L.A. critics bask in Smashing Pumpkins’ “Black Sunshine”
December 3rd, 2008 by jjbtags: tour, criticism
Below: I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me! (L.A. Times)
Here are excerpts from three wildly similar accounts of last night’s gig at Gibson Amphitheatre.
Steve Appleford of the Los Angeles Times:
During more than two hours onstage, the new Pumpkins did deliver a healthy selection of familiar radio songs while surrounding them with more obscure material that might appeal mainly to the most adventurous and hard-core of fans. An elegant trumpet solo from Stephen Bradley soared during the understated “Once Upon a Time,” a song from the band’s 1998 “Adore” album, which Corgan joked is right when listeners “gave up on us.” …
But what mattered most on Tuesday was that Corgan was in full command of that sound, with as clear a musical vision as ever, a grungy-glammy modern rock artiste as noisy as Sonic Youth, drawing on classic rock guitar heroism. During “Eye,” Corgan’s dreamy, cascading guitar melody glided across some brooding rhythms from drummer (and founding member) Jimmy Chamberlin.
Kevin Bronson of Buzzbands.LA:
A few energetically delivered hits, heavy-metal freakouts, a 16-minute space jam, a theremin sighting, three acoustic numbers, horns-strings-and-keyboards arrangements, sing-alongs and a kazoo-serenaded finale — that’s quite a range. From a purely aesthetic point of view, it was impressive, and entertaining. Absent was the caustic banter between Corgan and the crowd that has characterized some shows on the tour.
Judging from this night, there’s nothing wrong with the Smashing Pumpkins’ tour except its packaging. By calling it an “anniversary” tour, it was weighted with implied nostalgia. “Smashing Pumpkins: Into the Third Decade” — now that would have been more like it.
Ben Wener of the Orange County Register:
It’s worth recounting the past because not once in any of those local shows – not even at good ones like SOMA or the Wiltern, where there were at least flashes of greatness – did Corgan truly live up to potential.
But he did Tuesday at now-Gibson Amphitheatre, in an idiosyncratic yet fully engaging 2½-hour set that found the seemingly contented 41-year-old celebrating his band’s 20th anniversary by bucking nostalgia and roaring like the grunge god he’s always been.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Ben Wener’s review is probably the best I’ve read since the beginning of this tour. Why the hell would he leave his number though?
“drunk regeneracy”
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Wener’s review is great — and I also pretty much sign on to his choices for the historical Corgan-in-concert high points: 1996 (with Jimmy), Zwan, and right now.
Plus, you have to love how Wener calls out other critics in the opening line of his blog on last night’s show: “Billy Corgan, much more contented and roaring on stage than recent reviews would lead you to believe…”
rC: “Jamin adelphia” …the city of brotherly meandering
December 4th, 2008 at 3:33 am
this makes me happy
December 4th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Sooo… East Coast critics hate the Pumpkins. West Coast critics love ‘em.
How predictably cliche.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
about bloomin’ time
December 4th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
absolutely hilarious. i thought tuesday was garbage (in pumpkin show terms). undoubtedly the worst pumpkins show i’ve seen. last night was one of the two or three best pumpkins shows i’ve seen. the longest uninterrupted set i’ve witnessed outside a guided by voices show. the setlist was exceptionally balanced, the timing was brilliant. it was the complete polar opposite of tuesday. how can ending a set with noise, followed by a kazoo encore, be interpreted as anything other than a “fuck you” to the audience? the logic of tuesday’s show escapes me completely.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
seb: i thought tuesday was garbage (in pumpkin show terms). undoubtedly the worst pumpkins show i’ve seen.
Ha! Maybe the West Coasties are just being contrarian in a bid to up their relevance…
rC: “Moondear, enthu-”
December 5th, 2008 at 12:02 am
seb: I couldn’t have said it better! My husband and I left on Tuesday night wondering if we should even show up for the Wednesday show it was so terrible. The positive reviews just blew my mind. I can’t believe that anyone who was there on Tuesday, felt the vibe of the punishingly long Set the Controls followed by sarcasm by Billy and that ridiculous kazoo number could give a positive review. As a long time supportive and die hard fan I felt insulted. I’ve always been very supportive of the “new work”, but this show was the worst ever.
But then Wednesday was AMAZING! I loved every minute of it and it was so beautifully done. I have no idea what to think about the whole thing.