Smashing Pumpkins play Guitar Hero World Tour event

Ξ October 27th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Billy Corgan, Concerts, Music News, Smashing Pumpkins |

From the L.A. Times:

Smashing Pumpkins play Guitar Hero World Tour event, debut new song

Memo to Activsion: Next time you have a launch party for the newest version of Guitar Hero, book the happy-go-lucky Foo Fighters (oh yes, they too are available for video game launch parties, for the right price, that is). The Smashing Pumpkins aren’t in any mood to send blue-eyed, blond-haired marketing minions home humming “Today.”

Billy Corgan’s message Saturday night to partygoers at a private Guitar Hero World Tour launch party? He is no corporate shill. Sure, the Smashing Pumpkins ringleader cashed the $100,000+ check his band surely received for performing at the bash, which was co-sponsored by Best Buy and took place just blocks away from the Minneapolis-based big box retailer’s La Brea Avenue store in a massive sound studio — but that doesn’t mean he played nicely.

Things started out promisingly enough as Corgan took the stage around 10 p.m. The band tore through “Tarantula” with efficiency and grace before performing a perfunctory version of “G.L.O.W.” (which is featured in Guitar Hero World Tour as a single, the first time a band has recorded a new song exclusively for the franchise). But the second half of the set left the curious crowd, heavy on Best Buy execs and contest-winners, feeling confused, used or worse.

(Full set list plus more of the review after the jump)

“Old School…1979!” one man a decade or so removed from the frathouse yelled out, perhaps unaware that the band had just offered up a blistering rendition of “Siva,” from Smashing Pumpkins’ debut “Gish.”

With that kind of crowd staring back at the frontman, you can hardly blame Corgan for saving the entire second half of the set for working out new material, and dark, experimental feedback-laden noodling. Was this the 41-year-old’s way of rebelling against “fake” guitar heroes playing the video game on one of the multiple screens set up just steps away from the stage?

“I feel like Sarah Palin up here,” he deadpanned at one point during the set, perhaps referencing his comfort level at being the evening’s cheerleader. Although Corgan seemed in good enough spirits (wearing a silver skirt and a tight, black shirt with a spider on it…the same exact outfit he wore to the Scream Awards earlier this month: See picture above), it was clear he wasn’t in the mood to play the hits.

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