Set List : I Am One - Zero - Pug - La Dolly Vita - Speed Kills - Stand Inside Your Love - Glass + The Ghost Children - Glass's Theme - Virex - Dross - Wound - Cash Car Star - Ava Adore - Today  
Encore 1 : Starla (tease) - Muzzle - Soma  
Encore 2 : Blue Skies Bring Tears - If There is a God - With Every Light  
Encore 3 : Geek USA 

Doors opened almost an hour late. People were getting quite rowdy. The Pumpkins had come in at 4:30, giving short waves and a few little smiles. Almost no one recognized Jimmy with his new haircut. D'Arcy was pretty hard to make out, too, because she had on this large cowboy hat which completely blocked her face as she walked.  

When we were let in, we all crowded in (I was directly front and center, so I have a pretty good spot to see everything) The crowd really became annoying then, we were all kind of mad- Queens came on 45 minutes after doors. They started at around 8, ended by 8:30. This being a Pumpkins review, I won't comment on how horrid that band is.  

Finally, at nine, after what seemed like nearly forever, those darn Pumpkins came onto the stage. The sound in Tramps was pretty awesome, except (and I don't know if its because I was standing so close) the vocals were damn hard to make out. It was okay for people in the front, cause we were about 5/7 feet away from Billy, so we could almost hear him without the mike (or maybe I was just hallucinating), but when they were bantering, I couldn't really make anything out. They started out with ! Am One, which made the crowd break out into astonishingly loud cheers. Billy smiled wide when he heard it, even James cracked a grin. Jimmy was awesome. He was in a good mood, and after a three year break, he's lost nothing. For I Am One, they played it like second nature, not one looking at the other. Billy just stared down at the audience, and the rest were spaced out. Zero was kinda the same, pretty good performance, and they kept it relatively in time, too! But for Pug, Billy looked a little bit pensive... he started the opening riff, a little faster time than the album version. Then came time for the drums to kick in, and they did in perfect time. Not one beat off. Billy was so happy and broke into a smile so wide, you almost couldn't recognize him. He turned around and gave a little signal to Jimmy, and then started to sing. La Dolly Vita was also pretty awesome, and the whole band looked kinda happy that so many people in the audience knew the words. (We didn't think they would play it, though... they were trying out 'Suffer' in soundcheck with the drums... and Jimmy sounded incredible)  

The new songs- Speed Kills, Stand Inside Your Love, Glass + The Ghost Children, Glass's Theme, Virex, Dross, Wound... all damn good songs. And they rock. Billy pulled out some awesome riffs and solos, but I have to say that D'Arcy and James weren't any slouches, either. Some cool bass lines, and James was kicking it with the 10+ pedals he had spread out at his feet. (In fact, we were cheering the crew guys when they were setting up the pedals... those things are awesome). Sometimes it got a little messy audio wise, but I think that more on the part that my hearing was starting to go. (Note: if you stand by a bunch of people who like to hear themselves scream, *move*) The band looked really happy to be playing new songs, and so well at that. Some of the lyrics I could make out were also pretty cool... no doubt, this new album will kick ass.  

Okay, so I know there are a lot of people who didn't like Cash Car Star at the Halloween show. Well, forget about that. The song rocks. With Jimmy on drums, there was no stopping that song's potential at being a big hit. I'm not saying that Kenny was a bad drummer, he's not- its just with the chemistry Jimmy has with these guys, he can make a mediocre song become one of the best you've ever heard.  

Ava Adore was pretty rocking as well, they played a bit differently, sounding more like a rock band then a band who plays rock. (I hope you guys know what I'm trying to say.) Today was also awesome, with the band actually looking at everyone while playing. All of us in front started cheering near the end- we saw James play the Today riff. Those people who don't play guitar took a little longer to make out the sound from Billy's guitar.  

When they came back for encores, they started to comment on the 'Starla' signs up and about. I couldn't really make out what D'Arcy was saying, but then James started to play the Starla riff which everyone went *crazy* for. But he stopped and said they didn't rehearse the song, and wouldn't be able to play it for us right then. (Which I think is pretty true... they didn't have and bongo-like things up on stage that shows up midway in 'Starla') And then off into Muzzle, which just blew me away. Jimmy was amazing up until the line 'and I knew, the murmurs of the soul', where he couldn't get the timing right to save his life. James fell to his knees and raised his arms in exasperation, D'Arcy took the time out to wipe her face (she was sweating *lots*), and Billy bent over backwards laughing. We all started about the fifth chant of 'Jimmy' then, because it was pretty funny. Then Billy said they should start it up again and just edit out the mess-up from the new video (does that count as confirmation of a Vieuphoria 2???), and sang then line again. And keeping with Pumpkin luck, Jimmy messed up again. The third try they nailed it, although Billy was laughing a little too much to sing the words right.  

Then, silence. and most people knew what was coming next. Billy and James stood face to face, and started the opening riffs to Soma. The crowd just died. It was deafening for what seemed like almost a full minute before people shut up to hear the song. When Billy turned to us, he messed up the riff and quickly covered it up. He and James both looked over at one another and laughed. The song was completely... I can't find the word. Amazing, but better. Before the break where the pull in the drums and heavy guitar, right when the riff fades away, we started to cheer until half of us almost lost our voice. Billy took a step back- he looked almost giddy with happiness, and then without missing a beat, broke back into the song. Incredible.  

Blue Skies Bring Tears, If There is a God, With Every Light- all in the second encore, all amazing. My personal favorite was If The Is a God. I think it is a great song, it really mellows you out. After that, came the last song of the night... Geek USA. Very cool. We all sang, the crowd got kind of rough for this song, cause they all knew it was the end. Billy, D'Arcy, James and Jimmy had certainly put on a show for us. Jimmy had to feel appreciated. We neglected to chant any other band member's names- that show was all for Jimmy. He had a little solo at the beginning of one song, where all mouths were closed and all eyes on him. Ha, this may sound cheesy, but it has to be said... the Pumpkins are back and ready to kick your ass all over again.  

Hope you like the review. Its a little long, I know, but I can't seem to shut up about them. I did crack my sternum at the show cause of the pushing, but even that didn't take away how awesome the show was. :)  

~Cathy