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Smashing Pumpkins: “Solara” and “Shiny And Oh So Bright” reunion tour

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Smashing Pumpkins’ founding members, Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin hit the studio again for the first time in 18 years to coincide with their upcoming reunion tour. Rick Rubin, who worked with the Pumpkins during the Adore sessions in 1997, co-produced on their first offering, “Solara”. Rubin produced a version of “Let Me Give the World to You” that was eventually discarded by Corgan and remained unreleased until the reissuing of “Adore” in 2014” and more recently he helmed Corgan’s 2017 solo album, Ogilala. The band’s “Shiny And Oh So Bright” reunion tour starts in Glendale, Arizona, on July 12th marking Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin’s first shows together since 2000 and also celebrating the Pumpkins’ 30th anniversary.

Billy Corgan went on the “It’s Electric” show with Lars Ulrich discussing the band’s reunion, working with Rick Rubin again, former Pumpkins bassist D’Arcy Wretzky’s attitude and his undying love for Black Sabbath. Ulrich addressed Corgan with a series of questions regarding Rubin who produced eight new songs featuring reinstated Chamberlin and Iha. Corgan compared his relationship with the Pumpkins’ drummer, Chamberlin, to Ulrich’s connection with Metallica frontman James Hatfield or former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Bonham and applauded Chamberlin on being a great listener. He noted that Chamberlin has an unusual talent for remembering arrangements and that Iha operates on the sidelines, adding “colours” and subtle suggestions when needed.

 

Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins frontman, performs on The Late Late Show

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Billy Corgan, frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, visited James Corden on The Late Late Show performing a stripped down version of, “Archer”, in support of his solo LP Ogilala. The album consists of Corgan playing either piano or guitar, which came as a surprise to listeners and the artist himself, but later stated that he really grew to love it. Corgan, along with guitarist James Iha and drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, will reunite for the first time since The Smashing Pumpkins “Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour” in 2000. Bassist D’arcy Wretzky will not be joining them. Corgan also went on the It’s Electric radio show and spoke to Lars Ulrich about his failed efforts to reconnect with the bassist and stated that it’s been 19 years since they’ve been in the same room together.
Smashing Pumpkins announced they are set to embark on their semi-reunion tour in two months time.

 

Jack White: “Boarding House Reach”

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The Third Man Rocker released his third solo album, ‘Boarding House Reach’, on March 23rd this year. The full-length album consists of 13 tracks and is a follow-up to 2014’s Lazaretto. The artist initially started with the album in Tennessee, but eventually recorded and produced in well-known studios; Sear Sound, New York, Capitol, Los Angeles and his own studio in Nashville.

White recruited a whole new group of musicians and also finally gave and started using Pro Tools during sessions.

Session musicians included;
Drummers: Louis Cato, Daru Jones, and Carla Azar
Bassists: Charlotte Kemp Muhl and NeonPhoenix
Synth players: DJ Harrison and Anthony “Brew” Brewster
Keyboardists: Neal Evans and Quincy McCrary
Percussionists: Bobby Allende and Justin Poree

Some of the songs on the album date back many years. “Ice Station Zebra” was originally written for a collaborative album with JAY-Z and “Over and Over and Over” for The White Stripes. “Connected By Love” and “Corporation” also fall under the early singles of White’s new album.

White forges elements of hip-hop, country, jazz, electronic music, gospel, high-voltage blues, cross-pollinated rock, and robo and psychedelic funk into his tracks. It is an invigorating album, a definite must-listen. Some may even describe it as wack, but after two decades of committing himself to vinyl, the possibilities for Jack White seem endless.