Concert review - Smashing Pumpkins 1996

 Smashing Pumpkins - Queens Wharf Events Centre, Wellington, 24 May 1996

One fan stated on her way home after this show, that she could die right then and her life would be complete.
The Smashing Pumpkins had left her feeling fulfilled. They certainly lived up to expectations, putting on a stunning performance that seemed to go on forever. They introduced the show with the instrumental "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' from their latest album of the same name. Then the four members of the band came onto the stage and ripped into their songs. Singer Billy Corgan growled his way through "Today" and a backdrop, showing blended patterns and distorted images, lit up behind the stage. They played some favourites 'Disarm', 'Cherub Rock' and the hard-hitting new songs. A highlight was '1979', where guitarist James Iha persuaded the crowd to imagine they were in a discotheque in the 70's instead of a 'sweaty dance hall'. Everyone danced along to what seemed to be the most popular song of the night.
Then Billy Corgan became serious for a minute when he told the crowd about a Wellington woman who had called them and asked them to dedicate a song to her son, who had died a week before the concert. He had committed suicide. She said they were his favourite band. They played 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings' for him.
Security was alarmed when 20 or so desperate fans broke through a fire exit at the back of the events centre and enjoyed half the concert for free. Also, those who tried to take photos of the show were stopped by security and cameras were confiscated.
After several songs, the band left the stage, and the crowd started stomping and chanting 'Pumpkins!' and other various incomprehensible words. James Iha came back on and asked if it was a soccer or rugby chant, he didn't know, because, as he said, he came from "Chicago, the city of basketball and Michael Jordan". Then he played a solo song of his (Blew Away) before the rest of the band joined him for a few more songs. They left and returned to the stage 3 or 4 times to satisfy the noisy crowd. The drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, sat hidden behind his drums for the whole show, and D'arcy, the female bass player, kept quiet aside from some backup vocals. Billy and James kept saying 'Thank-you Wellington" as the fans screamed their enthusiasm. They said goodbye as they left the stage for the final time, leaving fans with the satisfaction that the Smashing Pumpkins had put on a rockin' good concert, and for some, had made their lives complete.