..I know this is cliche but, where do I begin? Literally. So much happened this weekend that it’s still a whirlwind inside my head. Well, I’m going to attempt to put it down. Friday night was horrible, Sarah was going to meet me at my apartment at 4:30 am and I couldn’t sleep. It’s safe to say I got about 3 hours of sleep and then we were on the road towards Cleveland. I’ll skip the banter and go right to arriving in Cleveland on Saturday. The Wyndham was a beautiful hotel with exceptional staff. The lounge was top-notch and they definitely didn’t water down the drinks. lol

I had to be at the box office by 4:45 to pick up my gift bag, tickets etc. I was surprised to see that by the end of it there was only about 25-30 VIPs tops. In addition to a 20th anniversary t-shirt that said, “SP VIP” on the back we were handed a VIP card to wear around our neck. Immediately I sensed the anticipation of our group. Everyone was incredibly friendly and we were sharing our favorite SP moments when we were interrupted by our host. He informed us that we were invited to watch the band do their soundcheck. This was pretty much a completely private mini-show. We heard a couple of new songs that they had been working on (well, they were performed once at the charity event but they’re still unreleased) when I heard an old favorite… They took Suffer from Gish and put a completely new spin on it. Loved it. After the soundcheck, Billy and Jimmy came down and started BSing with our group. Everything was organized and our group was well behaved. I was expecting at least one fan to freak out…We were allowed one item to have autographed and I brought along the lyric book to MCIS. Afterwords was a quick photo shoot, sadly those were professionally done and we won’t receive the pictures for two weeks or so. I did however get a fan behind me to take a pic with my iphone. The photo shoot was orginially supposed to have been on on the stage but logistical issues forced us to take it directly in front. Ooh, what a shame *sarcasm*

We got to talk for a bit and ask some questions before we were led by our host down to a locked room in the basement. It was a “party room” with private bartenders. You really can’t go wrong with free drinks!

The show hadn’t even started yet and I’ve already experienced so much. I could have left happy at this point. After the drinks we all took our seats. I ran into Sarah and gave her her ticket (second row) while mine was literally front row center. I was directly in front of Billy.

The set list is as follows:

1. 99 Floors
2. Owata
3. Sunkissed
4. A Song For a Son
5. Mayonaise
6. Tonight, Tonight
7. Tarantula
8. G.L.O.W.
9. Siva
10. Speed Kills
11. Superchrist
12. The Sounds of Silence
13. That’s The Way (My Love Is) - acoustic
14. Disarm
15. Today
16. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
17. As Rome Burns
18. Heavy Metal Machine
19. Glass’ Theme
20. The March Hare
21. Suffer

Encore
22. We Only Come Out at Night
23. Everything is Beautiful

This was an incredible setlist.. Suffer was an unexpected treat. Being this close was a completely different experience. I could witness the unspoken communication between Billy and Jimmy… the crazy grins and laughs when Jeff missed a note in Mayonaise. Someone close to the front kept yelling 1979 over again. This led Billy to stare at the guy and say:

“Do you know what year it is? 2008.”
“I’m sorry but we will NOT be playing that song for I am the song monster. Yes, Yes. I ignore all of your requests” and then he started growling and running around the stage.

Towards the end of the set there was some awesome crowd interaction were Billy alluded to some serious issues wrapped in the illusion of humor. I think this will expand fully during the two night shows but I believe this is an attempt to show the metamorphosis of SP. How they are evolving as a band and hope their fans come with them. This was demonstrated by Jimmy doing drumbeats to Silverfuck and I am One before starting off on new songs…I can’t recall exactly what song it was so if any VIP can help me out I’d appreciate it…Could have been Superchrist? But they did the Ted Nugent beat from Window Paine. A rant during Heavy Metal Machine also suggested this. Being so close, the lyrics were hard to make out but he made a specific reference to an evolution…same during the Set the Controls cover. “We are the new SP…same as the old SP.” During The Sounds of Silence and That’s the Way he mentioned how the show has not started and went into three old huge singles without stopping… The crowd freaked out and he let us sing the first verse of Today. The funny part was, the front rows actually calmed down during this time. Retire those singles. We freaked out and jammed for the new stuffs and the old surprises like Glass Theme and Suffer.

The acoustic version of That’s the Way sent chills down my spine. It was only Lisa and Billy playing…It was so intense and full of raw emotion. You could feel the love and hurt… Speaking of hurt he did reference how we were hurting his feelings.. To paraphrase/quote Billy.

“Ohh, you’re hurting me. That’s okay though. The more I hurt the better my songs are. You’ve been feeding off my pain for the last twenty years though. It’s okay though. Because of you I live in a Big HOUSE!”

The evolution was also referenced in the humourous take of Everything is Beautiful. The entire band, including the accompanying musicians were out with kazoo for “Everyone is beautiful in your own way…”

He mentioned how he loved all of us regardless and how he “knows” that we love them. No matter what direction they go in, the new songs they perform etc. I for one, am a true fan of SP. I was more excited by their new songs than hearing Today for the millionth time. While there are those old songs I’d love to hear live, the evolution of the band have been the primary source for my enjoyment. I know their next album isn’t going to be another Zeitgeist. Just like Adore wasn’t another MCIS. It’s how a band can be gathering new fans after 20 years. I just hope enough others think this way….

I have tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins at the Louisville Palace August 12th!!!

I’m stoked!

I feel like I’m in a trance…my only concerns have been doing all my hw to make good grades and working. Not that it’s a bad thing.

Oh, wait.. Smashing Pumpkins are playing the Palace Theatre in Louisville August 11th!!! Tickets go on sale July 11th! Must.. Go.

I don’t know where to start…the first three songs I can honestly say I’ve never heard of.. Brief ditties w/ Billy playing acoustic solo. From what I’ve read they’re unreleased songs that have just been playing for this tour.

I promise to give a detailed review later… but here is what I remember. Jumping up and down like crazy, screaming at the top of my lungs and singing along to every song. You could tell the die hard fans at the concert when they’d start screaming at the top of their lungs during the first few drum beats or chords out of the guitar…even the modified live versions of songs…I made sure to dl about three shows from the 07 tour just because I wanted to know what kinda changes he’d be doing…and so if there was a rant (a la I am One) I could sing along…and there was a rant. SP completely changed up Heavy Metal Machine and I have no idea how to properly explain it. Only the chorus remained the same, HMM was a lot heavier on guitar but it was more just heavy alt-rock vs the spacey darkness of the Arising! tour.

The light show was insane and our seats couldn’t have been better. The Ryman is a small venue to begin with and our seats where stage center about halfway back. Highlights of the show were seeing Corgans patented solo hunch when he goes crazy and completely wails. Jimmys clenched face as he’s well, going crazy =P

Hummer was a nice surprise…I really wasn’t expecting non-single from the SD era.

To Shelia was probably the only song to completely give me goosebumps..The Pumpkins have always been known for their ability

but, the song that made me happier than any other…was the very last song of the encore. Cherub Rock. Finally getting to hear that solo live was an indescribable intense experience. and of course I had to get a tour 07 shirt!

But, now I’m sore from jumping around so much…not to mention my voice is completely shot. Oh well, it was all worth it!

Whew, I don’t know what to say about these past couple of days. They’ve been pretty busy. I caught Bloc Party @ City Hall in Nashville last night.. Really small venue and we were stage center about two rows of people back from the rail. they had two opening acts Smoosh and Deer something.. the latter sucked.. hardcore music but they played for an hour and a half.. wayy too long for an opening act. Smoosh was two twin sisters just jamming out on keyboard and drums.. Crazy talent in those girls. As soon as I get a setlist I’ll post it (Bloc Party…not smoosh)

Made it home around 2 am only to wake up at 5 to drive down to Murray. Reconnected with a friend I haven’t talked to since literally the day I left Murray. It was good seeing her again, wound up grabbing a cup of coffee at the Frap House and catching up (she has a running tab there.. how cool is that?) Really just relaxed through most of the day. Went to CTLT to see everyone there and just check out how the office looked. It hasn’t changed any.. I actually found a book and hair gel in the bottom of my old desk. Shows you how often that gets cleaned out. lol.

Spent the rest of the day hanging out in the 3rd floor lobby of Fine Arts catching up with friends in between classes and just shooting the bull. I found it funny, I went to UK a month or two ago and felt absolutely nothing.. complete apathy…but when I was walking around Murray I remembered how much I liked that place and how foolish I was to go away (Even though I needed too yada yada)

Enough people already know since I’ve been asking around trying to find a job and a place to live that I might as well post it on here. I’m going back to Murray full-time next semester. After debating all the various places I could go and everything I want to do… being a student full-time and getting my degree is by far the most important.

Besides, I want to get out of Owensboro. It’s not a bad city, it’s just there’s no future here…and the same would happen if I moved anywhere in the US. I’d be stuck working a full-time job I hate trying to pay for rent. So, let’s bite the bullet and go back to school!

ah, these next couple of months are going to be painful. lol

I just bought tickets to go see the Smashing Pumpkins at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN on November 5th!

I am absolutely stoked to go see this show.. I never thought that I’d have the chance.. especially in such a small venue. Ah, it’s so far away!

Goin to see Wayne Kramer from MC 5 and Cheap Trick tonight :DDDD