Billy Corgan and his new bass player

  • Billy Corgan and his new bass player

The Smashing Pumpkins have a new tour this summer. They’re calling it an “intimate U.S. tour,” because they’re playing venues smaller than the arenas they used to pack back when they mattered.

They’re opening the 14-date tour in Cleveland on July 6 at House of Blues.

But does anyone care?

The Pumpkins are a band in name only these days, since Billy Corgan is the only original member still around. Their recent EP, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor, includes four recent songs released online for free. None of them is very good.

Apparently Japanese people still care about what Corgan is up to these days. After the string of U.S. shows — which wrap up in Memphis on July 24 — the Pumpkins are playing four huge shows in Tokyo and Osaka.

Word is, Corgan is planning to invite a few fans to sit in on the band’s soundchecks at the U.S. shows. Which may or may not be a good thing, considering the Pumpkins’ last tour a few years ago was filled with long and rambling sets filled with a bunch of songs nobody wanted to hear.

No ticket info is available yet for the House of Blues show. We’ll keep you posted. —Michael Gallucci (follow me on Twitter @mgallucci)

This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2010.

5 replies on “Smashing Pumpkins Open Tour in Cleveland — Do You Care?”

  1. Actually, quite a few people care, which is why you would even bother to write this blog at all. I guarantee every single show on this tour will sell out. I guess that makes SP out of touch…

    Did you even go to any of their shows the last few years? I attended three and none of them were long and rambling. Maybe they were to casual listeners like you that just want to hear the radio hits, but REAL fans appreciate the diversity and ambition of the new material.

    Corgan, unfortunately for you, is not in it for the money like the return of Creed and STP. He is a true artist that is trying to challenge himself and not become a karaoke band of his own band. Interesting concept, huh?

    I know this is a blog, so obviously it is going to be opinionated, but if you are going to make such brash statements at least back them up with some substance.

  2. Wow.. Really!?!? This is how you repay a band that has done so much!? Does anyone care?!? “Nobody wanted to hear” What a complete lie. This shows how intelligent you are. I bet the Cleveland area could use some extra money from the fans coming from all over the country.. All areas could use some extra money! And this is how you show gratitude? You sir, are a failure.

  3. Nah, you’re correct. No one but these two boobs above care. F U Martha, you sorry excuse for a human and waste of skin.

  4. I must be a loser. I care. And just bought two tickets to the show at The House of Blues. Perhaps Billy Corgan doesn’t “matter” anymore because his music isn’t currently in heavy rotation on the radio. But if you’ve seen him live then you know that what he does on stage with an electric guitar is stuff that emo bands dream about… or do on Guitar Hero. So, if you’re not a fan of true musicians then you’re right, it doesn’t matter.

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