Date :
17 April 1999
Country :
US, Pittsburgh, PA 
Venue :
Metropol
Reviewed by :

Capacity : 1,500  
Opening Act : Queens of the Stone Age  

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


We got to Metropol at 3:30 to get in line for the doors to open at 6:00 and the line was already incredibly long. It was raining, and we were fortunate enough to be under an awning. I was amazed that most of the people in line around us were not from Pittsburgh, but rather from Boston, Akron, Chicago, you name it. At about 4:45 the security forces started to mill about and soon two silver buses pulled up. Jimmy walked at first , no one recognized him and they all wondered why i was taking pictures of him! Billy came second, out of the same bus, he had a furry hat on to cover his bald head from the freezing rain. Out of the second bus came James, he gave a quick wave to the crowd but never looked up. D'arcy took her sweet time getting off the same bus as James but when she did come off she acknowledged the crowd with waves and smiles.  

We finally got into the club at 6:00, security was lax and many cameras made it in. However, every time a flash went off inside the guards took the camera, ripped up the film and gave the camera back after the show. I left mine in the car after i got the pictures of their arrivals. The opening band was more loud than good, but I wasn't totally bored when they were on. Queens of the Stone Age just had the unfortunate job of playing to a very excited crowd that couldn't wait for the Pumpkins. We got to stand on an elevated area right at the stage, out of the pit and at the same level as the stage on the D'arcy side.  

When the Pumpkins came out it was unbelievable. The crowd was jumping up and down, and pushing and crushing unfortunately. The new songs were excellent as you have all heard, so I plan on using the rest of my review to talk about other events. You all know how the shows have been going and not much different here. There wasn't too much banter from the band, except when Billy totally muffed one of the new songs, started laughing, restarted where he muffed, and started laughing again. The whole time, D'arcy looked irritated and James threw his hands in the air. A few chants of Jimmy Jimmy rose up, but so did chants of Billy Billy. Corgan never even acknowledged Jimmy except once when he solo'd staring right at him and when he introduced him as our new drummer FRED. Before the second encore, D'arcy was last on stage and said. "Who was that guy that just walked past? Oh...Jimmy. He plays back there so much I forget what he looks like" D'arcy was extra spunky this night as I will soon tell you. She was exchanging looks with Billy all night and he kept looking at her as if to check on her. At one point they even kinda got into it, bickering about something.At one point D'arcy threw a pic and hit me in the chest. It hit the floor and so did I after it, just as a million people landed on me. My wife ended up finding it and some girl basically begged me for it. I kept it of course.  

The show was great and as you all know about the songs, the music was awesome. After the concert we went outside, and even though the security told us to leave because we couldn't get near the band. So, I gave up, and walking around the one silver bus i see D'arcy hanging out the window. I yell D'arcy! Thanks for the pic! She says thanks and I ask her to sign something for me. Sure she says, and she did> I asked her if James was on the bus and yes he was, but he wouldn't show his face. Next thing i know she gets off the bus and comes out to stand with us and she starts bitching about Billy muffing the songs and how he even has a monitor with the lyrics but he still screws up. She was capping on Billy a lot, and then she dropped a bomb on me. She said she is quitting the band because it isn't fun anymore. I didn't believe her and I kept trying to talk her out of it. Her security guy was there and she kept bitching to him, too. She said "Do you think he (Billy) believes me?" and the security manager said "yeah". So then she says, "well then he just doesn't care". To which he replies, "I wouldn't say he doesn't CARE". Upon hearing this i say, "D'arcy, you can't quit" She looked at me and said. "I can and I am" I asked her if she would do a solo album if she did quit and she wasn't too into that idea but maybe. At this point I asked her to wait until I ran to get my camera, I did, she waited and I got my picture with her. Eventually, a lady came off the bus and said, get her on the bus "gooch" to the security guy. He says the only way to get her on the bus would be to carry her and that would not be a good idea cos she is pissed. The she starts going off on how people want her to sing Daydream, but Billy just tells the crowd that she doesn't like to sing. She says that is b***s**t, that she loves to sing. The lady came back after a few and says. "James wants to know if we can call a cab for her." I cracked up, and so did everyone else. D'arcy said goodbye, and said we are all beautiful (the fans). And i begged her to stay one last time, and she said her mind was made up.  

So, I moved to Billy's bus with a heavy heart, but excited to have met her. At Billy's bus there was a throng of people and it wasn't long before he bopped out, jumped into a van with a security manager and left, with police escort, didn't even stop to wave. BUMMER. But, after this, the throng left and there were only about 6 of us left. So... i showed off my pic and my autograph and we waited for Jimmy. And we waited. And we waited. At about 11:30, James and D'arcy's bus gone, Jimmy came out with his wife and security , jumped into a hatchback and that was it. I banged on the window once to try to get an autograph but they shooed my away. Double Bummer. He looked like he wanted to sign but the security guy said no. I can't complain though, the concert was legendary and I got to talk to D'arcy up close and personal. Not bad for a freezing Saturday night. By the way, I think the next Pumpkins album WILL be the greatest one yet, judging by the energy of the songs. Long live the Pumpkins, D'arcy, PLEASE stay!!!! 


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