Smashing Pumpkins Celebrate 20th Anniversary in NYC

Smashing Pumpkins ended their two-show stint in New York last night (November 7) with a mammoth two-and-a-half hour set at the United Palace Theatre in Harlem.

Although only singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain remain from the original line-up, both gigs were part of showpiece tour marking the 20th anniversary of the celebrated veterans' formation.

The Chicago outfit are marking the occasion by delving into their back catalogue to create two completely different setlists which alternate on every night of the US tour.

The first New York date (November 6) saw them perform the 'Black Sunshine' set and featured such classics as 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings', 'Siva', 'Tonight, Tonight' and a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun'. The second night's set was entitled 'White Crosses' and included rapturously received versions of 'Cherub Rock', 'Zero' and their now famous take on Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide'.

Despite generally keeping audience interaction sparse throughout the shows, frontman Corgan did take time to hold court with a heckling fan during the second night.

In what seemed like a rehearsed skit, the bald-headed singer spotted one disgruntled punter and invited him on stage to air his grievance. After being given the mic, the fan simply stated "Last night's show sucked!" Taking the criticism in good humour and at one point even encouraging it, Corgan retorted by saying "I liked that song YOU wrote. What was it called again? 'Take Your Dick Out Of My Ass'? That's right, it was a big hit in Europe wasn't it?"

The full 'White Crosses' set for the November 7 was:
'Ava Adore'
'Cupid De Locke'
'1979'
'99 Floors'
'Owata'
'Sunkissed'
'Soma'
'Cherub Rock'
'Zero'
'Bodies'
'Crestfallen'
'I Of The Mourning'
'A Song For A Son'
'Landslide'
'Disarm'
'MCIS Theme'
'Galapogos'
'Gossamer'
'As Rome Burns'
'The Sounds Of Science'
'The March Hare/Suffer'
'Age Of Innocence'
'That's The Way (My Love Is)'
'I Am One'

The November 6 'Black Sunshine' set ran:
'Roctopus'
'Everybody Come Clap'
'Tarantula'
'G.L.O.W.'
'Siva'
'Eye'
'Mayonaise'
'Tonight, Tonight'
'Speed Kills'
'Transformer'
'Superchrist'
'United States'
'Once Upon A Time'
'The Crux'
'The Rose Machine'
'Today'
'Bullet With Butterfly Wings'
'The End Is The Beginning Is The End'
'Heavy Metal Machine'
'Glass'
'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun'
'We Only Come Out At Night'
'Everything Is Beautiful'