Smashing Pumpkins -New Music

UrbanSprawl

S.M.B. wrote: »

I had never heard of Myrkur before but that song is pretty damn good. I also can't think of anything worse than attending a Nightwish concert.

I am now more tempted to go see Myrkur's own London date in December than the forthcoming SP gig.

So any decision SMB?

collie0708

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

I haven't being to London in years and not familiar with this area..its a tube trip from Heathrow to Greenford is all I know at the moment.I'm sure there is a local haunt were fans will assemble before the gig.

I’ve heard good things about the green man pub which is nearby when there is s match on. Never been myself and not sure would it get a crowd for a gig.

UrbanSprawl

collie0708 wrote: »

I’ve heard good things about the green man pub which is nearby when there is s match on. Never been myself and not sure would it get a crowd for a gig.

34 bars in the place itself:eek:

collie0708

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

34 bars in the place itself:eek:

Looks like we have a few options so 😂

UrbanSprawl

collie0708 wrote: »

Looks like we have a few options so 😂

Ah will suss it out before the gig .
Just reading the price would be on the expensive side in those bars ,bound to a be few cool bars before heading there.
I will post my no on gigonometry so all welcome to sign up ,you already did Colin ..hopefully a few more might sign up as well and take it from there.

Wrongway1985

Maybe somewhat surprising but I can tell ye unfortunately there actually isn't any what you'd call "cool" bars in the surrounding area

Better options would require a tube ride imo, Baker street which is about 15 mins away is probably the closest for such.

The gig isn't in the stadium so you don't have access to those 34 bars

Theres a shopping district in the vicinity with a bunch of eateries and such, bars are all the kind set up to flog you grub, TGI Fridays, etc tbh you're nearly as well off drinking in the bar of one of nearby hotels like the Ibis or the Green Man.

If it was for something in the stadium the best option is honestly bag of cans outside Sainsburys and chat with other fans, I've not seen that been done for any of the shows I attended at the arena though so wasn't an option for me to attempt to do so on me own. :pac:

S.M.B.

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

So any decision SMB?

Still undecided. Was hoping to pick up a cheap ticket but I see they're operating a strict ticket purchaser ID policy. Will take a closer look tomorrow.

UrbanSprawl

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

Maybe somewhat surprising but I can tell ye unfortunately there actually isn't any what you'd call "cool" bars in the surrounding area

Better options would require a tube ride imo, Baker street which is about 15 mins away is probably the closest for such.

The gig isn't in the stadium so you don't have access to those 34 bars

Theres a shopping district in the vicinity with a bunch of eateries and such, bars are all the kind set up to flog you grub, TGI Fridays, etc tbh you're nearly as well off drinking in the bar of one of nearby hotels like the Ibis or the Green Man.

If it was for something in the stadium the best option is honestly bag of cans outside Sainsburys and chat with other fans, I've not seen that been done for any of the shows I attended at the arena though so wasn't an option for me to attempt to do so on me own. :pac:

I'm in greenford now ,going through southall on the bus was an experience,very multicultural area,I would say you are correct,cool indie bars probably few and far between around here.Are u gonna be around yourself?

Wrongway1985

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

Are u gonna be around yourself?

I'm going to try be I've yet to fly across all going aiming to be out there before 5 and have to get ticket off friend too.

UrbanSprawl

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

I'm going to try be I've yet to fly across all going aiming to be out there before 5 and have to get ticket off friend too.

Cool sure give a shout when u sorted.

Wrongway1985

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

Cool sure give a shout when u sorted.

PM'd

S.M.B.

Enjoy guys!!!

UrbanSprawl

As per expected really ..will never ever go to a gig in wembley again though.

S.M.B.

Why so? I've never been myself.

UrbanSprawl

34 bars? Could have done with 134,spent more time queing for beer than watching the gig!
Also no smoking anywhere on the premises unless you are the guy billowing clouds of cannabis smoke over the crowd.So obvious and yet no -one stopped him.This is unfair to smokers,yes there are still some, to expect people not to smoke for what was a 4 hour gig.
The gig itself well the backdrops were visually stunning especially mayonnaise which would be my highlight of the show. No moshing that I could see cos they didn't wind up the crowd.A fast song like zero would invariably be followed by something slower so not really building any momentum
Overall yes glad to have finally seen my 90's alt heroes but I consider this their swansong. I doubt their new album will appeal very much to me.As someone else stated here it's hard to see Billy as a serious angst ridden artist these days and that is what made them great ,back in the day.

UrbanSprawl

Collie,Wrongway any comments on the gig?

Wrongway1985

Ya frustration on venue understandable staff could do with some retraining me thinks and the area does be lacking for places to go for a post gig conversation. Saw the printed setlist online and ya curfew also robbed us of 2 songs too.

For taking in the show itself it did the job, sound was super, Zero-Everlasting gaze-Stand inside was quite the highpoint for me personally but obviously a rake of the hits and classics throughout with odds/covers thrown in for good measure.

The no smoking thing was in the same boat there dunno what happened there as they used to allow for it, not just smokers but venue was warmish I felt to not have an option for a breather in a place for 4+ hours isn't kind,people paid a chunk of change to be there.

Backdrops during the show were indeed impressive during some felt a lot going on with also watching the band on stage was a challenge to take it all in, not sure how many times Billy changed costume either

Mayonnaise-Porcelina backdrops were particularly great, the features dropping down for Tonight,Tonight was to good effect too.

They really do have quite the catalog wouldn't have said no to Bodies,Perfect etc getting an outing.

UrbanSprawl

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

Ya frustration on venue understandable staff could do with some retraining me thinks and the area does be lacking for places to go for a post gig conversation. Saw the printed setlist online and ya curfew also robbed us of 2 songs too.

For taking in the show itself it did the job, sound was super, Zero-Everlasting gaze-Stand inside was quite the highpoint for me personally but obviously a rake of the hits and classics throughout with odds/covers thrown in for good measure.

The no smoking thing was in the same boat there dunno what happened there as they used to allow for it, not just smokers but venue was warmish I felt to not have an option for a breather in a place for 4+ hours isn't kind,people paid a chunk of change to be there.

Backdrops during the show were indeed impressive during some felt a lot going on with also watching the band on stage was a challenge to take it all in, not sure how many times Billy changed costume either

Mayonnaise-Porcelina backdrops were particularly great, the features dropping down for Tonight,Tonight was to good effect too.

They really do have quite the catalog wouldn't have said no to Bodies,Perfect etc getting an outing.

Can't understand why they would be doing covers either,space oddity is an ok song but as you say they are not stuck for tunes.Apart from Landslide would almost consider that a pumpkins song.

Wrongway1985

Ya I mean they were good renditions an all but had a who really needs them about them, Climbing the stairs during Space Oddity looked cool though. Landslide with Myrkur was easily the pick of the bunch. No idea what that ending cover was all about bizarre but that's probably the idea.

Actually saw Billy had a solo gig in Milan cancelled tonight.

UrbanSprawl

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

Ya I mean they were good renditions an all but had a who really needs them about them, Climbing the stairs during Space Oddity looked cool though. Landslide with Myrkur was easily the pick of the bunch. No idea what that ending cover was all about bizarre but that's probably the idea.

Actually saw Billy had a solo gig in Milan cancelled tonight.

Probably wrecked after that epic performance in London ..Bologna is scheduled to proceed

We regret to inform you that due to health issues, WPC has cancelled his Milan show on Oct 17. Those who purchased tickets will be refunded. He fully expects to be back to good health for the Bologna show on Thursday Oct18.

UrbanSprawl

Looks like the Bologna fans are getting their show tonight,so nothing to serious hopefully.
Perhaps I was a little harsh,will wait for the album before rushing to condemn.
Apologies that couldn't meet you Collie.First I got a cab and rush hour traffic took alot longer than expected to get to the stadium ,then queing to get in,then inside I couldn't text you but could txt Wrongway.Kept getting not delivered.
And then sure no where open post gig we could find. I just called it a night at that stage.
And another thing golden circle me hole,we were standing.Not sure why I thought it was something with a more elevated status than that.
I also did also sneak a smoke in the jacks...there is always a way

collie0708

I had a great time, the show was really good much better than I expected.....

I ended up in the amazon prime lounge which meant no queuing up for beers which was a great.

Sorry I missed meeting up think my phone was having isssues

UrbanSprawl

collie0708 wrote: »

I had a great time, the show was really good much better than I expected.....

I ended up in the amazon prime lounge which meant no queuing up for beers which was a great.

Sorry I missed meeting up think my phone was having isssues

Where was that then?
I really wouldn't fancy going to Wembley to see a band again,be grand for a footie match but not for a band. Damn expensive as well paying 6.80 for a beer.
Still they are great band and its a great show,artistic imagery.
There was an image of a woman and her hand started moving very slowly around the drummers head must try to find it on youtube.

collie0708

UrbanSprawl wrote: »

Where was that then?
I really wouldn't fancy going to Wembley to see a band again,be grand for a footie match but not for a band. Damn expensive as well paying 6.80 for a beer.
Still they are great band and its a great show,artistic imagery.
There was an image of a woman and her hand started moving very slowly around the drummers head must try to find it on youtube.

The amazon lounge was to the left of the stage behind the line of the security barrier it had a good view but the main advantage was that they had plenty bar staff on.

Definatly the most expensive gig I have ever been to, ok for a once off but can’t see myself going to Wembley arena again myself.

Thought the set list was great but don’t get why they played the theme song from dumbo at the end of what billy had on his head😂

UrbanSprawl

collie0708 wrote: »

The amazon lounge was to the left of the stage behind the line of the security barrier it had a good view but the main advantage was that they had plenty bar staff on.

Definatly the most expensive gig I have ever been to, ok for a once off but can’t see myself going to Wembley arena again myself.

Thought the set list was great but don’t get why they played the theme song from dumbo at the end of what billy had on his head😂

Doesn't ring a bell is there a video of it? Youtube is choc a block with footage of the gig.

RicketyCricket

Really enjoyed the gig. Got in just in time before Pumpkins started. The queues outside for every entrance and ticket collection were crazy. Only had one beer at the gig. Had a few beforehand and wanted to remember the show. The covers were fine but can't understand why a band with such an extensive catalogue of songs need to do covers. We didnt get Muzzle or Solara as they ran out of time. Standout tracks were Hummer, Soma, Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans, Thirty-Three and The Everlasting Gaze. New song Silvery Sometimes sounded great again. If they do ever come back, I'll be going again.

UrbanSprawl

RicketyCricket wrote: »

Really enjoyed the gig. Got in just in time before Pumpkins started. The queues outside for every entrance and ticket collection were crazy. Only had one beer at the gig. Had a few beforehand and wanted to remember the show. The covers were fine but can't understand why a band with such an extensive catalogue of songs need to do covers. We didnt get Muzzle or Solara as they ran out of time. Standout tracks were Hummer, Soma, Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans, Thirty-Three and The Everlasting Gaze. New song Silvery Sometimes sounded great again. If they do ever come back, I'll be going again.

Silvery Sometimes is muck its an 1979 wanna be ,anyway SP are neither alt or indie these days .. music does move along
idles are the most cutting edge band of the moment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrM5y-iCNiE

eviltimeban

Yes there's also an SP thread in rock and metal.

Just saw Q gave the new album four stars. I doubt it'll be a four star "album". Q rarely give albums less than 3 stars anyway.

RicketyCricket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIUi0K9FIOQ

New song Knights Of Malta released the other day. Pretty ****e imo.

eviltimeban

^ Agreed. I listened to it once and went for a second listen but couldn't get over the half way mark. Shame.

Very hard to get past that vocal part at 41 seconds... awful.

UrbanSprawl

1,752 views on youtube for that song,says it all really.Does not bode well for this new album.The tracks released to date with the exception of solara have being poor.

eviltimeban

I've heard the whole album, and it's not bad! Even veering towards pretty good!

There's one track called Marchin' On which is an old style rocker, sounds very 1995, with old style Billy vocals. Best thing they've done in years.

With Sympathy is another nice one, quite reminiscent of Try Try Try. Has James on backing vox.

Seek and You Shall Destroy sounds a bit like Metallica, and strangely the dry production works for these rock songs.

Overall the tracks have more of a Machina vibe than anything else. Better than Monuments as it sounds more cohesive, even though stylistically the songs are all quite different. The other songs put the three released into context (though Knights of Malta is still really weird).

It's a pity there's only 8 tracks, but as a mini-album or extended EP it works quite well. Hopefully they do Part 2 and it continues in this vein. And then the album they make after that is a return to the shoegaze style of the earlier work!

UrbanSprawl

Not good,not bad seems to be the consenus. Read a few reviews,listened to marching song dunno Billys voice just grates on me lately.

RicketyCricket

It's not bad. Its not amazing. They're a different band now, in their 50's, it'd be stupid to expect a Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie 2. I just don't fully like the sound of a Rick Rubin produced record. I felt the same with Metallica's 'Death Magnetic'. The drums do not sound right to me at all. Its much more of a joy to hear Jimmy Chamberlin play live. I don't hear his power enough on this album. Highlights are Solara, Marchin On (bit of the old angry Billy vocals there), Travels and Seek And You Shall Destroy. But I've always enjoyed the rockier side of Pumpkins. My disappointment is that with 3 guitarists, that the guitars are not louder on record. They are not the band they were, but there is still enough there to keep me a fan. Knights Of Malta is an abomination though. Could Corgan not have have used a guitar for the 'woah' s instead of his voice?

Wrongway1985

Yeah it's okay, I think the length of it stopped it to becoming an effort tbh.

It doesn't sound like a band though I know it's often debated how much input the original members had in earlier releases but those albums until Adore came along did have the feel of an oiled unit. Jimmy Chamberlain I mean with the exception of certainly 'Solara' and perhaps one other track he may as well be a drum machine. There is the presence of 3 guitarists credited on here too, sorry what?

'Knights of Malta' think after a few listens I'll defo never grasp that one, the woo woo woo is just silly it made me laugh when walking in public though. Everything else on there don't have a bad word to say about it but at the same time it's unlikely I'll be returning to it in any regularity.

In 'With Sympathy' what's with the lyric "Tis the secret of the Irishman" actually thought the chorus was "It's for the love of Ireland" the first time I heard it

Wrongway1985

RicketyCricket wrote: »

It's not bad. Its not amazing...

Ha I'd began typing my post up only saw yours when I posted, seems I've achieved in sounding off like a right copycat :pac:

Royale with Cheese

What is that stupid noise in Knights of Malta, and how did nobody stop this from ending up on the record? It's a perfectly fine song, ruined by whatever the hell that is.

UrbanSprawl

Its not alone, the whole thing is farce and I havent even listened to it:pac:

Wrongway1985

Awoo woo woo woo woo woo...

Homesick Alien

There's something about Billy's voice being too far forward in the mix or too in your face the last few records. In their heyday it was way mellower sounding and back in the mix a bit with the guitars to the fore. It just takes me out of the record too often these days.

eviltimeban

Homesick Alien wrote: »

There's something about Billy's voice being too far forward in the mix or too in your face the last few records. In their heyday it was way mellower sounding and back in the mix a bit with the guitars to the fore. It just takes me out of the record too often these days.

It's a pretty well known issue among the fans. His vocals have been different from Zwan onwards, with a few exceptions. He's been essentially singing with a fuller voice, adding a lot of vibrato to the end of every line, and often every phrase. This coupled with the fact that his voice is being mixed a lot higher with no effects on it gives the music a different sound.

He's very touchy about it too. He's been asked about it many times on his IG Q&As and he gets his back up about it. He maintains he can still sing the old way and sometimes does onstage "for fun".

He also claims that the reason the voice is mixed so high is so they can be "competitive" - as if a radio station is going to play SP alongside Drake and all that! He should concentrate on making the best music, on an album, that his fans will listen to and enjoy.

But no. Billy being Billy.

Homesick Alien

eviltimeban wrote: »

It's a pretty well known issue among the fans. His vocals have been different from Zwan onwards, with a few exceptions. He's been essentially singing with a fuller voice, adding a lot of vibrato to the end of every line, and often every phrase. This coupled with the fact that his voice is being mixed a lot higher with no effects on it gives the music a different sound.

He's very touchy about it too. He's been asked about it many times on his IG Q&As and he gets his back up about it. He maintains he can still sing the old way and sometimes does onstage "for fun".

He also claims that the reason the voice is mixed so high is so they can be "competitive" - as if a radio station is going to play SP alongside Drake and all that! He should concentrate on making the best music, on an album, that his fans will listen to and enjoy.

But no. Billy being Billy.

Yeah it's a shame because there have been a lot of potentially great tracks ruined by this.

eviltimeban

Homesick Alien wrote: »

Yeah it's a shame because there have been a lot of potentially great tracks ruined by this.

Every track he's recorded since 2003 you mean?

RicketyCricket

Billy is playing a solo show in The Olympia in June. All seated.

eviltimeban

At €70 a ticket, he can forget about it.

Wrongway1985

eviltimeban wrote: »

At €70 a ticket, he can forget about it.

My thoughts exactly more than double the cost of Glasgow show too, he can keep it!

UrbanSprawl

No interest at all in hearing Billy solo at whatever price.

UrbanSprawl

Compared to wembley ..:pac: Pumpkins are a spent force cashing in on their remaining fame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKufI-7b8CA