Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Sound Advice: Smashing Pumpkins Bring 'The World is a Vampire Tour' to Cincinnati

Since July, the band’s been on the road with “The World Is A Vampire Tour,” named after a lyric from their Grammy-winning song “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.”

Aug 23, 2023 at 5:10 am

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Photo: Kevin Lush

Smashing Pumpkins perform at PNC Pavilion on Sept. 5.

This story is featured in CityBeat's Aug. 23 print edition.

In July 1993, the Chicago-based quartet released their debut album, Siamese Dream, in a year that saw some of the greatest albums of the modern era released. The album’s opening track, “Cherub Rock,” sends shockwaves to the listener’s ears. Angst-ridden frontman Billy Corgan stated the song’s about his “relationship to the indie-world and the media,” and the lyrics “Who wants honey? As long as there's some money” is an indictment of that world. The album sold more than 4 million copies and landed the band in the mainstream; a backlash from the indie world ensued. By the time their third album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness came out — it went on to become the best-selling double album of the 1990s — the band experienced even more mainstream success, with a Grammy award and Mellon Collie selling 10 million units. However, discord among band mates and rampant drug use caused the band to break up in 2000. Six years later, the band reformed, but without original bassist D’arcy Wretzky and guitarist James Iha. The current lineup consists of three of the four original members.

Though the Pumpkins get grouped into the alt-rock movement of the ‘90s, their music has swung between goth rock, hard rock, electronic and dream pop, and is constantly evolving. Their latest release is the ambitious Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, which has slowly rolled out since November 2022. It’s a concept album, a loose sequel to Mellon Collie and 2000 albums Machina/The Machines of God and Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. Pitchfork described Atum as “a trilogy-completing, podcast-augmented three-part intergalactic techno-libertarian rock drama.”

Since July, the band’s been on the road with “The World Is A Vampire Tour,” named after a lyric from their Grammy-winning song “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” Seeing the Pumpkins in 2023 — 30 years after their debut album — hits different. We live in a culture overwhelmed with nostalgia, and rock bands seem like a thing of the past. “Tonight, Tonight,” “Today” and “Cherub Rock” will transport live music fans back to the beginning of the Pumpkins’ storied and winding career. It’s been a long ride for Corgan and company, and unlike so many of their contemporaries, they’re still here and they’re still rocking.

Smashing Pumpkins play PNC Pavilion at 8 p.m. Sept. 5. Info: riverbend.org.