The last time I saw Mr William Patrick Corgan play live, it was way back in 2000 on the Smashing Pumpkins farewell tour.

Five years later (OK, four years four months and 15 days to be precise) I’m ready to see him again. I’m nervous. Not because I’m about to see my musical icon, it’s more to do with the warnings I’ve had about the locations of tonight’s venue (Kentish Town) – I’m told in no uncertain terms to “watch your back!”

Despite the seemingly never-ending queue, the venue doesn’t look or feel ‘sold out’. Once inside, I sit in the pit and wait patiently for support band Gliss (good name – I have high expectations now).  The band wander mindlessly on stage, so much so, that the crowd think they’re just more roadies. The music is interesting, in a probably-sounds-good-on-record kind of a way, but the vocals are completely lost. As good as they could be, they’re just not very interesting or engaging. It’s probably not helped by the fact the band try their hardest to look cool, instead of actually performing. I feel I must mention the guitarist, looking like a combination of Marilyn Manson and Charlie Chaplin (not the best parts either). 

After the opening act, I wait for Billy to make his appearance. The stage set-up is truly breath-taking, a wall of neon lighting the back of the stage, combined with white PVC flooring (hmmm, nice). Billy and support walk onstage to rapturous applause; the cheers are deafening. The entire band is dressed in black military gear, looking like musical mercenaries. Billy nods his cap to the crowd and they start the first song.

When I last saw him perform it was a full-on rock show. This time, it’s a sparse affair, the sound of keyboards and the drum machine provide a backdrop to Billy’s vocals and guitar work takes centre stage.

Overall it’s a subdued affair and the crowd are doing their best to get into it, but you can feel the desire for the music to kick in, so they can kick off. There are moments when it gets louder and the drums get faster and harder, but this isn’t a rock show. ‘The Camera Eye’, ‘Mina Loy’ and ‘A100’ sound great. Billy points to Mr Smith of The Cure during the Bee Gees cover ‘To Love Somebody’ (who sings with him on the album track), but unfortunately doesn’t join him on stage.  

The band keep straight faces for the entire gig, but Billy can’t help but smile as the crowd cheer his name, he evens get a bunch of flowers thrown on stage between songs, which he thanks the audience for before saying, “I actually hate flowers, sorry.” So band member Linda Strawberry, swings over and grabs them instead.

At this point in his career, you get the feeling that his fanbase has been distilled to the true hardcore fans; the trendy hanger-ons of the mid 90s have gone. He’s most definitely preaching to the converted/perverted. 

Billy’s passion for his music and his fans, make the gig. But I just can’t help but feel how much better those songs would of sounded being played by the Smashing Pumpkins.
(4/5)

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Photos: Ryan Lee