Smashing Pumpkins: Greetings from Chicago
Kevin Bronson on
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Chapter 3 Greetings from Chicago, Part I:
- “Every age has its own complacent failures of intelligence, and we have learned in our own time to laugh at the ‘reasonable’ point of view that was fashionable in the eighteenth century and the moral point of view of the nineteenth century, but it looks as if this new sort of ironic belittlement were likely to become characteristic of our own.” ””Edmund Wilson
It’s been difficult to write these entries amidst the somewhat unenthusiastic press (can we still call it that?) surrounding our current tour. I don’t mean difficult in that I’ve been having trouble coming up with topics ”” difficult in terms of choosing whether to engage it. The negative reactions have been, for the most part, fairly consistent, and with little or no difficulty, one can find these on the Internet or in your local papers (for those of you who still like to do it the old way). I probably shouldn’t read any of them myself, but from time to time, I do.” Some of what I’ve seen is fair and well taken. However, some of the reviews I’ve read seem to have little or nothing to say about the actual music or musicianship, instead tending to focus on tangential issues. I realize I’m not being very specific, but to do so would place me within a system which I want no part of. My focus is to play ”” which, by the way, has been no simple feat the past week as winter colds have ravaged the band.
As I like to do from time to time, I’d like to make a small digression that I hope will help illuminate some of the issues floating around out there. A very short while ago we lost one of the most important voices to emerge within American letters in recent times, the author David Foster Wallace. As most of you probably know, he recently committed suicide in his home in southern California. After the news of his death was reported in the media, a wide range of responses quickly emerged, including articles, essays, blogs, etc.” Since we live in an age where just about every article found on the Internet contains a “comments” section, I was able to read people’s responses to this tragic event, which I was particularly affected by. While most were touching and heartfelt, there were others who used this space to criticize Wallace for taking his own life, his postmodern writing style and his popularity. Reading these comments made me wonder if the commenters didn’t realize that David Foster Wallace was a real human being beyond an author and teacher. It’s not a question of whether people have the right to voice their opinions, but why they would spill vitriol that doesn’t serve any higher purpose.
One of the best tributes to David Foster Wallace was provided by the book critic Michael Silverblatt.” As someone who interviewed Wallace numerous times on his show, “Bookworm,” Silverblatt, rather than speaking for Wallace, replayed portions of these interviews and let the author speak for himself.” In thinking about his own work, his own obsessions, and his role as creative writing teacher, Wallace discussed one of the major themes of his work:” the various cultural forces at work (including language itself) that makes it difficult or impossible to represent or talk about the authentic.” Depending on what side of the postmodern spectrum you find yourself, this can be either a good or bad thing.” Grossly oversimplifying for the sake of brevity, for Wallace, this was most likely a sad thing.
So, this dilemma ”” or crisis in representation ”” is very much part of our current cultural moment, and it’s been around for a while.” Guy Debord wrote about it in the “Society of the Spectacle” in 1967, and it’s had a healthy life since then in numerous disciplines: aesthetics, philosophy, ethnography/anthropology, literary studies, etc. I’m by no means saying he was the first person to highlight this issue, but the particular historical moment he represents is still relevant to us now.” In fact, I don’t see it going away anytime soon.” But we’re still human beings, and we still have emotions no matter how much they are mediated by culturally produced codes.
As a band, I think we go up there every night and attempt to convey some notion of the truth””both as individuals and as a collective. But we’re stuck in this moment too. We’re quite aware of the age in which we live, and I feel our musical choices reflect it.” We’re not outside it either. To think that we are would be extremely naïve.
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Editor’s note: Sample reactions from the Smashing Pumpkins tour: Rolling Stone, Hipsters United, Pitchfork, Fluxblog, Stereogum.
[…] his latest missive for Buzzbands.LA, the Smashing Pumpkins guitarist speaks out regarding the “somewhat unenthusiastic […]
The “critics” are a joke. They’re not listening–I mean that absolutely literally, and without ire. It is fact.
I, however, am listening (I say “I” and not “we” because I don’t know who “we” is). I saw the show at the beginning of the month and am still buzzing; I’m listening to the soundboard recordings and still getting excited.
You ask whether or not you should engage the critics: do not. It’s a false economy, a waste of time and energy. They’re not listening to you, so why should you listen to them?
Thank you for your article. It is sad to read the negative press about the band. I’ve been a fan for many years and always felt a peverse pride in the underdog status of the Pumpkins, but it is sad when your achievements aren’t even recognised at all. As the previous poster mentioned, so many ‘reviews’ seem to be from people who haven’t even attended the shows, which seems a bizaare waste of time to me. I’m not sure where the negativity stems from.
I was lucky to see you play in London last year, it was a thrilling gig, and since that time, following various live bootlegs, the tightness of the band and the ever changing dynamics have just continued to grow. I’m just listening to live recording from the recent 2nd New York show; i wish i’d been there!
I hope one day that the Pumpkins receive the respect that they deserve.
The negativity that is circling around everything these days is completely tiresome.
Excellent blog, Jeff. You’re a really engaging writer.
Hope everyone feels better.
What a crappy view from your hotel room. Who books you into such a room?
I agree with the previous post, Jeff. DO NOT let the critics and fans whose negativity is not constructive or enlightening distract you and the band from your path. Ever since I saw your movie, I have been quite affected by the symbiotic relationship between artist and audience. Reading teh reviews of teh current tour plus a variety of comments, blogs, etc…has been truly disheartening as if something ugly and personal was at hand when an audience participant was confused or just didn;t like a song chice or whatever. I feel that what you are doing is a gift. To return to my hometown of Chicago and give the people a two-night/two-part concert with nearly 50 songs is nothign but a gift. Of course, not everyone will like it (and that’s OK) but I feel that the larger issue of a collective humanit is lost in our current culture. The anger, vitril and venom is not needed. It makes me wonder how you can perform every night in the face of it or how Billy, as bandleader and frontman who has to take all of these hits, can get up there and face a crowd filled with people just seemingly wanting to have their “youtube” moment. Why can some people not try to take in a performance for what it is and be thankful that you are doing it at all? I don’t understand. But, please know not everyone is like this an dmany, many people are rooting for you and are very thankful. I was not able to take in your shows but would love to. Perhaps a different tour. But, know I am very thankful for what you are doing, I am thankful that you, Lisa and Ginger are in this band and I wish you and the band good health and wishes for the remainder of the tour. Just keep pushing forwards!
Very sincerely,
Scott
P.S. I have uncharacteristically written a few comments in a recent Chicago Sun Times blog headlined with Billy’s supposed “outburst” at the audience. If you feel like you woud want to read the comments, check them out. It is amazing how divided people are and I think you can tell who is appreciative and who is not.
Critics mean nothing. Your fans love you and your music, and that’s what matters.
We are not part of the press. We are a group of people who were fans. we saw them tuesday night in chicago sitting in the front row eyeball to eyeball, close enough to look dead in the eyes of lifeless robotic drones. Not a spark of life – how can you hate your well paying job that much????
The main complaints I have read and heard from corgan himself was the old or new songs dilemma that corgan thinks he is faced with but this is not what people were upset about. Being entertained by a nearly lifeless band for the second half of the show doesn’t excite many people. Being entertained with a mockery of kazoo playing, noise and talk sessions that further mocked the audience was over the top and unnecessary. All the reviews of die hards and corgan himself are trying to explain the event as an inability of his old fans to “get” the new alternative music is ALL WRONG. That is insulting as the real deal is that it was the MOCKERY OF MUSIC itself. Next, a mockery of the audience part of corgans trademark. Corgan may have to backpeddle his P.R. stunts because they may not work this time. Blame the economy for the bad reviews if you all need to find an excuse but don’t fall for the excuse of old songs vs new songs….maybe he could of played real songs on real instruments that he knows how to play for the entire show. I have seen many bands work out the conflict of old and new material who have been playing twice as many years as smashing pumpkins.
I know all bands have to sell out before they begin, so what’s new? So did smashing and so will any band who want to make it. (no matter how much they deny it, I worked in the industry) Is corgan so different, so unique that his special niche of fans in his market are so hard to please because he doesn’t want to sell out, the old pumpkins are dead..?? corgan is making too much of it all and so are his marketing people- IT IS JUST NOT THAT COMPLICATED.
Focus on the show for what it was. It was a bad show that didn’t work and even cogan knew it-otherwise why did he change it up for the next night.
I have never in my life of concerts paid to see anything as bad as the show tuesday night in chicago. You could feel it in the air, a looming black cloud of negativity bouncing out from the stage and the look on the band members faces was saying to me that they would rather be anywhere but there. The crowd as they left that night looked like they had just attended a funeral.
Jeff, thank you so much for your blog. I agree with the earlier responses that as easy as it is to get wrapped up in the negativity of what the “critics” and audience does and does not want. However, you and the rest of the band know why you are there and your reasons go way beyond pleasing a sample audience or getting good reviews. I truly honor and respect all that you do and the amount of passion you put in to your music. You are a fantastic musician and I hope that you spend many more years wowing the lovers and haters alike on your journey.
I’m sorry, Jeff. I love Smashing Pumpkins, and David Foster Wallace is cool too. You’re on leave from UCLA, you’re really smart, we get it. The bottom line, though, while a 20th Anniversary show shouldn’t necessarily be a “Greatest Hits” performance, Billy Corgan’s rants at the end of a couple of these sets have been ridiculous. I read a couple reviews and I thought, “Billy seems to have always been eccentric, they probably just don’t get it.” No. No, this is different and it’s simply ridiculous. I went ahead and watched the YouTube videos, and I fail to see, Jeff, what a nine-minute rant and a seven-minute rant (just to name two occasions) have to to with artistic interpretation. Yes, artists express things in strange ways. Many times critics can miss the point. But if you look at the history of Smashing Pumpkins, and the history of Billy Corgan’s relationship with the media (or his fans), it’s clear to see that he is being an asshole. It would be cool if I could punch somebody in the face, then site, say, Hunter S. Thompson’s suicide and go, “he was an artist and you didn’t get it! Look at my art!” I liked Zeitgeist, I liked Superchrist and G.L.O.W., I’m even excited about another album. Billy Corgan is an amazingly creative songwriter. It would be cool if you were on the album too, Jeff. But the fact is, Billy Corgan is being an asshole to his fans, live on a stage, right after they paid a lot of money to see his band perform, and nothing you said really even addresses that (let alone excuses it!)
Jordan. He seemed an asshole to you because it was you he was speaking to. I have been in these crowds since the reformation and I have listened to countless bootlegs/videos of many shows and what I have seen time and again is a band playing you WAY more music than any other band would. Playing WAY better than any other band would night after night with a brutal intensity while a bunch of douches like you stand there with their arms crossed. To be honest I love Corgan’s rants and if it was me on that stage faced with that crowd I’d be a lot less nice about it. I think he has every right to bitch at you people and he’s doing it SO YOU WILL GO AWAY!!! And I hope you all do. He is trying to make you unhappy people stop buying his albums and tickets and t-shirts because he doesn’t want to listen to your negativity anymore. I hope he succeeds soon so that I don’t have you listen to it anymore because all you cross-armed-no-talent-read my mind and give me what I want yesterday because I’m the center of the universe-complaining jerks make me sick. I have yet to see a lifeless Pumpkins at a single show or a single video or bootleg. I hear them rock and you yawn. So go away.
Check it out, I love The Smashing Pumpkins & the fact that they are everchanging! I think it is lame as hell to have a band that never matures, never goes through change, never tries something new, etc… If you are a fan of bands like that, seriously, just f**k off because you don’t deserve the smashing pumpkins art. Try Greenday or Offspring I suppose… LOL. I very much enjoy the new additions to the smashing pumpkins & I admire the opportunity to watch the explosion of the big bang that is forming the new Smashing Pumpkins. This is a very rare opportunity in the modern music industry for the fans. Embrace it, become a part of it, enjoy the ride! I’m very excited to see the Smashing Pumpkins live in KC on Monday & Tuesday, I hope the feel better by then! Peace be with you all…
luke. no one was standing with their arms crossed and no one was yawning either but I can tell you one thing- you are corgans favorite all time fan. No matter what kind of show corgan puts on you will support him without any discriminating thought and you will defend him in a slash against the haters (since the show) like me who says things like “how could you hate your job that much”
Some fans are not as easily fooled.
If corgan doesn’t want us to buy his albums the solution is don’t sell them?? but corgan does sell them because he is a sell out that doesn’t want to admit it because to admit it might mean he has to play some old songs for the old fans. oh how unfair the cold cruel world is…
thanks for complaining about us complaining = ? makes you the superior one since you would never complain apparently you are the fan who would pay to watch billy take a crap on stage. Actually that would of been a better show since I would have been able to “get it”
you are not bright at all. I don’t worship everything that my favorite musicians do. Nor do I think they are perfect. But when they work their asses off I appreciate it. If what they are doing is so far removed that I absolutely hate it….well, they are the artist and it’s their music so I go listen to something else. If you don’t like the music or the shows then it’s simple. Don’t go. Don’t complain. Disappear. Let the people who do enjoy it do so. How bout YOU write some music. How about you try standing on a stage night after night pouring your soul out and having every single move you make criticized by someone. Have one person tell you that show saved their life and ten people tell you that you’re a fucking asshole that hates their guts because you decided to play a kazoo for 10 minutes after rocking faces for three hours and try to reconcile that. He’s an artist and whether he’s pissy or not an artist expresses themselves and let’s those who like enjoy it with him and tell those who don’t to fuck off. That’s art. But that is not what we have been told in America. We want to go to Burger King and order our art off the value menu and then scream at the guy at the drivethru because he put one track on the album that we didn’t like. So go listen to some Greenday.
First, thank you for sharing your thoughts because it really brings the music to another level when you can get into the whole psychology of the band. Plus I actually learn something. I’ve never read Wallace (mostly since I’m catching up on early 20th century novels) but I also am really confused about all this strange negativity about the shows although in a way it was pre-destined being the way the Pumpkins have always been viewed by opinions formed in mass. What really disappointed me about the shows I saw in New York was not the music but rather that the audience was so close minded to listening to the music. It really ruined a perfectly good two shows ( song for a son is great by the way) . The show I saw at the 9:30 club last summer was the best Pumpkins concert I’ve been to and it was my 4th. The whole band seems so much more complete and at ease at playing as a group. The music is played well, there is no regurgitation of the albums, and there is a mix of new stuff which isn’t available. These are my dream concerts. Minimal radio hits. Epic music that I can just close my eyes to and be taken someplace else to . In a way it might have been better calling the band a different name and playing Pumpkins songs anyway.
Thanks again and I have to say after seeing you play you really a good guitarist and just like the new songs, I don’t think you are getting credit for what you are adding to the music and the band.
Peas
P.S.
The really annoying things is that instead of just leaving a show that one doesn’t like, or sitting through it and then writing a critical review, people talked through songs and booed. There was a complete lack of respect for other people who may be enjoying the show as well as the performers. Instead of saying, hey this band isn’t for me anymore, people made a fuss. This is weird to me. I don’t like Modest Mouse’s new albums so I wouldn’t go to a concert of theirs now but if I was there I wouldn’t boo at the new songs just because I want to hear songs from 10 years ago.
thank you luke for making my point: working your ass off and pouring out your heart and soul…using your criteria for a good show then I would say again that corgan failed FAILED. There was no heart and soul as there was the darkest, blackest meanest spirit who laughed and mocked all of us even on one of his old songs…really weird.
We never booed or yelled anything rude an actually we didn’t hear anyone else who did that was close to us.
and luke we are bright. We own a business and I have a masters degree in business, worked in the music industry early in my career and understand the business parts of it better than most. I have no interest in going on stage but I have shared poems and such and know it is tough which is why I smiled when I really wanted to cry during his speaking, comedy routine. It wasn’t funny since I felt he mocked the purchase of our tickets. Since we own a business-we are trying to understand if this is some big publicity stunt. We are angry but also amused and wonder if this stuff works-give a shit performance and then give a good one and then all the fans fight with each other to find out who is the better fan. We just want to understand it better. Corgan himself thought it was a shit show since why was he so much better (supposedly) the next night when he was feeling sick?
We just didn’t appreciate being part of his experiments or whatever.
and brains, luke, you say if you don’t like the show it’s simple don’t go….
we found out we didn’t like the show while we were sitting there. now what-we were absolutely polite, we would never ruin anyones good time and and when we got home, as consumers, we feel we owe it to anyone who wants to know that it was a horrible show to protect each other from the crap like we saw tuesday night. That’s fair isn’t it???
As for greenday, I am the same age as corgan and I started out listening to black sabbath at 12 and bought every album and liked them all, such a die hard and I love nine inch nails…so hardly greenday. Went through the heavy metal hey day and never grew up…..
Jeff, you’re an incredible writer and guitarist. You are a gift to the Pumpkins and I hope you can contribute to the next album. For myself, there is no looking back at the history because it is the past. You are a part of the band’s future in my eyes.
Billy has always been eccentric, and maybe he is getting more so. IDK. Frankly, I don’t care. He went off at the show my buddy and I went to and we enjoyed it. The quality of the music is there also. Being a Pumpkinhead is a mentality. As long as the band stays true and keeps performing well, I’ll remain a Pumpkinhead no matter what others say!
I totally see billy’s point. He’s just had enough of the critics and “fans” ganging up on him. Every one has been so vocal about this sucks or that sucks. If you didn’t like the show don’t go to the next one or get your money back. For example,i like radiohead too but didn’t really like in rainbow’s i didn’t bash the band online,i just didn’t buy the record and kept my opinion private.
Part of the problem with the internet is everyone starts to get a sense of entitlement and automatically thinks they have some type of ownership of anything they set their eyes on. I think it’s cool that every show has been different every night. I went to the CT show and i had a great time. i really liked gossamer and hope they put it on the next record.
And what i think billy meant by “i don’t know what the fuck you want from us” is that you ask five people and they’ll say the show should have had songs from gish,or where’s such and such from siamese dream or etc.. and i think it would frustrate the hell out of me too. And i’m not a blind fan,were there some things he said in the above links i didn’t agree with? of course but i’m not delusional to think i have some kind of entitlement or ownership of the band because i brought the records and the ticket. I’m just grateful he decided to bring the band back at all.
People begged and pleaded for the pumpkins to return and when they come back they’re crapped on? that’s not fair. It’s not fair to billy or jimmy and it’s certainly not fair to ginger, jeff or lisa.
As a long time fan of the band you’re currently playing in, I have to say that you should probably get used to the negative attention. Billy’s never really been about pleasing the audience, and as such, those that view music’s sole purpose as a commercial endeavor, or as some means to entertain, will always be frustrated with him. He’s always been about pushing some sort of metaphoric envelope and takes what he does very seriously, as a true artist should. These people bitching about the lack of “hits” don’t care about the band being a creative outlet; they only want some sort of nostalgic fulfillment. If you guys were to fulfill that need, well, who would really give a shit? The band would then get panned for being no longer vital and for cashing in. The irony is a bit nauseating. No sense in arguing, as it will lead nowhere. These people calling the recent string of shows “horrible” are ridiculous. I’ve seen the setlists and to me it sounds like solid gold. My personal favorite musical moment was catching the Pumpkins in Pensacola, Florida, where they closed the show with a 45 minute long noise jam that somewhat resembled Silverfuck. I can only imagine what the current press would have written about it now, but for me, it encapsulated everything about the band that I loved… Oh, and having just watched “If All Goes Wrong” recently, I have to say that what you, Ginger and Lisa have gone through as new members of this band… you are a much stronger man and musician that I could ever be. Keep it up. You make James look like a douchebag. Also- nice to read a blog written by someone who can actually write.
You know, for me, I’m really not commenting on the music. I really like the new Pumpkins material. And like I said earlier, I don’t think that the Pumpkins should be required to play a bunch of their hits. Billy Corgan obviously reformed the band to continue making music, not to rehash the songs that made him famous. I respect that immensely. Even if I didn’t like the new stuff, which I do, I would still respect the direction Billy is taking the band. Half of the band didn’t want to re-join? That shouldn’t stop Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin from making music under the Smashing Pumpkins moniker. As I also stated previously, I think the new members are wonderful, most notably Jeff Schroeder. He is a unique guitarist; though Billy seems to do a lot of writing independently, I am really excited, as a follower of the Pumpkins, at the prospect of Jeff contributing to future material. That could be very interesting! What I was addressing specifically was Billy Corgan’s recent onstage rants. In one particular clip, a man said he payed $300 for his ticket. I don’t know if that’s true or not, and he said he was happy to be there, but if I paid even $50 for that ticket, and enjoyed the show immensely (and I actually think I would have, based on what I’ve heard) I still would have been offended, or, at least annoyed, by Corgan’s antics. It was ridiculous. I pay to come see you play a show, and you insult me. Luke’s claim that Corgan was talking to fans like me seems silly, as I did not reference how I felt about the shows or the new stuff any more than when I said I liked the new material. I don’t know where this “go listen to Green Day!” kind of stuff comes from, it’s like you’re cheering for your favorite football team or something. This has nothing to do with the quality of music. I don’t think I have heard too much from Smashing Pumpkins that I didn’t enjoy or at least respect based on artistic merit. While I also don’t like the other side’s idea that Corgan & Co are in this simply for monetary gain, I do agree that anybody making music for a living must enjoy what appears to be blind, silly and unequivocal loyalty simply for the sake of being loyal. It’s easy: Thank you for the great music, but whether you’re on your way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or you’re a little-known Indie band, I felt that Billy Corgan’s level of shit-talking was ridiculous and unnecessary. I hope it stops.
I am very sorry to hear about the bad press.
I saw you guys in Atlantic City, and it was amazing.
People are just stuck inside of their own heads, and only accept or work around what they want and block everything else away. Billy’s right… People need to appreciate the music around the hits, and every one of those songs, are just as important as the rest. And the new songs are very very good, also.
I am also sorry about your loss, everyones loss. He will never be completely gone, for memory remains, as long as it’s held onto.
Just keep your head up high, through the mockery of some “fans” there are real fans out there, including myself. Keep well, have fun, and enjoy every show. Also regards to Billy, I hope he gets well soon.
=]
Greetings Jeff,
Let me start off by saying what a great direction the band is headed in with this new line up that some, or many, people refuse to accept. I cannot say that I know how you feel, becuase I don’t. With that said do not let the attitudes of people clinging on to the past and not wanting to grow up affect how you view all of the SP fans, there are still many good ones who will be there though thick and thin, hate and love as I have.
If only people would look at the good instead of the bad, then the world would be a much better place, not just at face value, but at the core as well. So, to any who have complaints and nothing good to say, shut up please, you are mentally, physically and emotionally draining to individuals as well as all of mankind. Keep on doing what you are doing Jeff, stay focused on the light at the end of the tunnel (though it may seem very dim and non-existent at times), and I look forward to many great concerts and musical experiences with you and the rest of the band.
It must be hard for you guys when you read a negative review that has no bearing (or truth for that matter) on the actual music being played.
I don’t get much of a chance to see bands play (due to location) but I was thoroughly impressed when I did catch you earlier in the year and was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the set list on the “if all goes wrong” DVD.
All band members are doing a great job (on that note the band members are usually the main topic of reviews for some lame reason) and I thought the ”˜new’ songs were awesome.
It’s easy to say but I reckon you guys have plenty of positive things been said as well (especially from fans).
I suppose Pollock, Hendrix, Phillip k. Dick, and other revolutionaries in art and music were all received in much the same way at some point. Just ignore it and stay focused on pushing the envelope. The world needs bands like the Pumpkins right now, there are no other influential bands out there. There is so much you guys can do with your fame, use it as a forum to bash bad music, corporate greed, political injustices, and the environental problems we are facing. Focus on that instead of the bad press, most people do not have the power or the voice that you guys have, use it and change the world, fuck the nay Sayers. In 20 years the Pumpkins will get their accolades, it’s just going to be a bumpy road till then.
I saw you in Atlantic City and Uncasville. I was floored at both shows. The band made my year. I loved that at both shows there was a great mix of new, old, acoustic, and heavy. By the way, I absolutely LOVE Gossamer. I didn’t read any reviews for Connecticut but the A.C. review that I read disgusted me. Unfortunately we live in a world where negativity sells better than sunshine. My only disappointment at the shows has been the fans. At the Mohegan Sun people were walking around like they were watching a hockey game. It seems like we are faced with people like that in every aspect of our lives though. We were the only ones standing in our section. I only hope the Pumpkins can forgive those fans and know that there are REAL fans out there! Keep rocking! You amaze me!
Mad respect to jeff. Bring back that “TOAD DISTORTION”! =)
I had this to say on a recent criticism of the 2nd new york show, with the guy who went on stage and hurled out some less than flattering and unintelligent feedback.
“This guy is obviously just looking for some attention, If you don’t appreciate the music MAN, Don’t go see them for 2 nights in a row MAN. I would have killed to see that set and I know other real fans would have as well. How bout getting a fucking attention span and actually listening to the 20 minute songs instead of taking a break to go light up your bowl, MAN!! These kind of New Yorkers think that thier opinions are the only thing that matter in the entire fucking universe, If you wanna hear some 3 minute hit from the 90’s, turn on the radio for an hour, The pumpkins work hard to make their sets new and entertaining, and do the best to show their full musical talent and ability and pricks like this guy, who’s criticism consisted of “Last nights show fucken sucked, MAN,” and other drunken babbles, don’t mean shit to the thousands of real pumpkins fans who will follow Billy to the grave no matter how long he decides to make his songs. I know James and D’arcy aren’t there and that sucks. but if you can’t handle the new band then that’s tough, I’ve seen them twice already and I’m seeing them again in a few weeks, and I can tell you that they are as good as they ever were and if your truly a fan, and appreciate some real, heartfelt music, then it’s a great experience”
I was pretty upset at the time, specifically because of the enormous picture of Billy with the word “Fail” underservingly placed in bold letters in the middle of it, but this kind of criticism and abusive feedback is enough to have me worried that, though I know the band has been through harder times, that it might discourage you from putting on some of the greatest musical performances that fans that eat and breath for you, and love you so much that we feel every pain, every harsh word said, and every criticism thats thrown at you, will ever get the honor of experiencing. So much that a nearly 20 year old dude such as myself is naive enough to think that his cheesy “Almost famous” sounding rant about undying love for a band might actually be seen by anyone involved with the band and give them some encouragement, but I beg of you, Billy, Jimmy, Jeff, Ginger, Lisa, and company, play your hearts out and do what you love and take all this negative energy from critics and compare it to the energy of the thousands of eternaly devoted fans that will follow you in whichever direction you choose to go. For to us “obsession” is a word that doesn’t even begin to describe how deeply we feel about your music.
My husband and I were die hard fans before the show. we don’t own all there cds and we wanted to hear their latest music. We thought the new music was overplayed, the old music was played in a mocking way, short, singalong way, like corgan didn’t want to play it all kind of way. corgans voice was not distinct enough when singing, very muddled but when talking I could hear very well. I don’t know if it depended on where you sat?? We were front row just off center in front of the bass on tues in chicago. less than 1/2 way through it fizzled I think everyone noticed because the applause weren’t as loud, it was kind of strange and I have a hard time blaming the audience for it because if you went to any other performances of any type of entertainment you would not blame the audience for a bad performance. Then when the kazoo part came after cogans comedy routine it was too much and that completely deflated the crowd. Since there was no encore it was like leaving a funeral and it wasn’t just us at all almost everyone walked out shocked, bummed, quiet, shuffling…that’s the best I can describe. I don’t think its abusive to post my observations and opinions. I think its amazing to know instantly, right after the show what everyone thought and it helps everyone choose their entertainment wisely. I review everything on the internet and sadly I was such a die hard that I never thought to review smashings show before buying the tickets. If I had I probably would have gone but sat further back. In smashings defense I think that if I hadn’t overpaid maybe I wouldn’t be as critical. Also if I had sat farther back I may have missed a lot of mockery and gestures and the bored lifeless look on the bassist in front of us. corgan also appeared rather dull when he was playing the drums and rubbing his guitar on them. It was weak and the four of us felt the same way after the show and two left the show early and waited in the entrance for us and he had seen smashing in concert before…??
Jeff,
As a fan who attended the 11/21/08 show, I would like to offer some constructive criticism.
First, the music Rocked! It great set list with a good mix of old and new material. Billy’s voice sounded better than any of his live performances I’ve heard. Jimmy, Ginger, Lisa, yourself Jeff, and everyone else did a great job. Before the show started, I said to my friend, “my wish for this show I to hear some Hendrix… the Star Spangled Banner would be the ultimate”. And you did! and It ROCKED!
What I found unusual about the show was the interaction of the band with the audience. People who attend a live concert, are there because they want to feel a connection and interact with the artists.
When Billy played the first two songs with his back to the audience, even though sonically it was perfect, it was hard to get engaged with the show. Granted I’m sure there was a good reason why he had to tweak his amp half a dozen times during those songs.
It is difficult to feel connected when the lead singer first criticizes the audience for not clapping/cheering enough, makes a comment about how they are about to play an old favorite ‘so you better sing along’ , and finally toward the end of the show calls out some random guy for having his arms crossed.
Billy said in an interview that what he thought the audience: ” they want to see us enjoying out trip [on stage]”. Yes!
I want to see you and the band enjoying yourselves, interacting with each other and the audience. How about a guitar battle between Billy and Jeff? How about opening with a greatest hit to get the crowd fired up, then saying, “We are going to play some new stuff now, don’t worry we will play something else soon for those of you who only know us though our studio albums or that one overplayed song on the radio”. And if you have a new song you are really proud of, tell us about it… “This next song, kinda takes us back to our roots. When Jimmy and I first started playing together, we would jam for hours and freestyle until we got it right. We like to have a little fun with this next one, hope you enjoy Transformer…”.
Finally, come to grips with playing the old tunes. The band U2 is still making new music and yet not a concert goes by that they don’t play ‘Bloody Sunday’,’Where The Streets Have No Name’, ‘One’ etc. They have been playing ‘Bloody Sunday’ for 25 years! Plus they don’t just play the classics, they milk them and use them to work the crowd. They don’t make an entire concert out of old material – and neither should you. We (the audience) realize you can’t play everything and that some will leave disappointed for not hearing their favorite song.
Think of a concert as a time to bridge the past with the future of the band. Bring the audience up to speed with a few classics/hits then show us where the band is going with new material.
A great highlight of the 11/21/08 Chicago show, was the crowd shouting along with the lyrics ‘city by the lake’, and virtually the entire songs for Mayonnaise and Bullet. That was awesome. Revel in it. The audience connected to the band and vice versa.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for new material. In fact, ‘That’s the Way’, ‘Doomsday Clock’ are some of your best works bar none.
Overall a great crowd that night and performance from the band.
Sorry to hear Billy and other band members have been sick. Get well soon.
-Yancy
I often wonder about these “critics”… do they write the reviews before the show have even begun?? For someone to say the shows are bad is ridiculous. I saw both Boston shows and they were nothing short of amazing. The band sounded great, the energy was great, and the setlists were great. There is nothing bad to be said. The new material was a real treat. I love the fact that new material was played live!! Keep playing, please!! Don’t listen to the so-called critics that have no clue what good music sounds like. You have an audience that loves what SP does, and can’t get enough!!
xoxo
[…] Tour causing even the band’s new guitar player to make note of the negative reviews on his blog buzzbands.la/2008/11/21/smashing-pumpkins-greetings-from-chicago. “It’s been difficult to write these entries amidst the somewhat unenthusiastic press (can we […]
[…] The press has not been kind to The Smashing Pumpkins during their recent 20th Anniversary Tour, causing even the band’s new guitar player, Jeff Schroeder, to make note of the negative reviews on his blog. […]