http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA8TQ8FYqU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0gQbQ2XbaE

This was my third time seeing the Pumpkins - the 1st in 1996 and 2nd in 2000. And this was the best of all. I really appreciated and enjoyed the experimental nature of the show. It had a little bit of everything. I'm glad they decided to take a different approach other than just play the "hits". This was a much more "artistic" approach. Set The Controls - by Pink Floyd - was brilliant! It blew my mind. And how many artists invite their dad onstage to play with them? Very cool.

Ruth Eckerd is a good hall for shows. I've seen many there and have yet to be disappointed. I was close - row L - so that may have made a difference with the sound. Too bad many in the crowd didn't get in to it more or show more appreciation. The crowd was the same way at the Cure show back in June. I live in Tampa Bay and the crowds are always better in Orlando.

Show was badass.. Awesome playlist.. I was hoping for it to be very loud and it was. Maybe it didn't sound as good as it could of throughout the entire place but that means the whole show only gets 1 star?? YOUR CRAZY.

My wife & I were blown away from beginning to the end. Thats even w/ our short lived sound issues we had the first couple songs (we were very close to the front & had a hard time hearing BC's voice). Damn, Jimmy can play those drums. Sorry it was our first SP concert we're still excited

We're from Olando & we were trying to decide which venue to see them, clearwater or hard rock. We knew we had to win the hardrock tickets which is a bunch of confusion within itself so we paid for the clearwater tickets. We thought the clearwater show would have a better crowd since everyone there had to buy their tickets & really wanted to go. For the hardrock show 101.1 was giving away the tickets so we weren't sure if we were going to get any or how the crowd was going to be. We ended up winning 3 pairs of tickets so now we'll get to enjoy the 1st or 2nd best concert w/ our friends & family. I'll probably be there around 1 or 2 waiting with my cuz wearing poncho's. What times everyone else going out there??

We hope hardrocks sound system & engineers are up to the task, hopefully they can make it sound as good as it is.

It must have depended on your seat. I was in row R (17 rows from stage) and slightly left of the stage, but I only heard Corgan's guitar when he was the only one playing. When the 2nd guitar was going, it totally drowned out the lead. I saw him playing the licks, but heard nothing. It was as if all of the instruments were just loud enough to drown him out, except for the distortion sustained stuff (heavy feedback). I guess I'm mostly bummed out that the VERY REASON to go to a pumpkins concert for me is to hear Corgan blow me away with his ax! And that was exactly what neither me nor my wife could hear. I noticed similar comment at the NC show and hoped it was just venue. It was when I seen Corgan singing into a mic that was still off (I think it was the last vocal part of “United States”) that I decided they simply had sound issues altogether.

I loved the Tampa show. There were fans from 15 years old to 50 (The place was standing room only). What I really dug was the SP put on a real show,AMAZING. A lot of bands today just go through the motions. Heavy guitar on some songs and kick back on others, Billy's voice is still amazing. I really enjoyed it when they played the song that included bits of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Ted Nugent, Jefferson Starship etc. It was cool when Billy's Dad came out and jammed with the Band. I have been a SP fan for over 15 years and will continue to be for as long as they keep it going.

BTW- I am going to see them again on Friday at the Hard Rock in Orlando. Stopping to pick up a kazoo on the way.

Cheers,
Brent Bradley
Podshowradio.com

Last night was my first SP show. I was in row V and the sound was a little muddy on the first couple tunes, but once the sound guys got it worked out the rest of the show was awesome. Can some expert please post the complete setlist as I'm not that familiar with the names of all the songs. Just incase I have a bunch of FLAC files I need to name. Thanks for your help.

Wear earplugs. Not all the way in you ears, but resting loosely inside. This cuts out strange interference without diminishing the effect for shows with this kind of volume. They are big and they are loud and they almost always overwhelm the venue they are in. I feel that they are never a mellow, crystal clear listening experience like Radiohead. SP f'n brings it. Even on awesome stereo systems, albums like Siamese Dream can't be turned up loud enough. It seems like there is too much sound for the speakers to keep up with. If anything, you could drop by by Grandma's bridge game Friday. The old folks home won't let them crank the phonograph.

In response to Quizzy's remarks:
Maybe this depended on where you were sitting--were you close? I was WAY in the back, literally the last row you could be in, elevated, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with the sound...so it probably depends on where you're sitting to some degree. I know once I saw them in Milwaukee and was very close to the band (general admission) and the sound was so bad I decided to work my way further back from the band to let the phasing even out a bit. I guess this demonstrates that being closer isn't always better...

The room sounded horrible. I can't believe someone actually commented on it positively. The vocals were blown out, the bass drum sounded muffled and round, and the guitars were way to mid to high leveled. You couldn't even hear the music you just heard a loud wooshing sound from all the highs. BTW someone had Jeff's guitar turned wwwwaaaaaaaayyyy up. The room they were in was not set up for a show that loud. You had bas reflecting off the back of the room before the highs were even in your ears. Everything was so far out of phase it wasn't even funny. As far as the performance goes I guess it was ok. The audio just killed the experience. Hopefully Friday will be better.

Holy Flirking Schnit! A sonic avalanche! Soft, heavy, fast, slow, grandiose, intimate, and some psychedelic performance art thrown in. This band is at their peak. It is done with such ease that, at times, it is remarkable that all the rock fury is coming from the 5 people on stage. Oh yeah, a blues jam with Bill Sr. Can't wait to see the Mighty SP here in Orlando at one of the best sounding venues around.

It has been 8 long years since the Pumpkins have graced Tampa Bay with their presence. I was at that last show and have been anxiously awaiting their return. I already knew the venue was great acoustically having seen them there before, and Billy and the rest of the band didn't disappoint. They rocked the house, and I know my group was quite thrilled.

My favorite songs of the night: Eye, The End is the Beginning is the End, Tarantula...

At the end of "In the Summertime" a man in jeans and a t-shirt came across the stage doing a little dance. At first we were wondering who this guy was. He looked a bit old to be a roadie. Lo and behold, it was Billy's dad! He came out and jammed through a song with the ban, much to the delight of the crowd.

As we were leaving the auditorium, his dad came through one of the doors, and we were actually able to meet the man who spawned the great Billy Corgan. That was just priceless.

I can't wait for them to come back!

I have been a long time fan and have seen many shows, and let me tell you, this was really well done. We all know the setlist at this point, so no surprises there (except for the end...which I'll get to). The acoustics at Ruth Eckerdt are good and served this show very well, no sound issues, Billy's voice was very crisp, whole sound was extremely well balanced. It's hard to say what the standouts were because the whole thing was so well done. Light show was spot on, I love the way Billy's prismatic skirt played into the whole light effect as well, that was a nice touch. I was very happy to see that the Clearwater crowd stayed nice and attentive as well, showing love after every song and standing for much of the show (except the acoustic bit and 'Set the Controls').
I know some people have complained about those that sit for 'Set the Controls', but in a seated auditorium I think it's the way to go to watch that mezmerizing song...once I sat down it was easier to relax and get immersed in that. For me, 'Set the Controls' was the highlight of the night. It really allowed the Pumpkins to 'take us up to the heavens' like they're so good at doing..it mixes some of the best we've seen from long jam songs of theirs, it was kind of like 'Silverf(ck' mixed with 'Radio Transmission' from the Adore tour. I loved it and would like to get a high quality recording of it at some point. Plus, Clearwater got a special treat at the end when William Corgan Sr. came out and jammed (and even sang) some blues for us with the rest of the Pumpkin crew before we went home--he looked like he wasn't finished yet either when they left the stage, he was ready for more--In my heart of hearts I was hoping for a spontaneous 'For Martha' but not that much luck to go around. So I guess Clearwater was the first crowd to get a little deviation on the set-list this tour! Thank you Pumpkins, I'm looking forward to getting a little closer to the action at the Orlando show this Friday--although I have to say the whole Krush/1iota thing is very confusing--I thought I had three tickets but just got an email saying congratulations, I'm 'off standby', which I never knew I was on, and am good to bring one guest in addition to myself...but I'm still not guaranteed entry...very strange.
Hope I get in after driving over from Tampa...

tonites concert was in all seriousness the best concert i have been to. not just because they are my favorite but i really do think it was better than usual. i mean they played Pink Floyds Set The Controls To The Heart Of The Sun complete with gongs etc. for 15 mins! even Billy Corgans father came out to play on a song. he also posed for pics with fans outside of the venue when the show let out. the whole show was so cool and laidback and fan friendly. highlights would be Tonight Tonight, Mayoniase, United States, and The Rose March. anyone who hasnt seen them live cant imagine how hard the Pumpkins can rock and how Fing loud they can be. and of course how underrated Billy Corgan is as a rock guitarist. tonights show proved all this. im not sure why the other shows got some negative reviews. maybe the Pumpkins were just really on tonight. my favorite stage banter of the whole night was when Corgan Sr. came out and says "I remember when Billy was little and id tell him to hurry up and put on his dress or he will be late for school."