The Smashing Pumpkins persevere

I reviewed the Smashing Pumpkins show that passed through on Sept. 28 for the College Times. The Pumpkins came to UVSC's McKay Events Center with support from The Bravery. It was a good show, and I collaborated on the write up with Greg Wilcox, who also writes for the newspaper as a Life writer. He deserves a lot of credit for the details of the show, I deserve credit mostly for the photo. Here's the link to the article on the new, revamped Web site for The College Times. I like the new format and feel I should support it a little bit.

The Smashing Pumpkins persevere

And since I took a bunch of photos and only one gets any real recognition, here's a few more to blow your mind...

One legendary band, one stellar album and two shows impossible to miss

Zeitgeist of Pumpkins, Bravery, LCD Soundsystem and an Arcade Fire

Biblically, after the feast comes the famine and vice versa. If this ideological maxim holds true in all aspects of life, then the return of Billy Corgan's "machine," Smashing Pumpkins is a great example.

In 2000, after the release of Machina: The Machines of God (and an online release of a series of songs called Machina II: The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music), Corgan's supergroup called it quits. Since that time, there has been a Smashing Pumpkins famine. For seven years the alternative rockers that were a dominating force in music remained silent.

Then, on June 25, 2005, in a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune, Corgan announced plans to reunite the band. Though only drummer Jimmy Chamberlain jumped back on board with Corgan to reform the band, the two forged on to tour and produce the bands seventh album, Zeitgeist, which was unleashed in July.

While the album takes a different direction than the Pumpkins' previous albums, Zeitgeist stays true to the heavy, emotional style the band is most famous for. Corgan himself summarized the themes of the album as "love, loss and the government." The last topic is most apparent at first glance of the record. The cover pictures a sun-lit Statue of Liberty robe deep in water -- an obvious statement about current global warming trends. Song titles like "United States," "For God and Country" and "Doomsday Clock" solidify the message being put out in concern to political issues and trends.

But Zeitgeist isn't just an avenue for Corgan's political views to be expressed, the second single, "That's the Way (My Love Is)" attests to the well-rounded attempt Corgan and Chamberlain made to hit the "love, loss and the government" themes. "That's the Way" seems to echo Machina era Pumpkins and is arguably the catchiest track on the album.

Of course each track is good in it's own right, but, even so, Zeitgeist is not comprised fully of hit material. In fact, the album as a whole takes some getting used to before it's committed to memory and becomes a go-to album. An initial listen actually leaves the listener wondering where the transitions between songs even is most of the time.

The album tends to start really heavy and get lighter and lighter toward the end. It makes the listen flow, but also a little one-sided. It feels unbalanced at times but somehow, with each additional listen, it seems to even itself out and take on a more solid feel overall. For the listener spinning Zeitgeist for only the first or second time, do not worry that Corgan is going the way of his solo release.

Smashing Pumpkins are back, with a vengence, and with each unique listen a new track will mean more and gain more favor as the progression to loving the entire album becomes possible. Corgan, Chamberlain and the new crew stay true to the sound that is Smashing Pumpkins and Zeitgeist should be a perfect fit in completing any fan's catalog of the band.

In step with supporting the new album, Smashing Pumpkins are out on the road and will making an appearance in Utah at UVSC's McKay Events Center on the evening Friday, Sept. 28. Doors for the event open at 6:30 and ticket prices range from $36.50 to $47.50 depending on how close you want to be from the action.

Directly supporting the Pumpkins on this leg of the tour is The Bravery. The Bravery also recently put out a new album, The Sun and the Moon, which includes the hit song "Time Won't Let Me Go."

This is one of the must see events of the fall, as is another show which will be coming through Utah only two days prior to the Smashing Pumpkins concert.

Wednesday, Sept. 26, marks a most rare event for music fans in Utah Valley. Indie superheroes Arcade Fire are actually coming to perform in the state of Utah. In support of their incredible release, Neon Bible, and with direct support from LCD Soundsystem, this is a concert that anyone with any taste for indie music cannot miss.

Held at Thanksgiving Point's Waterfall Amphitheatre in Lehi, gates will open at 6:00 and the show will get underway at 7:00. The amphitheatre is a grassy venue and blankets are exceptionally handy for seating. Tickets for the show are $36 for general admission. Between the energy and ingenuity of Arcade Fire and the dance-punk infusion of James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem, whose latest release, Sound of Silver, has been well-received worldwide, this show cannot be missed.

So This week it's the battle of the two super shows in Utah County. Smashing Pumpkins and Arcade Fire. The Bravery and LCD Soundsystem. If there is any possible way to catch both of these mammoth-sized events, it's highly recommended.

Modest Mouse draw impressive crowd at McKay Center

Matt Costa and Rilo Kiley play in house with Modest Mouse

Fans packed the McKay Events Center on Monday, Sept. 10, to see indie supergroup Modest Mouse perform with Rilo Kiley and Matt Costa as part of a current west coast tour.

It was an extremely eventful evening which began with a very relaxed set by young singer/songwriter Matt Costa. Costa performed tracks from his 2005 album, Songs We Sing, and other various songs from EPs and singles he has put out since 2003. The Orem crowd was very receptive to Costa's Jack Johnson style deliveries performed with his travelling troupe.

Rilo Kiley presented what some fans may consider was the best performance on the night. Really Jenny Lewis and crew put on a rather standard performance of their new material from Under The Blacklight. Their sound was definitely right on, but their presence on stage wasn't exactly impressive.

Beyond Jenny Lewis' random get-up of black leather, black nylons and high heels, there really wasn't much else happening on stage with Rilo Kiley. It could have been anybody up on stage with the band playing somewhere off the side of the stage and it would have created the same effect. Overall, Rilo Kiley were good, but with all the standing around and just swaying to the beats made it less than complete.

The lack of completion was more than filled with an electric performance by the revamped Modest Mouse lineup, which, of course, now includes former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who joined the group during the production of their latest release, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. Not only did the lineup feel more complete, but the songs felt fuller and stronger even than some of their studio tracks.

Isaac Brock, Eric Judy and the rest of the crew took the stage, which featured a spectacular two-drum setup, with clear plastic masks and an intense performance of "Bury Me With It" from Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Right from the get go the band attacked every song with captivating stage presence, precision sound and a passion for the music they have created.

The crowning song in their set was when they pumped out a pounding rendition of the "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes." The extended version of the song epitomized a set of songs which included unique performances of singles like "Dashboard," "Float On," and "We've Got Everything."

Isaac Brock's between song banter wasn't too bad either. He made off the wall commentary that matched his quirky one-liners that make up the lyrics to a lot of the bands songs. Johnny Marr's dry wit was quite delightful as well. But other than the occasional witty remark, Marr pretty much stayed in his corner and let his guitar genius speak for him.

Capping the night off with a phenomenal encore, which included "Spitting Venom," Modest Mouse made their mark on the crowd at the McKay Events Center. A show that looked to be a fairly good show turned out to be an incredible evening of live music, mostly due to the untouchable indie genius of Isaac Brock and Modest Mouse.