The Smashing Pumpkins materialized at Paris' Accor Arena like a spectral force from a forgotten epoch, unleashing a performance of staggering intensity, eschewing nostalgia for a relentless embrace of the present, a testament to their ongoing evolution since reuniting in 2018. While classics such as "Tonight, Tonight," "1979," "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "Cherub Rock," and "Zero" naturally resounded, the setlist deftly balanced these with newer tracks from albums like Oceania, CYN, and 2023's ATUM and even a gritty, rendition of U2's "Zoo Station," which was probably the evening's biggest surprise.
The set was dense and atmospheric, engulfing the arena like an unyielding sonic tempest. The music seamlessly oscillated between alternative rock and heavy metal, prog rock and punk rock, goth and pop, reconciling every musical contradiction, proving you don't have to chose between Kiss or The Cure, Judas Priest or Joy Division, Yes or The Stooges... In fact, their sound is an ungodly amalgamation of all of those influences and they wear it all as a badge of honor, each note and rhythm reverberating through the perfectly tuned acoustics of the Accor Arena.
Billy Corgan, looking more like Uncle Fester every day, is a unique frontman. Like his music, he is torn between hard rock machismo and alt-rock sensitivity, engaging in arena heroics before retreating shyly behind his guitar. His haunting, razor-edged vocals pierced through the audience, complemented by a band that operated with the precision of a finely-tuned machine. Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming was absolutely spectacular, driving the band forward with the force of a relentless engine. The guitars, wielded by James Iha, Billy Corgan, and newcomer Kiki Wong, delivered a barrage of sound akin to a post-Punk Iron Maiden, cutting through the air with their skewed, demented harmonies.
Despite the familiar faces and beloved songs, this was no mere nostalgia trip—it was The Smashing Pumpkins in 2024: a dark, haunting, yet undeniably exhilarating presence.
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