The last time the Smashing Pumpkins played Washington's 9:30 Club, an enthusiastic new mayor responded by proclaiming "Smashing Pumpkins Day" throughout the District of Columbia. That was 1999, and Billy Corgan's band returned the appreciation of Anthony Williams by never playing his town again.
The next year, the Smashing Pumpkins officially split up. Corgan would return to the District in 2005 to support his solo effort, but when the group reformed earlier this year, it was announced that their only Washington-area stop in 2007 would be the Virgin Music Festival in suburban Baltimore.
Yet, while much of Washington was crowded over Delaware beaches, the Smashing Pumpkins used the Independence Day mid-week break to softly announce a secret show at the 9:30 Club this coming Tuesday, July 10. While ticket prices haven't yet been released (expect to pay $20 to $30 if secret shows in other markets are an indicator), fans can purchase them at 10:00 a.m. this Friday at Tickets.com (also available through the 930.com website).
Reunion announcements often meet skepticism by fans when disinterested former members are routinely replaced with lesser-known artists. True to the stereotype, the reunited Smashing Pumpkins is without iconic members James Iha (guitar) and D'arcy Wretzky (bass). However, concert goers do get to hear Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin actually play Smashing Pumpkins songs within in the small confines of the 9:30 Club. Otherwise, fans will have to suffer through near $100 tickets and a set by Ben Harper to see the reformed group on a sunburned racetrack in August.
Tickets for the 9:30 Club show are expected to sell out. To guarantee tickets, Brightest Young Things suggests purchasing them online close to the 10:00 a.m. opening sale time on Friday (July 6).
The Smashing Pumpkins
w/ Celebration
This Tuesday, July 10
7:30 p.m.
Ticket Price: To be released Friday (2 ticket limit)
Tickets can be purchased on Friday, July 6 at 10:00 a.m. at: www.tickets.com
(ALSO: CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE:
http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/live-dc/live-dc-smashing-pumpkins-secret-930-club-show-photos/
God loves a cheerful giver.
Back in Junior High, I used to adore the Smashing Pumpkins. I remember once getting grounded from going to a SP show & having my heart nearly broken.
This show would be a cool thing if the Pumpkins weren't being such money-hungry assholes.
They've got a lot of nerve, releasing FOUR versions of their new album, three of which have exclusive tracks and are available only at Target, Best Buy & iTunes. It's a nasty blow to indie stores.
Those of you who are fans would reasonably be pissed off, too - SP doesn't care about your love - they just want your money.
Shame on you, Billy Corgan.
$30 for a washed up band who sold out? No thanks.
Agree on both accounts - but I do give them a little credit for doing $30 at 9:30 when I would have expected $50 at DAR or something.
why are you acting like other bands haven't done the same thing with numerous other albums?
bloc party did on their recent release. also, peter, bjorn and john have. and those are just the two i can think of right off the bat.
Your logic, Miss P, is as leaky as an unstanched wench.
This the same tactic that Republicans are making in defense of Bush commuting Scooter Libby's sentence, and the same tactic that Democrats made when Clinton pardoned damned near everyone, which is the same tactic the Rs made when George Bush, Sr. issued his pardons:
Namely: This other person did it, were you mad at them? Why not?
This argument does nothing to further debate, and, in fact, only detracts from it.
My point? It doesn't matter if Clinton pardoned people, or if Bush Sr. pardoned anyone, not in the case of Bush commuting Libby's sentence.
Neither, then, does it matter if OTHER bands released albums only to certain big-box stores. Holly's rant was about THIS band in particular, The Smashing Pumpkins.
Bringing up other bands that did it is like some 8 yr old who threw a firecracker at a puppy and getting caught saying "Well JIMMY DID IT TOO!"
It didn't work when you were 8, it doesn't work now.
Was I just *gasp* edited on BYT?
er, uh, nevermind. Move along.
cale, that's simply the ego-stroking of always being able to sell out the smaller venue and pack it with Corgan sycophants.
the "low" ticket price is only keeping things real in the sense that no sane promoter/IMP/whomever would expect a full Constitution Hall! they know there won't be a rabid turnout. i remember the last 930 show...people were melting. in 2007 he'll be lucky if former fans will consider attending.
and now for the most outrageous scalper of them all!
http://www.10best.com/Tickets/index.html?tnEID=778&tnPID=269638
will someone please shut these people down?
why shut them down? let's see how the free market treats the folks who scalp pumpkins tickets... my guess is the bottom will drop out and they'll go for around 30 bucks
point well taken, hopefully no one will buy them
but the fact that they got to tix before bona fide fans with no intent to profit from their purchase raises my ire
just got word that the show is sold out
sorry to all those trying for tix since 10 am
glad i'm seeing them at Virgin Fest
weird that 9:30 club wasn't selling any from the box office
don't they usually sell tix online as well as from the club?
I heard they only sold 200 online and over phone, rest were given to radio stations / promoters. I so wanted to go, but I'll be damned if i'm paying scalper prices. Their new CD sucks BTW.