The Smashing Pumpkins are (mostly) back, and frontman Billy Corgan — flanked by longtime members James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and Jeff Schroeder plus new bassist Jack Bates and multi-instrumentalist Katie Cole — spent three hours with 8,000 Tampa fans and showed that there’s still plenty of life within the ranks of one of the '90s’ most iconic bands. Here’s an excerpt from our review:
In a way, the Pumpkins’ Wednesday night set in Tampa embodied that fade, too. Seeing just 8,000 fans in the building felt a little underwhelming, especially since the band put on such a robust show. In what felt like a symbolic move, most of the set’s backline (including keys manned by stellar multi-instrumentalist Katie Cole) was pulled away as the Pumpkins introduced the searing opening instrumental of Siamese Dream track “Hummer” which eventually bled into a poignant take on “Today.” That sing-along unfolded into a full arena freakout on a still-angsty “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” where Corgan, Iha and Schroeder once again joyously sounded like a band letting it rip in a basement practice session.
See more photos and read the rest of our review here, then listen to a playlist featuring songs from the show below.
