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August 12, 2008 - Palace Theatre - Louisville, KY Concert review by Miles For starters, I can tell you I'm an immense fan of Billy and The Pumpkins. I have always enjoyed the group's artistry: the ability of the group to write and record great music while they grew and developed as people and musicians. I haven't disliked any of their albums - quite honestly they all fit. Gish, Mellon Collie, Adore... they're all perfect as they are., and I'm sure as an artist Billy gave part of himself while making those songs. But this show? Well, I have been to lots of concerts in my time and I can't say I have ever seen an artist (or group of artists) so disconnected from the audience. Don't give a f*** about your fans? Just turn the volume WAY up and follow a formulaic setlist like The Pumpkins did on August 12th in Louisville. I don't know if Billy has had enough of the tour racket, or whether he has had enough of it period, but please, if you're going to give a show, at least be present. Exist in the moment. One of the best shows I've ever seen was Dave Matthews. He played at Farm Aid in 2003 - I saw the Pittsburgh show. Dave went onto stage all by himself with a jumbo acoustic and a bar stool - no shit - and played an hour of whatever he felt like. There were almost no "hits" - no Crash, Tripping Billies, no What Would You Say. He covered a Dylan tune, a Hendrix tune, but nothing that most fans would be anticipating or expecting. And yet the show was splendid, a gift. Dave was completely there and blissful in his playing. Perhaps Dave was also sick of playing the same old crap and didn't want to play a "Garden Party" - fine. But he sure was there. Now, I'm not saying one cannot thrash and be blissful, because of course you can. One doesn't have to play acoustically to seem at peace. But the show at the Louisville Palace offered no connection whatsoever with the artist, the person that is Billy Corgan. In fact, if I had not seen Billy standing on stage, it might have been someone else with a similar voice covering *his* tunes, standing in his place, because from all the beauty and selflessness I've heard in his music over the years, there wasn't a single f***in trace of it that night to help me understand who actually showed up. I guess it was him - maybe not - but either way I feel a little violated. Not because the band wouldn't play "Zero" (but I admit I came with my Zero shirt and hearing it would have kicked ass) or any other hit, but because any bunch of dirtbags could have shown up and played that shit. So all this begs the question in my mind: what is the point of this tour? For Billy to prove to himself that he can still do it, that he still has it? You've got to love what you're doing first for anyone else to appreciate or understand it... so maybe he should ask himself what the point really is before turning off a whole new generation of young people by selling them plastic coins painted with gold. It just ain't the real thing, and some people can see right through it. Get back to what you love, Billy, whatever that may be. Be present and live in the moment - the only time that matters at all.
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