Date :
23 April 1999
Country :
US, San Diego, CA 
Venue :
Spreckles Theatre
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


Well, I just got back from the San diego concert of the Smashing Pumpkins. I have been to two other shows by the pumpkins, but this was by far my favorite. People kept asking me if i wanted to sell my ticket, but i declined every time. The highest offer i got was $200. I know of some people who spent up to $300 for one ticket. Some idiot guy was trying to sell a ticket for $1000 (no, i am not lying.) As i was in line, there was this guy with a backstage pass on, and he was videotaping the crowd as they came in. I think he may be collecting video footage from various shows of this tour to perhaps do a vieuphoria 2 video. The opening band "Queens of the stone age" was OK at best. i screamed for them little bit, but saved my voice for the pumpkins. Before their last song they said that the pumpkins would be out next and that the next song they were about to play was only 3 minutes long. Everyone cheered and finally (after what seemed like more than "3 minutes") they finally left and the lights went back on. 

I then ran to the snack bar and bought a bottled water and some pretzels. I could smell pot everywhere i went and it was kind of sickening. But, pot has been present at nearly every concert I have been to. They were selling smashing pumpkins shirts, posters, and buttons. There was only 2 new shirts for this tour. They were selling the Zero shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve versions) A couple of shirts from adore, and a black shirt which had that grim reaper looking guy with the glowing eyes from the tour posters, and a white/black mid sleeve shirt with the same exact design . The 2 new shirts also had the 1999 tour dates on the back them. I didn't buy any shirts because, the one i wanted was $30 bucks, and that was more than i had. Anyway, they usually sell concert shirts at stores anyway after a couple months. Hopefully they will sell these. 

I got back to my seat and after a few more minutes, the lights went black. The crowd screamed like it was the end of the world (including myself). Then, the intro to "i am one" began. I had never heard this song in person before, and i must say that i was not let down at all. Billy was wearing his now infamous black suit. D'arcy was wearing that same cowboy hat, blue jeans, and a light colored shirt that was well fitted and could have been see through. It was hard to make out exactly what james was wearing, but i do know it was dark. Jimmy was wearing a white t-shirt with the sleeves cut off (which showed just how muscul his arms were.) Billy introduced Jimmy as Fred Flinstone, and the crowd all laughed. Then he went about saying how Jimmy had traveled all the way from bedrock to perform tonite. Before the band sang "La Dolly Vita", billy said something along the lines of "we'd like to take you back now to before the Gish era." The crowd all cheered and the band went into an absolutely perfect version to "La Dolly Vita." A couple of songs later (or before, i cant exactly remember) Billy said "it's good to be back in your lovely towm again. I really enjoyed the new songs. Most of them were pretty heavy. I only was able to make out a couple of lyrics to the new songs. The only line that really stuck out in my mind was "wherever you've gone and wherever you've been." Sorry! I tried to remember, but this whole experience had me feeling very weak. I wish that i could have brought a notepad to write down lyrics, but that would have detracted from the concert. In cash car star, he changed the lyrics from "big star" to "rock star" Also during a heavy version (with different strumming) of "Ava Adore", Billy said "you'll always be my whores, 'cos you're the ones that i adore. That made me feel really special. The band went on to play an absolutely kick ass version to "Soma."The only bad thing about this show was that they only did -1- encore. I was absolutely stunned when they didn't come back to play: Home, If There is a God,With Every Light,Geek USA, etc. I was really looking foward to hearing "Geek USA" live for the first time, but i guess that'll never happen (sniffle sniffle). Billy and James had a little conversation, but it was hard to make out. Something about inner and outer space. The crowd seemed to love this too. Somehow, I managed to sneak my camera in, and i took about 20 pictures in all. I hope they all turn out. Security wasn't that bad. I think they actually saw me take a picture on time, but i did have the flash off. So, i couldn't have caused too much of a disturbance, because they didn't say anything to me. 

After the concert, as i was leaving, i noticed that a crowd of people were screaming behind the concert hall. I figured that it was the band leaving. So, i ran as fast as i could to where all the people were standing around. I briefly saw Billy step into a maroon colored van and then off he went. ME and a some other people chased his van down the street. I think that will make Billy feel special. I managed to take a quick picture of the van as it sped off. If i ever get a scanner, i will scan all the pictures i took tonite and put them on my website. All in all, it was an amazing night that i will never forget. I'd like to personally thank my mom for going out of her way to help me get the ticket to tonite's show. She loves the pumpkins too! And of course the pumpkins who made a little boy's dreams all come true. :) 

Well, that's about all i can remember. I hope you enjoyed this review (it is my first one.) 

"HI" to all pumpkins fans !!! 
- Justin Fogle
cottoncandykid@yahoo.com 
http://fly.to/cottonland 


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