From Mediabox101

The five of us have salads at Tuscany. That's four women in their 20's and one 19 year old male. Tuscany is a fine restaurant just a few paces from Metro. As we pay our bill, we see Jimmy Chamberlin, ex drummer of Smashing Pumpkins, with his wife, and Joe Shanahan, Metro owner, walk by, appearing as if they're entering the restaurant. We decide not to bother them. Could we be growing up? We also deduce that there's no way the show is starting right at 8pm, if they're just now gonna have dinner.

 

We're right. As of 7:45 the line to enter was still entering.

A kid in line “Blissed & Gone” asked me if I flew in just for this show.

“Actually, I’m also in town shooting a movie – Lost Girls,” I tell the kid who’d I’d met years ago at other Pumpkin and Zwan shows.

We all made our way to the balcony as the floor was packed. We thought we'd have better luck splitting up. Melonzz and I ended up in the far left balcony, where the VIP's sit, normally Corgan's close family and friends. We ended up standing right behind their seats. There is only one row of seats up there, so we had a fantasticly perfect unobstructed view. Not bad for not having to wait in line since 9am, like most people who were standing below us in the front row.

About 8:30pm the lights dim on the simple set of a plush red chair on a square carpet, microphones, and a lit up starry night backdrop reminiscent of a Van Gogh. The stars are lit up from silver / black to purple as Billy takes the stage to thunderous applause and cheers and of course, a fully standing ovation in the sold out ballroom. It took several minutes to settle down to absolute quiet, which was required since the set was acoustic, and being recorded. After Corgan joined his hands together in a moment that looked like he said a very quick silent prayer and thank you, he began.

The "12" song set included some things no one had ever heard before, except those who may have been lucky enough to attend the private church session recordings (see IntegralNaked.org). But this was his first public offering. For the first time ever, one could hear a pin drop in the Metro. It was sublime. Every note and lyric crisp. The songs mainly focused on Chicago, his other love. It was a tribute to a city which made him king. Like it says in the song "El A Noy"

"Like a jewel in a crown / Sits Chicago town"

and many songs reflected that sentiment, from "Riverview" to "Black Sox", "World's Fair" and "White City". In "White City" and "Say Goodbye" it seems Corgan is sending a personal message with words like

"I've got to leave and make good so / How long should I wait"

Or maybe we're just reading into it. There IS a pamphlet that went with the concert. Just like you get at The Opera.

At one point BC invited a long haired, Native American - looking friend of his named Robert that he had met in Taos, New Mexico, to join him on stage and play some strange, aboriginal, yet ethereal sounding instrument.

In between songs he joked with the audience and pretended to answer questions like "What's your address?" since he just purchased the 10th most expensive home ever bought in Illinois.

A male fan yelled "Plug in Billy!" and he teased back in a monotone deadpan, "Isn't it enough that I already plugged into you last night?"

One girl at the front was fainting and he asked her if she wanted to get fished out, and had some security rescue her. Who wouldn't wanna get fished out by Corgan? Ha.

And some sentiments included:

"It was really weird going to the Metro seeing some dude playing some quiet acoustic songs"

"At one point it was funny, with songs about driving spikes into you"

And what not.

There were two divine encores with several songs in each, of course it wasn't enough, when he got ready for the second encore an audience member yelled, "Play five songs this time Billy!" That's the general sentiment of his fans, many of whom have been around over 10 years. Tearstain did call and got to catch his long 11 minute song via cell phone just before he encored. That was a fun German phone call...

In between encores I got to exchange pleasantries with Joe since he was sitting right in front of us, next to Jimmy.

When someone in the crowd mentioned a tour, Billy coyly replied, “What makes you think I’m ever gonna tour again?” However, he promised a kick – ass alternative rock album due out later this year, with an emphasis on the word alternative, “Remember when music used to sound different?” he playfully asked his exuberant audience. He is also publishing a book of poetry – lots to look out for.

Afterwards, Melonzz was one of the 9 lucky fans to get a backstage pass, wow, how things have changed, only 9(!) passes given out, security is so tight these days. That's why we didn't even get to snap a photo for this article. She said Corgan was short and sweet during the meet and greet but it wasn't at all like a rock star party.

None of us tried to sneak in to a backstage party that never was. Could we ALL be growing up?

As long as we're not growing old, and Corgan is with us, then it's a nice ride.

Photos by Julie Mitchell