I spent part of my summer following the band from Asheville to San Francisco to Baltimore. Taking all this time off from work required a lot of lying to pretty much everyone I know...

It was worth it.

The Asheville shows were one of a kind. When these shows were first announced I knew that I had to go to all of them. How could I pretend to not care what happened on a night when I wasn't there? The Orange Peel was so intimate. I felt like I was right there with the band. Like they were my hometown band and I was the first to discover them. Being able to listen to rehearsals and soundchecks on the side of the building... chance encounters around town... these moments were too special to risk missing. I got everything I ever wanted to experience with this band during that time. I will never forget it. I've been thinking about how the Asheville shows were like getting to be inside the rehearsal studio. I saw plenty of people upset about the setlists on the internet, but those of us who saw the shows know that it didn't matter what they played every night, each show was special. There were noticeable changes and improvements in each members' performance each night. Hearing rehearsals for 3 to 4 hours each afternoon and then watching another 3-hour performance a few hours later allowed me to see the work-ethic of this band. I heard them becoming more cohesive and it was so exciting to watch them in action each night.

When they left Asheville I was left with the bootlegs to relive each night and check my memory for accuracy.

I listened to these bootlegs (excessively) and realized that I had not been mistaken in my original opinions of what I had witnessed in Asheville. That was when I knew I had to see them in San Francisco.

I flew out to San Francisco on a whim that became a reality in about 48 hours... I think it's best to work that way sometimes, because there are things in life that are worth it. Yes, I flew out there without tickets to a single show, and yes, I got into every show I needed (actually, very easily).

The reviews coming out of San Francisco had shown me that the people getting to watch these shows had no idea where the band they were watching had just been. I really wanted to go see more shows because I knew I would enjoy them and appreciate the change in the band. Perhaps we were lucky in Asheville because the band was evolving so rapidly at their first chance to really jam all day every day without having to worry about travel. I suspect that by the time the band got to the Fillmore they had gotten to the level where it would not be obvious to the observer on first listen where the changes were taking place. I'm trying to say that the major changes took place in Asheville, where the subtle changes took place in SF.

All I know is that when I got to the Fillmore the band was noticeably different from Asheville. I was there the last 3 nights. The first song of my first night there (7/30) was Blue Skies Bring Tears (one of my favorites from Asheville). It made the entire trip worthwhile!

My second night in SF (7/31) is what I consider the *best* show I have ever been to.
An amazing night...

My last night in San Francisco they started with an entire acoustic set. The quiet set made it possible to hear all the subtleties in their jams. They played In My Body, Blue Skies Bring Tears, Drown, "?"... it was a wonderful experience. The second set was electric and, to my ears, flawless.

The culmination of my experience was to witness a festival crowd's reaction to them in Baltimore. I knew that they were capable of pulling off a flawless, crowd-pleasing set, and I told so many non-fans to make sure to check out their show. Experiencing that crowd, I know the band pleased them. It was the most excited crowd I witnessed so far. Though the crowd was a huge distraction from the music at this show, I didn't mind. It was my 13th show and I was ready for them to show off.

I realize now that the band had found its place. The way they were in Asheville they will never be again, they have advanced far beyond that now. I just feel so lucky to have gotten to experience it all. After all of these shows I realize that I have been allowed to watch the evolution of my favorite songs from my favorite artist... I have been wanting to experience the Smashing Pumpkins live for so long now, and I know that this summer I have been very lucky. I have been able to see everything I could ever want from them...


In conclusion, THANK YOU SMASHING PUMPKINS!!! This summer you have given me everything I could have ever wanted from a band, and I have finally had the live music experience I have yearned for! You are the best!

Si!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a very Yummy Thanksgiving

*Peace*

you forgot to mention that we got to meet the siamese dream girls!

hey, i enjoyed the video clip you made of the last show.