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April 12, 2002 - Double Door - Chicago, IL, US Concert review by DGF Date: 4/12/02 Venue: Double Door, Chicago, IL Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) Despite all the broker-related ticketing woes that plagued this show, I was lucky enough to catch Zwan on the first night of their three-night-stand @ Double Door. I got a ticket for $25 on the street outside the venue. The scalpers were practically begging people to take the tickets off their hands. I have to say that I'm quite glad that I went looking for a ticket at the last minute. Zwan's set began when Matt Sweeny took the stage alone to work into the groove of "Jesus, I." The circular guitar figure rang over the audience as the rest of the band took the stage, filling in the sound. When the Corgan monster finally let loose with his wail of "Jesus, I've taken my cross," the room almost melted. The band made a quick pass through Bob Marley's "Exodus" before tearing into "God's Gonna Set This World on Fire" and sending the crowd pogo-ing for their lives. In this epic, opening shot, the artist formerly known as Billy Pumpkin reaffirmed everything that made his former band a powerful, grand rock monster—and then he pushed forward. Over the course of the night Zwan dabbled in the dreamy, the chimey, the firey, the psychedelic, and the explosive. The band showcased a lineup of songs entirely different from what they played at their first shows in California. "Endless Summer" was a full-throttle pop song, an amped-up, arena-blast anthem. The sweet, single-worthy "Cast a Stone," a hold over from the first Zwan shows in California, already sounds like an old favorite. They displayed their very capable rock chops on an armageddonized reading of the Kink's "All Day and All of the Night" and the tongue-in-cheek encore offering "Baby Let's Rock." While Corgan was obviously the focus of attention most of the night—in fine voice as he howled, crooned, and roared--the remarkable thing about Zwan is that they don't come off as a solo project. Former Chavez frontman Matt Sweeney lends a fair amount of drunken swagger and a hint of zany menace to the group's on-stage personality. His ringing guitar lines provide a simultaneously expansive and angular sound. David Pajo (of Papa M, Slint, and Tortoise) anchors the band with tight rhythm work and spidery counter melodies. Lastly, the rhythm section of former Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin and brand new bassist Paz Lenchantin (formerly of A Perfect Circle), is surely one of the tightest and grooviest on the current rock scene. I can't wait until I can get my hands on a proper document of Zwan's music. I have to say that I might actually like Zwan better than the Smashing Pumpkins. This new band shows little trace of the pomposity that ultimately sunk the Pumpkins. In fact, these new songs are terse, urgent, and wiry. Like so many other bands currently in the buzz bin, Zwan is both fresh and familiar sounding. Their sound is a mix of the old and new, a glimpse of the great things that can happen when you rethink the past. Corgan's always been a top-notch songwriter; it's great to see him backed by a band that can meet him head on. -DGF * SETLIST "Jesus, I" "Exodus" (Bob Marley) "God's Gonna Set This World On Fire" "Lyric" "Signal This Strong" "Endless Summer" "Rivers We Can't Cross" "Love Lies in Ruin" "The World Goes Round" "Settle Down" "Cast a Stone" "For Your Love" "Yeah" "All Day and All of the Night" (Kinks) "Dust My Broom" ENCORE "Baby Let's Rock" "A New Poetry" Credit : http://www.fictionfunhouse.com/cdreviews/zwan2.htm
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