Smashing Pumpkins Debut New Lineup at the Viper Room

Posted on Jul 1st 2010 12:30PM by Steve Baltin
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The latest incarnation of the Smashing Pumpkins, which now features Billy Corgan joined by returning guitarist Jeff Schroeder and new bassist Nicole Fiorentino and 20-year-old drummer Mike Byrne, are hitting the road next week, starting in Cleveland. But the group got a little warm-up show in at Hollywood's very intimate, very packed and very sweaty Viper Room on Wednesday night.

Opening with the new 'Astral Planes,' the Pumpkins's new lineup showed it may be the best since the original version in the '90s made the band icons of the alternative scene. The musical interaction between the four was excellent, breathing new energy into songs like 'Ava Adore,' 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' and a ferocious 'United States,' as well as a crunching 'Cherub Rock' that had the Viper Room insane. But just as importantly, Corgan seemed to be having a great time with his new band, proving downright amiable at times.

That adjective isn't always associated with the Pumpkins frontman, but on this night, in front of 200 or so adoring fans, he was completely at ease, smiling often and thanking the crowd sporadically. Even when dealing with an L.A. crowd that wouldn't shut up, he joked about it, describing a mid-set song as "one we played here at this venue for the first time. It's about an L.A. crowd that won't stop talking."

That talking brought the encore to an abrupt halt. Holding a ukulele, Corgan started playing 'Love Is the Sweetest Thing,' only to have it cut short by hecklers yelling "'Tiptoe Through the Tulips'" and a war of words between fans telling the loudmouthed patrons to shut up' After waiting a moment for it to die down, Corgan finally gave up, declaring, "I love you all, but I'm too old for this s---."

Even then though, he maintained his smile and seemed genuinely unfazed by the unfortunate ending. And that comfort is for good reason -- he's clearly enjoying his killer new band, which is good news for Pumpkins fans everywhere.