The Smashing Pumpkins and the Stone Temple Pilots rocked the stage at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine this past Wednesday as part of “The World Is A Vampire” tour. This is a dream lineup for a lot of rock fans, especially fans from their peak in the 90s. Although, I shouldn’t use the word “peak”, as both bands continue to draw mass amounts of fans, ranging from teenagers to middle aged adults. It’s quite a magical sight to see so many people from completely different generations connected through this music. It goes to show how our world can be so different, yet music is a constant that remains true to so many.
The Stone Temple Pilots hit the stage first, and they most definitely did their job of hyping everyone up for The Smashing Pumpkins. Jeff Gutt, lead vocalist since 2017, has a voice like no other and did not miss a single note throughout the entirety of STP’s set. STP did not disappoint with the set list either, playing fan favorites such as “Vasoline”, “Interstate Love Song”, and “Plush”. The whole set was super high energy, and you can tell the band members still have a ton of fun performing, which is something that also translates into the crowd.
Some people may have been expecting slower tunes from the Pumpkins, but they started right off the bat with predominantly harder rock sounds, matching the theme of their tour perfectly. Sticking to the vampire theme, lead singer and guitarist Billy Corgan did not disappoint with his outfit, consisting of a long dark black robe, and spiritual facial paint, he fit right into the gothic and eerie stage design. The setlist was stacked with hits, including a few covers of Talking Heads, and Manfred Mann.
Although the tour has passed through Southern California, they continue touring throughout the U.S. through the remainder of the summer, until early September. This is not one to miss, as The Smashing Pumpkins are a timeless band that will continue to connect with generations to come!
Words and photos by Paige Good
