The full podcast panel comes back renewed and revived to talk about the 20th anniversary tour. Next week as promised we will discuss the If All Goes Wrong DVD.

Listen to the whole show (1:11:57)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

Tour Roundup
-Jason saw Black Sunshine and White Crosses in Washington, DC. Does he agree with Jill’s assessment that Black Sunshine was the better show? Does Jill still agree with Jill’s assessment that Black Sunshine was the better show? (7:09)

-Jill journeyed to the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville to see a lot of hits and even more jamming. We talk a lot about encores. (15:49)

In-Depth Discussion:
-Unlike the August tour, the press has been less than kind to the Pumpkins this time around. We delve into why, I express my opinion on I Am One Part II, and we devolve into a formless, 60-minute digression in the middle. (39:37)

This Week in Pumpkins Zwan History
-Zwan makes their debut in Pomona, California. (3:53)

Song of the Week
-Everything is Beautiful, November 18th, 2008

At the end of this podcast, Jason puts himself in the mind of his audience and wonders aloud: “Did I pay for this shit?” He is, of course, mocking you, but that will be very much the consensus opinion of the few hundred bitter, heartbroken fans who will stop their mp3 players as if on a death march. Really, how else are people supposed to feel about a one hour and eleven minute show that mostly emphasizes new topics, generally avoids old classics, and includes at least 40 minutes of formless meandering tangents and artless, self-indulgent discussions?

This week I once again sat down with one member of the usual podcast panel to talk about the 20th anniversary tour.  This week, Jill was nice enough to come on the show and give her impressions of three Smashing Pumpkins shows in three days - the New York Black Sunshine/White Crosses dates and the Atlantic City concert.  Again in the interest of timeliness I did no editing this week, but never fear we should be getting back to our regular schedule very soon, hopefully with a discussion on If All Goes Wrong.

Listen to the whole show (1:19:20)

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Despite plans to the contrary, Jason and I recorded an impromptu podcast this week after what turned out to be quite an eventful weekend for Smashing Pumpkins fans. In an effort to get the podcast out in a timely manner, I did virtually no editing this week, so like a 4-track demo this is the raw podcast, warts and all. If you’re trying to avoid spoilers, be warned that we do talk about some of the songs that were played during both the Columbus and Cleveland shows.

Listen to the whole show (47:54)

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The 20th anniversary tour is about to begin, and on the podcast this week we talked about some of the appetizers from last week.

Listen to the whole show (47:05)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, and Jill

News
-Billy gives us some spoilers about the new tour in the form of horns, violin, and the song Sunkissed.  How will the new instrumentation be integrated into the Pumpkins’ back catalog?  Jason reveals his favorite version of Today, and we identify a perfect song for a Halloween concert. (4:53)

Tour and Promotional Appearance Roundup
-The band plays the Spike Scream Awards.  Was the Pumpkins’ performance worth sitting through the awards?  (1:45)

-The performs a slightly longer set at Jimmy Kimmel live on Friday.  Is this setlist a preview of shows to come? (5:28)

-The infamous Best Buy performance, classic Billy.  Jason talks more about the politics of Zeitgeist as related to As Rome Burns.  Plus, Jill regales us with tales of her childhood. (19:01)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Some clips of banter from Halloween shows past.  Jason breaks down the formula of the Iha joke, and we come up with some Halloween costume ideas for the band. (9:24)

Song of the Week
-Eye, October 31st, 1998

Next week’s show is up in the air, as Jill will be unavailable while Jason and I will be attending one or more shows, but we will try to get you our thoughts on the start of the tour. 

This week we had a special guest join us on the podcast. Paul, the webmaster of SmashingPumpkins.com, came on the show to talk about some upcoming changes to the official website (as shown above!) and offer his tour predictions.

Listen to the whole show (1:16:27)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, and Jill

Special Guest
-Paul

News
-Pumpkins to perform at the Spike Scream Awards. Is this a good move for the band as artists? What’s the most kickass beverage to slam? Plus, a contentious debate on the new shirt: White Spyder or Tarantula? (11:47)

-If All Goes Wrong is coming to a theater near you. Our guest does some name dropping and gives us a scoop straight from the source. (8:15)

-The band is coming to my hometown. It’s not news, but I treat it as such. (2:26)

Interview:
-Paul tells us what’s coming to smashingpumpkins.com, why they’re bringing back the o-board, and what the band’s involvement is in their web presence. However, he gives us no juicy gossip. (34:44)

Tour Predictions:
-Once again we all place our bets on what song that hasn’t been played by the reformed Pumpkins will get debuted over the next few weeks. Will Jason strike it rich again, or will he wager it all on Mastery + Conjecture? Note: At the time this was recorded, Billy had not yet mentioned Sunkissed as a spoiler. (9:01)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is released, and the band plays the infamous Riviera Theater power outage concert. (2:42)

Song of the Week
-Geek U.S.A., October 23rd, 1995

If you have a suggestion for a future guest interview, leave it in the comments.

It was the 20th anniversary of the 1st Smashing Pumpkins concert with all four band members, but we talked about both the old and the new this week.

Listen to the whole show (47:43)
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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-G.L.O.W. debuts on Q101 in Chicago. We discuss our impressions and do some lyrical interpretation. How well will it chart? (9:28)

-A video for G.L.O.W. is announced and filmed. Why do a music video now that TRL is cancelled? Who comes up with Smashing Pumpkins video concepts? Plus, Jason is waiting anxiously for the IKEA ferry, but he makes time to come up with a concept for the video anyway, and we give a shout out to our biggest fan. (8:55)

In-Depth Discussion:
-A columnist for the Washington Post accuses the current incarnation of the Pumpkins of no longer being anti-commercial. Were the Pumpkins ever anti-commercial? (10:05)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Jimmy Chamberlin’s first performance as a Pumpkin on October 5th, 1988. We try to understand the obsession with Spiteface, and Jill gets to meet some attendees of this concert. (12:41)

Song of the Week
-There it Goes, October 5th, 1988

With all of the news that came out last week we did a slightly longer, all-news podcast this week.

Listen to the whole show (1:16:39)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-The Smashing Pumpkins are slated to appear on Jimmy Kimmel live on October 24th.  Do we have any listeners who can stealth a recording for us?  Plus, will the band do the talk show circuit? (4:30)

-The 20th Anniversary Tour dates are announced, and the tour is spec’ed out.  We come to the conclusion that Black Sunshine and White Crosses are a perfect opportunity for crazy costuming, and Jason has an interesting theory on the setlists. (9:52)

-For the first time ever, Smashing Pumpkins soundboard concert downloads will be on sale.  Is this a trial period to gauge interest for releasing older concert recordings?  Will casual concertgoers buy in, or is this sale aimed at the online fans around the world?  Jill suggests that it may also be a shrewd marketing move. (18:38)

-Billy revists the Chicago Songs in an interview, but isn’t planning on releasing them anytime soon.  He still cites a negative response, but is the general response to Billy’s ideas getting more positive?  (22:05)

-The band plans a Q&A on SmashingPumpkins.com, and we chime in with our questions.  Plus, Jason explores possibilities for more concert VIP packages.  (10:11)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Pisces Iscariot is released, and we still don’t know what’s on the cover.  Also, we reveal the riddle that is the Pisces Mystery. (2:30)

Song of the Week
-Starla, November 29th, 2000

Part of this week’s podcast was obsolete before I even started editing it, as we recorded on Sunday before all the official announcements about the 20th anniversary tour.  However, we did touch on some of the early rumors as well as the If All Goes Wrong DVD features and everyone’s favorite cryptic multimedia mash-up: the Machina Mystery.

Listen to the whole show (1:08:24)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-The 20th anniversary tour rumors begin with two dates in Los Angeles.  Is the band playing smaller venues by choice or necessity? (5:45)

-Another since-confirmed rumor: Smashing Pumpkins join the Bridge School Benefit for a third time.  Will we hear an acoustic rendition of G.L.O.W.?  Plus, Andrew tells us how small children react to Marilyn Manson. (4:32)

-The features and setlist of If All Goes Wrong are released, and we’re generally stoked.  Are any of us in the Ghost Children featurette?  Jill expresses her love for The Crying Tree of Mercury. (16:36)

-Billy’s interview in EQ magazine is published online.  Is there a musical genre that the next Pumpkins album won’t be influenced by? (11:41)

In-Depth Discussion
-We take on the Machina Mystery and its reception by the public after the recent series of articles on sp.com on the topic.  Eerie parallels between Machina and Nine Inch Nails’ Year Zero abound. (21:38)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-The Pumpkins appear on Saturday Night Live and show off their acting chops. (3:22)

Song of the Week
-Age of Innocence, October 31st, 1999

One thing we didn’t have time to discuss during our talk of the Machina Mystery: If D’Arcy hadn’t quit and the band went through with the plan to be “in character” throughout the album’s release and tour, would the public’s reaction to the album have been any different?  Feel free to posit your theories in the comments.

This week we took a look at some of Billy’s recent statements about the band and tried to make some sense of them, and we got some breaking news hours before record time that we were able to squeeze into the show.

Listen to the whole show (46:30)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, and Andrew

News
-Amazon.com posts a listing and release date for the Fillmore DVD.  Will it really be 271 minutes long, and if so what kind of content will fill all of that time? (3:43)

-Billy proffers a reclassification of Smashing Pumpkins music: American Gothic.  Is this the musical equivalent of choosing ones own nickname?  Is this an accurate genre for the totality of the Pumpkins’ catalog? (6:44)

-G.L.O.W. is announced as a Guitar Hero: World Tour exclusive (at least at first).  Fans are not outraged, but a certain online music blog is… (5:47)

In-Depth Discussion
-Billy made some comments about the difficulties of straddling the line between the mainstream and the hardcore in terms of songwriting.  Would a song like Mayonaise be appreciated today the same way it was in 1993?  Does Billy intentionally write songs for different audiences? (20:36)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Zwan “officially” dissolves.  Where were we the day the music died? (1:41)

Song of the Week
-Thru the Eyes of Ruby, May 3rd, 1996

Next week we’ll be tackling a topic that is near and dear to all of our hearts: The Machina Mystery!

We had quite a few audio problems with this week’s podcast, notably Jill’s Skype connection had extremely poor quality.  I tried to edit out as much of the noise as I could, but I wanted to make sure that I left it alone where I thought you could make out what she was saying.  As a result, she sometimes sounds slightly digital, but I think you can get the gist of the points that she tries to make.

I am looking into alternatives for the future, but if you have any suggestions let me know.

Listen to the whole show (58:36)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-Billy suggests the possibility of an internet video series chronicling the studio efforts of the Smashing Pumpkins.  Would we want to watch LonelyBilly15?  Would it attract media attention?  Would it divide fans or be a distraction to the band?  Jill suggests the Pumpkins may use it to review their own work, and Jason convinces me that the whole thing might not be a bad idea. (17:06)

Tour Roundup
-As quickly as it started, the August tour comes to a close.  We give our final thoughts on the great shows we got to experience both firsthand and via the magic of the internet.  Plus, Jason sings Tom Sawyer and Jill gives us the Stone Temple Pilots tour roundup. (4:16)

In-Depth Discussion
-Earlier this month, sp.com did a series of articles on the band’s relationship with the fan community.  Was the community accurately represented?  Did the articles achieve their goals of promoting a discourse on reasonable expectations?  We discuss the Pumpkins as artists, and Jason draws parallels between sp.com and HU.  (29:43)

Next Week in Pumpkins History
-Nothing happened this week, but next week in Pumpkins history Machina II was released. (2:28)

Song of the Week
-Transformer, August 17th, 2008

No podcast next week due to Labor Day, check back in a few weeks for episode 20.

We are finally back from our travels and ready to report on the sights and sounds of the August tour.  Billy and Jimmy got interviewed and played six concerts last week, so the least we could do was break down the new shows and analyze the new single. 

Listen to the whole show (1:08:12)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-Billy and Jimmy are interviewed on Mancow’s Morning Madness, and we talk about why Europe gets all the CDs while we get stuck with downloads.  Plus, the on-again/off-again Gish Box Set. (9:25)

Tour Roundup
-In case you missed it, the Smashing Pumpkins played out for the first time since the early days of the podcast.  Those of us who attended talk about the highlights, lowlights, and problems with playing the same setlist every night.  Plus, Jill gets jealous. (26:23)

In-Depth Discussion
-We finally got to hear G.L.O.W., so now we can debate its merits.  Jill has a theory on why the song may be so radio-friendly.  Plus, Ginger’s sleeping habits, and we outline Billy’s continuing love affair with ”come on” as a lyrical turn-of-phrase. (25:11)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Matt Walker joins the band, but more importantly Andrew meets Tim Meadows! (2:13)

Song of the Week
-G.L.O.W., August 12th, 2008

I know that everyone is excited about the tour, but discussion about whether G.L.O.W. will be on the next edition of Jock Rock will have to wait until next week’s podcast, as we took the week off due to travel arrangements. But before we left, Jason took the mic to host a very special episode focusing on analysis of Radiohead and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Listen to the whole show (1:36:43)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

-The differing pressures faced by the two bands. Are the Pumpkins pressured to try new things, or just to rock out? Does Radiohead get a free pass from critics because they play fewer shows? (30:19)

-The frontmen: How do Billy Corgan and Thom Yorke fit the archetype of the “Artist”? Plus, Jill delves into art history. (15:11)

-The fan bases: comparing the outer and inner fan bases of both bands. Plus, why do (some) people hate Billy Corgan? (17:34)

-The music: Jason plans on talking about music but delves into economics and politics. What are Billy’s political views? Andrew does his best impression of an ice cream truck. (26:50)

Song of the Week
-Glynis, October 31st, 1993

We will be back next week with a 100% Smashing Pumpkins-filled episode.

The “An Evening with the Smashing Pumpkins” tour (redux?) is almost upon us, so we got together for one last podcast before the shows begin.

Again, let me know if you’d like to give us your own tour review via email or Skype.

Listen to the whole show (1:18:04)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-Jeff Schroeder is interviewed on sp.com. We talk about Jeff’s fit in the band and his crazy, crazy costumes. (9:15)

-Another lawsuit this week as the podcast edges closer to becoming an episode of Judge Judy. (12:29)

-G.L.O.W. is finished and Billy and Jimmy are no longer writing music for “them”, whoever they may be. Is Billy backing away from slow-selling Zeitgeist? Plus, I invent the word “connotivity” and Jill dishes some celebrity gossip. (24:06)

In-Depth Discussion
-Another fictional $100 challenge: predict the song(s) that will be played on this tour for the first time by the reformed Pumpkins. Andrew and Jason go Gish, while I gamble on the 15th anniversary of Siamese Dream. Meanwhile, Jill is cagey with her inside information and explains how babies love the Smashing Pumpkins. (23:31)

Song of the Week
-Geek U.S.A., April 24th, 1999

Despite my claim at the end of this episode, we will indeed have an episode next week, although we won’t be talking about the tour since we will still be on the road. Instead, we will have a one-off type show to hold you over until we return the following week.

There was so much news yesterday that I didn’t want to muddy the waters with this week’s podcast, so here we are on a Wednesday with our 15th auditory offering.

I anticipate having a podcast next week, but once the tour starts we may miss a week or two as we follow the Pumpkins through small town America on the August tour.

If you make it to one of the shows or head to Davenport early and spot Billy on the streets, let me know if you’d like to answer a few questions via email or Skype.

Listen to the whole show (1:12:09)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

News
-Samsung and AT&T present: this segment of the podcast, in which we discuss the recently-announced Summer Krush traveling corporate roadshow concert addition to the August tour. Plus, Jill joins the Cult of Mac and Jason picks up where we left off last week. (7:21)

-James and D’Arcy sue Virgin for royalties. Will Billy end up becoming involved? (12:56)

-The Beginning is the End is the Beginning has some staying power on the online charts, and a members of Pumpkins management gives some ill-advised comments to Rolling Stone magazine. Jill comes out swinging at his perceived ineptitude. (11:06)

Speculation
-The band heads to the Quad Cities next week to prepare for their Davenport, Iowa concert, and we address rumors of a secret show. Jason plans on growing a scruffy beard just in case. (12:19)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Siamese Dream is released, making the Smashing Pumpkins a household name. Jason does his best to distract Andrew, but we all end up reminiscing about how we got introduced to the album. Plus, I reveal the unlikely Pumpkins song that started it all for me, and we discuss whether Siamese Dream is the best Smashing Pumpkins album. (22:08)

Song of the Week
-Rocket, July 28th, 1993

Thanks for all the feedback and comments last week.

There was lots to talk about this week despite the short time since the last podcast, so we went a bit long, and for the first time since episode 5 we had all four original members of the podcast on to give their opinions on what was a bizarre half-week of news.

Listen to the whole show (1:10:19)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, Jill, and Andrew

Jill responds to our ticket price comments from last week and discusses her new gig at smashingpumpkins.com.  Plus we get a sneak peek at some of her future articles. (10:02)

News
-We go Access Hollywood and discuss Courtney Love and her alleged blogging skills. (5:32)

-The August tour gets some new dates, and we discuss the slow rate of ticket sales.  Plus, Jason hatches a plan to get my grandparents to the Boca Raton show, and Jill is unaware of the musical genius of Lifehouse. (6:09)

-The Beginning is the End is the Beginning shoots to the middle of the iTunes sales charts, was there ever a more unlikely “hit”?  Plus, Jason, who runs a Smashing Pumpkins fan blog, calls Watchmen fans ”dorky”, and Andrew humbly recalls predicting the whole thing. (13:55)

In Depth Discussion: Where do the Pumpkins rank amongst their 1990’s peers?
-VH1 considered the Pumpkins worthy as a promotional tool for their top 100 songs of the 1990’s list, but not as musicians to be included.  What was the most likely Smashing Pumpkins song to be included on the list and where would we place it?  We have a few laughs and ponder the Pumpkins’ place in the 90’s.  Plus, we once again groove to Third Eye Blind, Jill warms up her vocal chords, and Andrew reveals himself as the only hair metal fan on the panel. (26:16)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-The band plays an extended stay at the Fillmore. (1:17)

Song of the Week
-The End is the Beginning is the End, June 28th, 1997

Stay tuned after the credits for some outtakes from our discussion of 1990’s music.

Sorry we are a bit late this week, but I wanted to be sure to get Jason and Andrew on board to talk about the upcoming tour. We will hopefully be back to our regular schedule next week.

Listen to the whole show (1:05:49)

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This week’s topics:

Panelists
-Chris, Jason, and Andrew

News
-The band is looking for Gish photos, and I dig out my box of film negatives from 1987. (2:06)

-It’s not X.Y.U., it’s not Mina Loy (M.O.H.), the new single is G.L.O.W. Jason takes a stab at the abbreviation and we reminisce about past song titles. (3:45)

In Depth Discussion: The Hammond Concert
-Is playing a concert at a casino any less acceptable than playing at a bar or national restaurant conglomerate? (8:50)

-Is playing a show 20 minutes from Chicago proof of some not-so-subtle vendetta Billy has against the Windy City? (6:16)

-The $83 ticket price: designed to lure hardcore fans? Determined by The Venue? Plus, Jason contrasts the Arising tour with Resume the Pose and comes to a not-so-surprising conclusion about which was better. (7:45)

-Despite, or perhaps because of, being the only show announced and on sale, tickets were slow to sell out. Does this spell the end of the band? Plus, Jason thinks we pay too much attention to the fringe crazies, and I’m still out of touch with the youth of today. (12:16)

Concert Review
-Moon; New Haven, CT July 21st, 1991. How does this concert supporting the release of Gish compare to a possible Gish-era tour? Plus, Jason rediscovers his love of music, and I finally start to convince him that the whole Gish-era tour thing is a good idea. (14:53)

This Week in Pumpkins History
-Jonathan Melvoin dies, Jimmy Chamberlin is fired, and the band is never the same again. (5:09)

Song of the Week
-Money, October 31, 1998

We appreciate your feedback and hope to have Jill back on the show very soon.