this week, despite all the negative reviews. |
| Aisha Sweetness 20.06.2005 06:15 |
I don't dig girls with tatoos, as a rule). You wouldn't like me then i have 4... xx |
| KEVPAR 20.06.2005 06:23 |
Yeah The Smashing Pumpkins are cool, great band hope u have a good time dude Kev x |