Hayden Homes Amphitheater, with plentiful greenery and the tranquil Deschutes River running alongside, might seem like a weird place for one of the greatest alt-rock bands of my lifetime, but it turned out to be perfect.
Amidst the sea of goths young and old, 40-somethings with band shirts pledging fealty to the rick masters of their choosing (myself included, sporting a GWAR shirt), Margaritaville retirees, and the odd tween with a mullet and a polo shirt, the Rival Sons kicked off the night. Their blend of classic rock and blues riffs didn’t sound bad, but it did feel like nearly every song was designed to accompany a car chase scene. I’d bet a good 50% of people who list “whiskey” as a personality trait would love them. Their final song of the night, Where I’ve Been, had less “car chase” vibes, and more “the scene where an ex-Marine and his estranged wife get back together in front of a church and oh, yea, it’s also raining” vibes.
Following the Rival Sons, Stone Temple Pilots delivered a set that took the audience on a nostalgic journey through their iconic catalog, not straying too far from the hits. Hits like “Plush” and “Interstate Love Song” were met with enthusiastic sing-alongs, which, without the iconic voice of Scott Weiland, is how I felt the show was already. While Jeff Gutt has been with the group for six years now, I feel like he was trying to fill Weiland’s shoes instead of bringing a greater impact to the band. While I wasn’t particularly on board with the new style, I was in the minority of this crowd of thousands singing and dancing along.
In my previous life as a casino PR guy, I have seen plenty of legacy acts, those acts that have had decades to perfect their live performances. With 32 years since the release of Gish, the Smashing Pumpkins have had plenty of time to get it right. And their practice made for a perfect headlining set. Their energy, sound, and charisma proved why they remain one of the most influential alternative rock acts. Billy Corgan’s distinct vocals, coupled with an expanded band playing intricate instrumentals, created an intense and immersive experience for the audience.
The setlist spanned a good chunk of their discography, from early breakout hits like “1979” to tracks from their latest multi-album rock opera, ATUM. While some legacy acts are content to rest on their laurels and play the same album the same way, Billy & co are still expanding their universe for the betterment of all of us. Joining Corgan (vocals, guitar) and original band members Jimmy Chamberlain (drums) and James Iha (guitar) was Jeff Schroeder (more different guitar), Jack Bates (bass), and Australian singer/songwriter Katie Cole. Together, they played as a cohesive cohort that rocked our fucking faces off.