4/5
Smashing Invasion
Halloween has come early, as the Rock Invasion of Smashing Pumpkins comes to Japan, like Godzilla's roaring blue flame, this week. All for the American, alternative heavy rock God's first tour of the land of the rising sun in a dozen years. Tonight, tonight, they'll play my new home of Yokohama's KT Zepp, all before concluding their run of concerts in Hiroshima next week. But last night, the big-three of Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin (we still miss D'arcy) took Tokyo by storm. Playing in the formidable former Tokyo 1964 judo arena of the Nippon Budokan. One week before Norah Jones will be back there for her first time since 2022. A little different, I know, but we will be there too, just like we were three years ago.
It's been a great year of rock in Japan. From the summer circuit of the Fuji Rock festival (headlined by the likes of Vampire Weekend, Haim and The Hives), to Japan's very own rock leaders Sakanaction giving us their 'SAKANAQUARIUM'. And today (yesterday) was one of the greatest days we've ever known, too. Tomorrow could wait, as the 'Machina' machines of God came out to their amp shattering theme of glass, all before breaking into classics from their twin towering albums of 'Siamese Dream' and the magnum opus, double disc of 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'. The latter, celebrating its 30th anniversary, this year. That's why an onslaught of outstanding numbers peppered the sensational set-list of power. As soon as the Japanese faithful sang "despite of my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage" in unominous unison of "we've been there", you knew it was on. Billy, telling the crowd how much he loved them, and how it hurt for it to have been so long, wished he could express just how much in Japanese. Classics like 'Muzzle', '1979', 'Bodies', 'Jellybaby', and of course 'Zero', more than painted a picture to prove that point.
'Tonight, Tonight' was the epic evening to pay tribute to one of the greatest albums of all-time, and especially my youth. And the only one to come close to it (with the 'Dream' of 'Disarm', 'Cherub Rock' and 'Mayonnaise'). Nuanced in nostalgia, the Pumpkins mean so much to my teenage years (and I wasn't even that angsty...honest), this gig had me tearing up as the tore up the stage. Ditto to the Japanese crowd of all ages, all around me, some rocking 'Rock Invasion' tees from the 90s. This 'Heavy Metal Machine' used to be all I listened to before the days of Spotify streams, or a decent wage. I used to have 'Mellon Collie' on a cassette (yep, that's how old I am) back in high-school, recorded by a friend (thanks, Mike). It all coming to an abrupt end when the magnificent 'Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans' started skipping more than a boxer in training, just as it was about to build. No chance of that tonight, as we got to hear the nine-minute wonder in all its extended glory. Billy and the boys gave the fans exactly what they wanted. Even more in the form of a beautiful version of the 'Top Gun' famous 'Take My Breath Away' by Berlin. He even kept playing with James and the fans as he broke into licks from Lenny Kravitz's 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' and Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' (rest peacefully, Ozzy). All before 'Ava Adore' gave us everything we love, and the notion that we shall never be apart. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Set-List Picks: 'Today', 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings', 'Take My Breath Away (Berlin Cover)'.
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