By Liz Crow Hughes
I’ve often wondered how certain tour lineups come together. Sure, summer is full of festivals with a common genre or a mix of artists with a little something for everyone, but what about the smaller shows where a couple of big names are on the same bill? Think Bowie and Nine Inch Nails at McNichols Arena, and more recently, the Smashing Pumpkins with Green Day at Coors Field. Trent Reznor of NIN had often said he was influenced by Bowie, so that show didn’t seem too odd, but the Pumpkins and Green Day was a bit of a head scratcher.
Except for the fact that they both released rock opera albums, both have a decent amount of haters (what successful band doesn’t?), and each have sold millions of records there isn’t much common ground between the two. Last year’s “Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts” from the Smashing Pumpkins received mixed reviews and didn’t crack the top 100 in the US. In contrast, Green Day was celebrating the 20th anniversary of “American Idiot” which spawned five singles, racked up several awards, and was made into a stage musical. Maybe I would find a link during the show that would explain the lineup.
The Linda Linda’s opened the show with an energetic 20 minute set of pop-punk that made them a perfect opening act for Green Day. The teenaged female quartet from LA charged through songs with enthusiasm and a stage presence that belied their youth.
Next up was Rancid. In a striking visual contrast to the fresh-faced bounce of the Linda Lindas, the members of Rancid looked like road warriors, touring nonstop for the last 30 years. Adding to the effect was the switch from color to black and white shots on the stage screens. Despite their grizzled appearance, Rancid sounded great and the crowd sang along to their hits “Roots Radical,” “Time Bomb,” and “Ruby Soho.”
After the upbeat vibe of the previous acts, I was sure the Pumpkins’ set would suck the life out of Coors Field. To be fair, I’ve never been a fan of Billy Corgan’s voice, so my knowledge of their catalog is limited to their hits. But I listened with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised by their dark, guitar-heavy set. In addition to tearing it up on guitar, recent addition Kiki Wong rocked an outfit that would have made Kiss proud. A cover of U2’s “Zoo Station” was also an unexpected treat. James Iha maintained a comically flat demeanor as he and Billy talked between songs. The hour-long set gave me the opportunity to appreciate Billy’s songwriting and guitar playing, and inspired me to give the Pumpkins catalog a deep dive.
Green Day likes to start their shows with “Bohemian Rhapsody” blasting through the speakers and the crowd singing along as they come on stage. There’s nothing like a classic track sing-along to pull a crowd together. Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre opened with “The American Dream is Killing Me” before jumping into “Dookie,” which they played from start to finish. While some artists understandably tire of playing their hits night after night, Green Day plays with a level of joy that’s hard to fake. Snippets of JC Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane,” Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” added mercurial moments to the set.
After a six song interlude which included tracks from “Saviors,” their latest album, “Minority” and “Brain Stew,” the boys launched into “American Idiot” in its entirety. Arguably one of the best albums of the 2000s, the themes of “American Idiot” are still as relevant today as they were 20 years ago, a sure sign of a classic.
At the end of the night, I realized that the Smashing Pumpkins Green Day line up wasn’t a stretch at all. They cultivated nostalgia for the 90s, and they’re great musicians. That’s why they made it to the top to begin with. Sure their most recent albums aren’t their best work, but every group that’s been around for 30 plus years has a stinker or two in their catalog. Given their talent, I’m sure the Pumpkins and Green Day still have what it takes to create music that matters. I know they both have the energy to put on a killer show.
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