Smashing Pumpkins, Olympia Theatre, 2006!

cormie

Hi,
I'm trying to urge my friend to book The Olympia for a Smashing Pumpkins tribute gig next year.

He is the lead singer in a Smashing Pumpkins cover band currently named "The Smumpkins". They do the band great justice. The lead singer is obsessed with the band, followed them around the US to 8 shows, knows all the lyrics, met them more than once, his room is a shrine and his voice has been moulded to sound like Billy.

The music is spot on, you would easily mistake them for the real thing.

Whoever has seen the band perform and knows Smashing Pumpkins thinks the same.

The reason I want this is because I have seen them about 4 times already but the crowd hasn't been right. It has mainly just been friends who don't really have the pumpkin passion. Since I never got to see Smashing Pumpkins live (a bit too young around the time) this is the next best thing. I would love to see The Smumpkins in The Olympia with the right crowd.

The Olympia wont come cheap so it would probably be €20 or so entry fee.

Please vote or give any feedback to give an idea of support for the gig.


Hopefully we will share ground next year!
Thanks

John

You've no "I would not go" option

Kopf

I and 2 friends would definitely go

John2 wrote:

You've no "I would not go" option

valid point

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

I only need to know how many people would go.

wrafter

I'm not a fan of the name, reminds me of the Smurfs or something.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

Well don't let the name put you off

honru

Why the Olympia though? I really doubt a Smashing Pumpkins tribute band would get a big enough draw there to be successful, perhaps you'd probably do better elsewhere? Ambassador springs to mind, they are usually the host of the more alternative tribute bands.

But yeah, I'd probably go, but definetly not at €20. That's another reason why the Olympia is a big no-no.

Creamy Goodness

cormie wrote:

knows all the lyrics

i would sure hope so.

dead air

I and 4 friends would definitely go

€20 is way too much.. and there's no way you would fill the olympia, not a chance. Within the realms of possibility, you could book whelan's a lot cheaper, charge less at the door (in the €5-€10 band) and stand a much better chance of selling it out.

I'd go to that.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

I've never been to The Ambassador unfortunately so don't really know what it would be like.

Whelan's is the place and there is an upstairs overlooking the dance floor/standing area/stage beside The Village right?


I initially thought of The Olympia because The Smashing Pumpkins sold it out when they played there last and these guys are good enough to get the same crowd to go. As in, if you paid to go see Smashing Pumpkins, you should pay to go see these guys.

Thanks for the feedback thus far!

D!ve^Bomb!

cormie wrote:

I've never been to The Ambassador unfortunately so don't really know what it would be like.

Whelan's is the place and there is an upstairs overlooking the dance floor/standing area/stage beside The Village right?


I initially thought of The Olympia because The Smashing Pumpkins sold it out when they played there last and these guys are good enough to get the same crowd to go. As in, if you paid to go see Smashing Pumpkins, you should pay to go see these guys.

Thanks for the feedback thus far!

man, no one is going to see a band just because you say they're as good as the original line up!!! they have to start small and aim high, and if after that they can't fill up the olympia then maybe they're not *that* good?

tibilt

why don't you're friends try to make new music?

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

Well if somebody is a fan of a certain band they may go to see a tribute band just because they are a tribute band. If I saw a tribute to Leonard Cohen for example, I would surely go to it.

I'm saying 2006 to give them time to promote themselves, play more gigs and get better known.

tibilt:
Smashing Pumpkins are a great band and each member is a fan. The lead singer in the band has another band called F.Ache. All original material.

tibilt

cormie wrote:

Smashing Pumpkins are a great band and each member is a fan. QUOTE]

but this isn't smashing pumpkins. this is smumpkins. i'm just curious why they want to emulate another band instead of becoming a band to emulate.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

There are plenty of cover bands all around the world.

They are just a group of friends who have a common fondness towards The Smashing Pumpkins. They can all play an instruments. I only know two of the guys in the band and they have similar music tastes. Maybe the others don't have the same taste. For example, I love The Smashing Pumpkins but I'm not a fan of their other music tastes at all really.

Personally I prefer the more mellow Pumpkins material whereas they prefer the heavy material.

They generally prefer heavy music and if they were to write their own music it would probably be heavy.

Now if I was in the Smumpkins, I wouldn't be too keen on original music we, as a band, could come up with as I would find it hard to agree to do purely heavy music.


Maybe this is why.

dead air

I and 4 friends would definitely go

Nothing wrong with tribute bands... and I think there's room for a pumpkins one.

Nidge

I'd definitlely go to see them but there is no point starting in the ambassador or a place as big as that. Just cos it's a tribute band doesn't mean you can perform in the same places the original band. Just like smashing pumpkins themselves you have to work your way up, as many have already stated here.

Pigman II

€20 quid at Olympia is a bit unrealistic. Try €10 at TBMC and see how you get on. I'd go see it under the latter arrangement anyway.

honru

Nidge wrote:

I'd definitlely go to see them but there is no point starting in the ambassador or a place as big as that.

For tribute bands in the Ambassador the level 2 seating area is cut off.

Even so, it would be best to play smaller venues first.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

They have played TBMC twice already. The problem there is that they usually have a few bands per night and the people who tend to go to these bands are just friends/family etc meaning you don't really get the fanbase desired. I'm thinking of a 2 hour set, pure pumpkins from start to finish.

Like the way other tribute bands (U2, beatles etc) play the Olympia.

It is a tad unrealistic selling out The Olympia, but it could be possible :rolleyes:

idontknowmyname

Why dont they start with the smaller venues then work their way up to the olympia once they've established themselves on the dublin scene?

Ur aiming too high (sorry), try and get The Hub, Break For the Border, Temple Bar Music Centre etc. Advertise like crazy and the right people will go. All u need is a printer, some paper and some people who'll stick up posters etc

John

to be honest, the majority of fans of a band would not go to a tribute band, if they did then midnight at the olympia would be packed and it rarely is

Bottle_of_Smoke

cormie wrote:

Like the way other tribute bands (U2, beatles etc) play the Olympia.

they're usually tribute bands who've got a name from playing smaller gigs, maybe get a gig in the student bar in UCD. Then maybe move onto a voodoo lounge type place. Doolittle(pixies tribute) put on a good show in UCD and they later did gigs in TBMC.

For your poll I wouldn't go to that, but if they had a reputation I'd prob pay the usual 12.50 that tribute gigs cost there.

Doctor J

Tribute bands are usually a bag of balls just looking to cash in on someone else's talent. €20 per ticket? It appears this is the case here too. I also could not find the "I would not go" option. You've sod all expenses apart from the venue and engineer, €20 is a joke tbh.

Doctor J

cormie wrote:

if you paid to go see Smashing Pumpkins, you should pay to go see these guys.

That's the most ridiculous logic I've ever seen. You're saying this bunch of nobodies are as good as the people who wrote the music and people won't notice the difference between someone expressing themself and someone pertending to be someone expressing themself? Cop on, seriously.

idontknowmyname

I seen the Pumpkins live a few times, including their last gig here, no tribute band will ever compare with the real thing - that goes for any tribute band.

€20- u must be joking! Serious rip-off, say bout a tenner and you be lucky to get people to pay that for an unknown tribute band. Like I said earlier, start with small venues and become known then work ur way up

cormie

cormie wrote:

They have played TBMC twice already. The problem there is that they usually have a few bands per night and the people who tend to go to these bands are just friends/family etc meaning you don't really get the fanbase desired. I'm thinking of a 2 hour set, pure pumpkins from start to finish.

Highlighted due to the fact I was at one of their gigs in the music centre and, while I was blown away by them, There were NO posters with the Smumpkins on it, I didn't even know they were playing. I was there to see my friends band "The Almos Funk Band". So please don't say, "the people who tend to go to these bands are just friends/family".

That is purely the bands fault for not advertising.

On the original topic, you (presumably) are picking up €20 a ticket from thin air. Do you know how much the rom is too rent? Do you have to provide security? Is it the Olympia's insurance or yours? How many people do you expect to get, will you make a profit or loss...?

All good questions my friend. But I think the Smumpkins (apart from a name change:) ) could do very well. I was really impressed by them last time, but don't let them turn into greedy little beggars....

My 2c :rolleyes:

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

Ok for a start, this is nothing to do with me, I just want to experience a gig where they can play for 90-120 minutes and have a right fan base there.

The €20 was just an estimate at covering the costs. I doubt they care about profits. Just to play such a gig would please them. I have no idea of costs for venue rental etc. If it works out to be €5 per head, even better!



Doctor J, all I am saying is that as a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I think these guys portray the band very well. I know it wouldn't be the same as going to see Smashing Pumpkins, but unfortunately, they exist no longer, this is the next best thing really.

I don't think UCD would be the best place to play a gig. Pixies reach a far wider audience and a high percentage of UCD students tend to like them. However Smashing Pumpkins are not so popular and I'd be surprised if there was any interest at all throughout UCD.


Yes, both times supporting the Almos Funk band they didn't advertise at all.

Do TBMC rent out the venue for one band only? Any idea of cost? thanks for feedback so far:)

John

cormie wrote:

Doctor J, all I am saying is that as a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I think these guys portray the band very well. I know it wouldn't be the same as going to see Smashing Pumpkins, but unfortunately, they exist no longer, this is the next best thing really.

I don't think UCD would be the best place to play a gig. Pixies reach a far wider audience and a high percentage of UCD students tend to like them. However Smashing Pumpkins are not so popular and I'd be surprised if there was any interest at all throughout UCD.

No. 1: I'm a huge Pumpkins fan and I don't think a tribute band is the next bes thing. The next best thing is the various band members solo projects.

No. 2: UCD isn't such a bad place to play a gig and it's far more realistic to aim for something like that rather than the Olympia.

No. 3: Smashing Pumpkins are way more popular than the Pixies. Waaaaaaaaaay more popular.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

#1 really depends on what you like about the band. Personally I find Iha's solo album good but allot of Pumpkins fans dislike it.

#2 Ok, the Olympia may be a bit unrealistic for now, but hopefully some day :rolleyes:

#3 I would imagine in UCD Pixies are more popular.

Doctor J

cormie wrote:

Doctor J, all I am saying is that as a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I think these guys portray the band very well. I know it wouldn't be the same as going to see Smashing Pumpkins, but unfortunately, they exist no longer, this is the next best thing really.

Have to disagree. The Pumpkins are gone but that doesn't mean the world has stopped turning, I appreciate them for what they were. A cover band being the next best thing? Please, some nostalgia cover band is far from being the next best thing IMO. New music is the next best thing, Zwan was a good start, Iha's album also had it's moments. Jimmy Chamberlin's new album is getting some good reviews and Corgan's solo album should be quality. These people continue to create and evolve, supprt that, not someone pretending to be someone else, musical impersonation is just so Milli Vanilli. €20? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

Doctor J wrote:

Have to disagree. The Pumpkins are gone but that doesn't mean the world has stopped turning, I appreciate them for what they were. A cover band being the next best thing? Please, some nostalgia cover band is far from being the next best thing IMO. New music is the next best thing, Zwan was a good start, Iha's album also had it's moments. Jimmy Chamberlin's new album is getting some good reviews and Corgan's solo album should be quality. These people continue to create and evolve, supprt that, not someone pretending to be someone else, musical impersonation is just so Milli Vanilli. €20? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Just out of curiousity, would you be more likely to pay €20 into The Olympia if there was a Smashing Pumpkins compilation CD playing really loud out of the speakers or if the Smumpkins were playing? Both options being 90 or so minutes long, sold out and full of pumpkins fans?

I'm not saying to not support the band members future projects. This is just an opportunity to get a Live performance of a cover of a great band playing songs you love and know.

Another question, would you prefer to see Smashing Pumpkins cover a band you hate, or a band you hate cover Smashing Pumpkins? If you had to choose one. I mean one full set of covers of that terrible band you hate or Smashing Pumpkins.

Doctor J

You're losing the plot there, please don't start getting into hypothetical nonsense, it adds nothing but confusion to the discussion. Let me establish a context here, I loved the Smashing Pumpkins, I still love the music. I'm long enough in the tooth to remember the first time I heard Siva and buying Gish on tape the next day. I remeber trawling through the shops in town for the Peel Session CD, for the Lull Ep when they came out. I remember the wait for Siamese Dream to come out after I first heard Cherub Rock. The Pumpkins were a big part of my life. They were a very special band. I believe they were expressing themselves through their music, every one of them.

You're suggesting that four punters can emulate that? I don't think it can be done and I'll explain why. I remember live performances when Jimmy was out of the band. It didn't work, sure the replacement guy played drums well but he didn't have the spark that made the band what it was. If I want to hear the Pumpkins, I'll listen to the Pumpkins. I have no interest in nostalgia cover music. It wasn't just the songs that made that band what they were, it was the personality in the playing of the songs, the delivery. Some dude pretending to be Billy Corgan just strikes me as sad tbh. Music is about expression, not about stifling your own style to play like someone else, that's what made the Pumpkins good. If nostalgia cover music rocks your boat, good luck to you, but it just makes me sad that there are musicians who are happier to impersonate rather than create, and they're the ones pretending to be a band whose greatness was it's creativity.

Oh, and in response to your question about the Smashing Pumpkins covering a band I hate, I'd love to see that, for sure. They did a few covers in their time and always made cover songs their own, they imposed their own sound on someone else's song without losing what made the song good in the first place or overwhelming the personality of the writer of the song, which is the sign of a great band, IMO.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

I know where you're coming from. I went through a "pumpkins rule my life" stage too :rolleyes:

Were on the same level here but I'm just saying I would prefer to see a cover band for €20 then to stay in and do nothing for the night. If it will cost me €5 or €10, even better. But I wont refuse to hear great songs played live in an audience who loves the music too.

My question was "Pumpkins covering a band you hate" not a band you also like. They covered Tom Waits, Thin Lizzy, Brilliant, but what if they cover a bands material you despise. Sure, they could probably make it sound allot better but it will still contain the same lyrics etc. This is getting off topic but you know what I mean. Unfortunately I never got to see Pumpkins Live, but I can sure say I wouldn't have turned down a ticket just because Jimmy wasn't there. Yes, Jimmy made the band what it was, but it was still Smashing Pumpkins. In a slightly similar way that a cover band is... well, still Smashing Pumpkins. The music at least. In saying that though. The lead singer is very compassionate about it. There is a reason he is in that position in the first place.

Doctor J

cormie wrote:

My question was "Pumpkins covering a band you hate" not a band you also like.

Doctor J wrote:

Oh, and in response to your question about the Smashing Pumpkins covering a band I hate, I'd love to see that, for sure.

cormie

I and a friend would definitely go

woops! Sorry