Review: Zwan, The Galaxy; St. Louis, MO 4/7/02

Almost a year and a half ago, after growing weary of the constant heat from critics (and occasionally the fans), Billy Corgan announced that his decade-long multiplatinum band, The Smashing Pumpkins, would be splitting up. This came as a shock to some, but it was clear to those like me who had followed their career from earlier on that their time was up. The Pumpkins were meant to either be a completely underground band like they were before they became popular, or the huge rock monstrosity that they were after the release of Siamese Dream. In the later years, the band fell into disarray with members coming and going for various reasons, and the music suffered. There were some great songs, to be sure, but you could tell that the band was not having fun on stage anymore or in the studio.

Exit the Pumpkins, enter Zwan which consists of Billy along with an assortment of "interesting other musicians" including former Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, guitarist Matt Sweeney formerly of Skunk and Chavez (no, you've never heard of them, neither have I), A Perfect Circle bassist Paz, and also on guitar (bringing the total number of guitarists to 3) some Asian/Native American-type guy named Pajo who never talks.

The Zwan idea is clear: it's about the music, dammit. First they played 4 heavy rock shows last November, then they wrote about 16 entirely new songs and played 4 acoustic shows in December. After a few-month hiatus, they returned to the stage last Friday for the first in a 6-date "tour" with another set of all new songs once again in the rock genre.

Billy seems rejuvenated by the smaller crowds and lack of pressure to perform "hits", which is what happens when your band becomes wildly successful and makes lots of money. The problem is, after all the success you must continue rehashing the hits ad nauseum even though you no longer need the money. So Zwan is Billy's "out", his way of being in an indie-rock band again where he can do whatever he wants.

Last night's show was a typical Zwan performance. Small but dedicated crowd, lots of tapers since taping is allowed, and lots of amusing lowbrow stage banter. It was a far cry from the days of the Pumpkins selling out huge enormo-dome shows, but infinitely more enjoyable for both the band and the crowd. I did not get a chance to tape (video taping is not allowed despite the lax audio policy), but had a great time nonetheless. Not all the songs are great, but there was none of the pretentious nonsense that seemed to plague the late-era Pumpkins (see Blue Skies Bring Tears, Glass + the Ghost Children, etc. etc.), just an all-out rock show. And the crowd ate it up and fed on the energy.