The Smashing Pumpkins in Hiroshima in 2000

On what is very possibly their last tour of Japan, grunge rock survivors The Smashing Pumpkins stopped off in Hiroshima. Check out the view from the cheap (NOT!) seats.

What is it with Hiroshima? Generally left out of most big tours that skip over to Fukuoka, we’ve had 2 big gigs so far this year, Oasis and Smashing Pumpkins. Oasis self-destructs (again!) shortly AFTER playing here, and Smashing Pumpkins announces their demise shortly BEFORE they arrive.

Having ridden high on the wave of grunge rock in the early nineties, Smashing Pumpkins managed to outlive the fad by growing creatively. They saw themselves in a battle against what they saw as an increasingly contrived music scene. Despite continued critical acclaim, the band has been through stormy interpersonal problems.

Last year, founding bass guitar member D’arcy left the band (she was replaced for the tour by energetic bass player Melissa Auf Der Maur, who left HOLE), and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain rejoined after being exiled for drug-related problems.

Seems like these upsets have eventually proved to be too much, and frontman Billy Corgan announced that the band will be breaking up at the end of 2000.
In his announcement of the band’s impending demise, Corgan said

“We felt that before the start of this album (Machina) that we had sort of come to the end of our, sort of, road – emotionally, spiritually, musically. So we wanted to make one more album, together. That was the intention of getting Jimmy back in the band was to make one more album and sort of end on a good note – you know, between each other, more importantly than the public part of it.”

He went on to assert that, despite the departure of D’arcy

“There’s nothing wrong inside the band, but… the way the culture is and stuff, it’s really hard to, you know, uh,.. keep trying to fight the good fight against…the ‘Britneys’ …of the world…”

How could anyone not support such a noble, if somewhat lost cause so I gladly (Ok, so that’s a lie) payed my 7000 yen for a seat in the atmosphere-free zone of the balcony seats. My companion disagrees about the atmosphere of the balcony as she said “it felt like I was watching them play in their living room to a few close friends, it was great.”

Not really being a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I really didn’t know what to expect. They’ve always been there in the background of my music interests. In the early years, Billie’s voice used to bug the hell out of me, however, gradually they’ve seeped into my consciousness and I’ve even found myself humming along to videos on Vibe (Japanese MTV). I say humming along because I really haven’t got the slightest idea what he’s singing about. It’s hard to imagine singing along unless you’ve spent hours pouring over the CD notes.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Kouseinenkin Hall. They may not be able to fill the huge arenas they used to play at when they were at the height of their careers, but a smaller venue is a gain for the audience. I do have one complaint due to the limitations enforced by pain-in-the-ass security in black suits that go along with rock concerts in the seated venues in Hiroshima.

Smashing Pumpkins got a tremendous reception when they came on stage (almost exactly at 6pm, what punctual rock stars!) and launched into a couple of songs that warmed the audience up nicely. The stage was decorated with their trademark medieval gothic paintings, some rather cheesy oriental lanterns, and the odd plastic animal dangling over the stage. However, these props didn’t distract from the atmospheric light show which was very well done.

Much has been said about the Pumpkins’ return to their rock roots on Machina after the more contemplative sound on the Adore album and there were plenty of hard rockin’ tunes with the guitar histrionics to match (none more so on Cherub Rock from 1993’s Siamese Dream album). There was even a display of the old two fingered devil salute a la Ozzie Ozbourne. Whether this was tongue-in-cheek or not, virtually every member of the crowd obediently obliged in returning the gesture.

Although the sound quality was great it could have benefitted from being turned up a notch or two- at least enough to drown out the conversations of those sitting near you.

There were also quiet moments with several acoustic interludes and one when James Iha took over the vocal duties. In fact it seemed that Corgan was enjoying himself the most during these songs, and my personal favorite was a laid back version of “Perfect” from the “Adore” album.

What impressed me most was what a showman Corgan is. He didn’t say much other than a quick “good evening” and “thank you all for coming”, most of his other comments were directed at the “Americans” who he ordered to speak only Japanese as he found the English “disracting.” His great stage presence however, succeeded in breaking the language barrier and ensuring for the most part a great crowd reaction that built in enthusiasm throughout the performance and he looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

It was during the second encore that that the crowd really got into it. Corgan stopped the music after missing his cue and, hanging his head, got probably the biggest cheer of the night when he admitted “I just made a mistake” and gave a quick sumimasen to the crowd.

Meanwhile Iha cooled Billy’s bald pate with a fan someone in the crowd handed him. Before the end of the show, Corgan managed to shake hands with virtually everyone in the front row, going as far as dragging his monitor across the stage to reach the fans at the far side. Wherever he went a wave of bodies pushed forward to touch him- and in one case get a piece of him (as Billy had to beat off an especially strong grasp). It’s small gestures like this that really seem to make a difference in how involved a Japanese audience gets – a lesson that bands like Oasis would do well to learn (if they gave a shit).

The performance was rounded off with a rousing version of one of their well known tunes (the name of which I have no idea!) during which one excited topless Japanese fan just about made it onto the stage, much to the amusement of Corgan, before being unceremoniously thrown out of the hall by the men in black suits.

Once the gig was over Iha and Melissa chucked out a bunch of guitar picks into the crowd causing a good deal of mayhem. Corgan hung around for about 5 minutes shaking more hands of people, who unable to hold themselves back any longer, pushed past the suited security from their designated seats to make it up to the stage.

Personally I think it’s a crime for bands like the Smashing Pumpkins to play in all seated venues like this that are more suited for plays than rock concerts. However, despite the limitations of this venue they put on a great performance and the audience did a good job of creating a decent atmosphere. Shame it was so short.

It seemed that many in the audience, like myself, weren’t real fans but were there more out of curiosity, perhaps because of the announcement that the band will soon be breaking up and it would be a final chance to see them. The few die-hard fans we talked with seemed dissapointed with the length of the concert as well as missing out on more of their earlier tunes.

It’s these kind of fans who are always the hardest to please, although if this is indeed their last tour then maybe more of a “greatest hits” performance would have been appropriate- or maybe a 2 hour show instead of the standard 1hr 40 mins. We jealously heard reports that for their final concert in Tokyo they played for almost 3 hours.

As for me, I had a great time. I won’t be rushing out to buy their any of their CDs (although I have been listening to a few tracks on RealAudio this afternoon trying in vain to find out the names of some of the songs. I’ve given up as going through a back catalogue as big as theirs will bankcrupt me in NTT charges). However, in the future when I think of the late Smashing Pumpkins it’ll be this performance that will provide a fond memory.

Sad though the Hiroshima “kiss of death” may be, we can take consolation in the hope that Sting who is scheduled to come play in the fall may be the next victim!

The Smashing Pumpkins Sacred and Profane Tour

Kousei Nenkin Hall, Hiroshima
June 24, 2000

01. Age of Innocence
02. Tonight, Tonight
03. Blue Skies Bring Tears
04. Blew Away
05. Stand Inside Your Love
06. The Everlasting Gaze
07. Heavy Metal Machine
08. To Sheila （Acoustic）
09. Today （Acoustic）
10. Rock On [David Essex cover]
11. Zero
12. Glass and the Ghost Children
13. Perfect
14. Bullet with Butterfly Wings>>
Once in a Lifetime [Talking Heads cover]

Encore 1:
15. I of the Mourning

Encore 2:
16. Blank Page
17. Cherub Rock