Words: Jim F / Pictures: Huw Williams
It was a brilliant, almost life-affirming night in Halifax as The Smashing Pumpkins rolled into town to play to a sold-out Piece Hall crowd of 6,000 last Tuesday. The warmth of the summer evening matched the warmth the audience showed all three acts, turning this historic courtyard into something close to a communal celebration of alternative rock across generations.
First up were LA alt-rockers Rocket, who are rapidly gaining traction ahead of the release of their debut album R is for Rocket. Despite being first on the bill, they drew a healthy early crowd, testament to the buzz already surrounding them. Their set leaned into scuffed-up grunge textures and sharp alt-rock hooks, with Alithea Turtle’s commanding vocals cutting clean through the mix. Confident and urgent, Rocket felt like a band already on their way, and Halifax caught them in the sweet spot just before take-off.
Second act White Lies were greeted like returning heroes, the crowd backing them at full voice from opener Nothing on Me through to the epic closer Bigger Than Us. Their set was essentially a greatest-hits package, with Farewell to the Fairground, Tokyo, There Goes Our Love Again and To Lose My Life all sounding tailor-made for this setting. The reaction during Bigger Than Us was one of the night’s most spine-tingling moments, proving that White Lies can command a stage and an audience of this size with ease. Judging by the reaction, it won’t be long before they’re headlining venues like this themselves.
By the time The Smashing Pumpkins took the stage, anticipation had reached fever pitch. They didn’t disappoint. Launching with Glass’ Theme and powering through Heavy Metal Machine and Where Boys Fear to Tread, Billy Corgan and co. were in fiery, focused form.
Corgan’s vocals were remarkably strong throughout, reminding anyone who needed it that his voice remains one of alternative rock’s most distinctive instruments. Looking for all the world something like a Bond villain with his long black jacket and red buttons, his often underrated guitar work was a highlight too, weaving beautifully with James Iha’s, the pair sharing the spotlight with humour and ease. Iha, ever the dry foil to Corgan, even joked about the crowd’s trademark “Yorkshire” chants, saying he’d been reassured they weren’t yelling “you’re shit!” – a moment that drew laughter and affection from the audience.
New guitarist Kiki Wong injected incredible energy into proceedings, bounding across the stage and constantly drawing the crowd in, while Jack Bates channelled his father Peter Hook with melodic bass runs and stage presence. All the while, Jimmy Chamberlin’s powerhouse drumming provided the thunderous foundation for everything.
The setlist was a dream for fans, spanning eras and moods: the anthemic rush of Today, Bullet With Butterfly Wings and Cherub Rock had the crowd roaring, while 1979 and Disarm brought out mass singalongs, proving the timelessness of these songs. The inclusion of Porcelina of the Vast Oceans and Mayonaise showed the band’s willingness to delve deep into their catalogue, rewarding longtime devotees.
One of the night’s most unexpected delights came with their playful, straight-faced cover of Berlin’s Take My Breath Away. The crowd embraced it wholeheartedly, turning it into a joyous, communal singalong that revealed a lighter, cheekier side of the band often hidden beneath their gothic-tinged grandeur.
The home stretch was relentless: Tonight, Tonight shimmered and soared, Ava Adore and Zero hit with muscular force, and the closing salvo of Stand Inside Your Love, The Everlasting Gaze and Bodies left the Piece Hall echoing with cheers.
With huge reactions to Today, 1979, Tonight, Tonight, Ava Adore, Zero and yes, even Take My Breath Away, this was a show that cemented the Smashing Pumpkins’ continued relevance and power. In the glorious surroundings of Halifax’s Piece Hall, under a dusky Yorkshire sky, three bands of different generations came together to remind us why live music can still feel utterly transcendent. And the crown, and I, loved it.
