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A better shot of the white Zero shirt everyone seems to love (Photo Credit: Eric Akaoka)

I'm home now from the first show of the Toronto double-header. This was my first Pumpkins show since they played Barrie, Ontario at Summersault before their breakup in 2000. My preference would have been to see them again sooner, but as the band took to the stage and the night wound its way through 23 songs the years melted away and it was just SP, onstage, playing.

Trying to collect and organize my thoughts from the night is difficult, so I'm saving a more lengthy piece for tomorrow. Following the show I headed backstage for a chat with Billy and Jimmy, and you'll get a double-barrel shot of that tomorrow.

The show tonight started just after 8:15. The Pumpkins had a lot of work to do and Massey Hall is strict about their curfews and noise bylaws. Jimmy waltzed onstage first and started things off with a lengthy and powerful drum solo that had the crowd on their feet, where most of them stayed for the rest of the night. Billy and the crew filtered onto the stage; BC crowned with a glittering silver headpiece. I don't need to run through the setlist, as it's already up and available everywhere, but I'll pick out my highlights.

Billy was soon stripped of his shimmering costume and sporting a new black on white Zero shirt and the standard-issue white skirt. The time for rock was upon us. From Siva to Tonight, Tonight to Today to their acoustic intermission, the Pumpkins looked like they were loving every minute of it, and as I looked around Massey Hall, up to the balconies, I could see the crowd was loving it too. Various people floated on and offstage throughout the show, with strings and brass appearing when needed and filling out songs with beautiful new arrangements. Everyone has a favourite that they're pining for (or shouting for, in the case of those with less restraint) - mine was Mayonnaise, and I got my wish as SP played a beautiful version of the track, complete with wonderful piano by Lisa.

The show seemed to consist of three parts, which might be described thusly: rock, acoustic and intimate, and more rock. Beautiful renditions of songs like Once Upon a Time during the acoustic section made the night shine for me. During the third and final section Billy and company managed to slip some Rush into a medley; a tip of the hat to the Canadian prog rockers that drove the crowd (and myself) crazy.

As the show wound down, SP flowed through a lengthy jam version of Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun. The Pumpkins have apparently been experimenting with this song at shows lately, and it was something I'd been looking forward to. As the mallets on the timpani danced to the thundering bass of the song, I realized that the night was nearly finished and was thankful that I had another show to look forward to tomorrow. Three hours is just not enough time!

After walking offstage briefly, the band returned to the roar of the crowd for their encore. A full-band-singing rendition of We Only Come Out At Night, which was surprisingly touching (and featured everyone on kazoos!) was followed by an equally touching rendition of Everything is Beautiful, with monologues by Billy throughout. A lot of Billy's comments were in jest and some were tongue in cheek, but it was at this point that the feeling that had been building all night finally hit me: The Pumpkins are back, and they're not going anywhere. After so many years of ups and downs, breakups, and side projects, The Pumpkins were doing what they always did, which is something familiar and different, and strange, and they were once-again somehow closing that thousand-mile gulf between the stage and the fans.

After wandering around and waving affectionately to the crowd, Billy walked offstage and the house lights came up. I chatted with a few people in the crowd around me - some lucky enough to be attending tomorrow's White Crosses show, all happy and dazed from the show. I'll set my own dazed head down now and dream of Black Sunshine, and of White Crosses.