The Smashing Pumpkins Still Sounded Fresh and New in Saint Louis

Sean Derrick August 23, 2024September 4, 2024 0 Comments concert, Live show, Saint Louis concert review and photos, Smashing Pumpkins

–by Carrie Ogle

The Smashing Pumpkins have been defining their generation’s brand of alternative rock since their beginning in 1988, have sold over 30 million albums, have won a pair of GRAMMY® Awards and maybe most importantly, are still releasing quality new music.

The Pumpkins are on a bit of a comeback, just releasing new album, Aghori Mhori Mei, a record full of guitar riffs, which is the follow up to Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts. There are three of the four original members (Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlain) and bassist Jack Bates, whose father is Peter Hook from Joy Division/New Order.

Vocalist/guitarist Katie Cole shined singing “Springtimes” and the recent addition of Kiki Wong, selected after a public open call who brings a ton of guitar muscle.

Smashing Pumpkins performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Saint Louis Wednesday. Photo by Carrie Ogle.

The Pumpkins started off the set with “The Everlasting Gaze” on a stage filled with a massive light show that burned bright behind them. They also played some of their biggest and most popular hits like “Today” and “1979”. Billy was dressed in a long black robe like jacket with striking red buttons in sharp contrast to his guitarist Iha dressed in all white. The set was very guitar heavy which worked perfectly with Wong, the new female guitarist who shredded her flying V guitar with Billy like she’s been in the band for years.

One of the highlights of the show was an acapella performance by Corgan of the Fleetwood Mac hit “Landslide”. It was the first time Corgan had performed the song in six years. “Cherub Rock” and “Zero” would end the night with no encore needed. The Smashing Pumpkins after thirty-six years proved they can still bring it.