The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer roll into the plush new confines of Co-op live for a celebratory night of alt-rock.

WEEZER

Weezer have been extremely prolific in their over 30 year career so far. They have a raft of songs that define a generation of alt-rock. They also have a collection of iconic albums in amongst their vast discography.

As the lights go down, a huge cheer greets Weezer’s famous Wonder Woman style logo. It flashes and pulses throughout as the band rattle through a near 80 minute set of brilliantly honed material.

Fronted by Rivers Cuomo, Weezer saunter on stage and immediately take us back to 1994 and their classic debut album, Weezer (Blue). My Name Is Jonas is track one, side one, so it feels an apt place to start.

Beverley Hills continues the feelgood start with plenty of acknowledging hands being thrown in the air. Cuomo alters the final chorus with a nod to the locale; ‘Living in Manchester, England.’ It is an excellent opening that sees the front rows living every word and the vast standing area at Co-op Live gradually filling.

DOPE NOSE

Dope Nose is an early highlight with its ‘oh-oh’ opening getting plenty of people involved. Not for the first time, Cuomo lays down an impressive guitar solo. It is excellent guitar work that introduces Pork and Beans, too. Vocal help is requested on All My Favourite Songs from guitarist, Brian Bell. In the first quarter of the set, Weezer pitch things up perfectly.

Pink Triangle rolls back the years to Weezer’s second album, Pinkerton. It is held in the same regard as their 1994 debut. What is noticeable watching Weezer is that they have a really heavy sound; much heavier than on their recorded output.

Islands In The Sun is a true masterpiece and it sounds incredible. The ‘hip hip’ vocal parts are duly added with the crowd and the soloing is once again emphatic. Before The Good Life the band ask for the crowd to be heard at the Foo’s concert. Foo Fighters are also in town but they are playing on the red side of Manchester. Burndt Jamb adds to the already great vibes.

BLUE

It is thirty years since Weezer delivered their classic debut. It is no surprise that there is a fair clutch of material from said album.

Undone – The Sweater Song builds to a riotous cacophony and Say It Ain’t So is a bona-fide classic. It is a huge singalong and Manchester is definitely finding its voice. “

“Hey Manchester…We are the Weezers … we’re so happy to be out on tour with Smashing Pumpkins,” says Cuomo before announcing a song written by Corgan himself. Weezer blast through Hole’s Celebrity Skin – a true classic of the 90’s.

Hash Pipe’s creeping riff prowls menacingly before Only In Dreams ends in a shoegaze bliss. A closing one-two of Surf Wax America and the inevitable and iconic Buddy Holly ensure that Weezer leave bathed in light and adulation from the crowd.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

2023 saw The Smashing Pumpkins release ATUM; a sprawling triple concept album. The Smashing Pumpkins of the mid-noughties may have opted to plunder a lot more material from their new opus, but on this night, they charry pick perfectly. The songs stand up on their own even if their is a runners to the bar/WC in the arena.

Beguiled’s brilliant chugging riff is meaty, Springtimes is performed as a beautiful duet with backing singer Katie Cole and Spellbinding feels at home in Manchester with its synthy undertones. “We’re here to rock,” announces James Iha – who takes point in much of the interaction with the Mancunian choir.

With Empires, The Pumpkins sound incredibly heavy – a place that they can go to quite comfortably. That Which Animates The Spirit is the highlight of the newer material from ATUM. Some of the twin guitar licks are reminiscent of Iron Maiden, and there are some fantastic fretboard gymnastics from new touring guitarist, Kiki Wong. On the whole, the entire song is razor sharp, and with Wong/Corgan/Iha offering the triple axe attack, The Smashing Pumpkins sound as effervescent as ever.

THE EVERLASTING GAZE

Whilst The Smashing Pumpkins could have been accused of ramming newer material down the throats of their fans, they measure things perfectly. The Everlasting Gaze from 2000’s MACHINA opens the show in blistering fashion before 2007’s Doomsday Clock rocks hard. The latter allows Jimmy Chamberlain to shine behind his hulking drum kit. He is pretty much unseeable behind the amount of kit. James Iha also lays down a brilliant solo.

A curveball set choice is an industrial take on U2’s brilliant Achtung Baby! track, Zoo Station. ‘Are you ready for the laughing gas…’ goes the opening line. Manchester is. Again, Jimmy Chamberlain dazzles on the drums with a great solo included. It is a twisted and heavy take on the song, that, all things considered, is maybe one of U2’s heavier pieces.

One pick that is probably inevitable is Ava Adore. Corgan takes the mic and prowls the front of the stage decked out in a black and white cassock. The twisted percussion is ramped up and evokes that of NIN’s Closer. Corgan again takes vocal duties only on Birch Grove from 2020’s CYR.

WHAT THEY WANT IS THE HITS…

“Thank you so very much – we’re The Smashing Pumpkins – 36/37 years and counting,” says Corgan to wild cheers. He acknowledges that the band have been coming to Manchester for years, although it is nearly a decade since their last appearance in the best city in England. Iha mentions that bassist Jack Bates is a native of Middleton. Pleasantries aside, Corgan interrupts and tells James that what people want is the hits.

For all the newer cuts and nods to previous albums, The Smashing Pumpkins, on this tour, are dishing up the hits. Not only are they dishing them up, they are revelling in them. Throughout the show, The Smashing Pumpkins expertly measure their set so that potential lulls are blown away with mixing up of the set with classics like Today, Disarm, Tonight, Tonight, Mayonnaise and 1979.

Cuts from 1993’s Siamese Dream and 1995’s Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness are greeted like old friends. In particular, Bullet With Butterfly Wings is incendiary. The ‘despite all my rage…’ line is sung triumphantly and the crowd come unglued; the floor is busy with action and the security staff at the front are noticeably working hard for everyone’s safety. A personal favourite is the inclusion of the incredibly heavy Jellybelly. It is always a rush listening to Mellon Collie and change from Tonight, Tonight, to Jellybelly on the record. It is light to dark.

The only trip to 1991’s Gish comes in the form of Rhinoceros. If you were to pick one from that album, this would be it. It’s ‘Hey Joe’ style bassline rumbles around the arena as the ‘she knows’ vocal is reciprocated between band and audience.

A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

A moment of real indulgence comes towards the end during an epic version of Gossamer. Although never released as a studio recording, it is a song that has long been a mainstay of The Smashing Pumpkins live set. Versions have been known to last upwards of 30 minutes. James, Billy and Jimmy are in close quarters as they craft the psychedelic piece. The gradual layering of the sound builds rapturously into a whirl of feedback, solos and noise. “Thank you for sticking with us through our spiritual journey there,” says Iha before introducing the band.

Gossamer is a monster and one that requires perseverance. It is a wig out; a real feat of improvisation. But, how do you follow it? With a couple of bangers to finish.

Cherub Rock gets any wandering hearts and minds back in the room before Zero lays waste to the Co-op with its deadly opening riff and chorus.

As the crowd leaves happy, it goes without saying that Weezer and The Smashing Pumpkins are iconic bands. To see them on the same bill is a dream.

On another note, for all the bad press that Co-op Live has amassed since its ‘opening,’ the staff, layout, organisation, safety and operation of all the individuals there was first class. There were minimal queues with the accessibility of everything, and once everything is ironed out, it will be the standard bearer. They just need to fix the soft drink pipes so non drinkers like I aren’t paying close to £4 for a warm can of Pepsi Max!

Check out Empires from The Smashing Pumpkins below.

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