Setlist:

1. Quasar
2. Panopticon
3. The Celestials
4. Violet Rays
5. My Love is Winter
6. One Diamond, One Heart
7. Pinwheels
8. Oceania
9. Pale Horse
10. The Chimera
11. Glissandra
12. Inkless
13. Wildflower
14. Space Oddity (David Bowie cover)
15. X.Y.U.
16. Disarm
17. Tonite Reprise/Tonight, Tonight
18. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
19. Soot and Stars
20. Today

Encore:
21. Cherub Rock
22. Ava Adore
23. Zero

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* This was the first time that “Oceania” was played live in its entirety
* This was the second time that Soot and Stars was played live

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Click for 27 pictures from the Smashing Pumpkins concert in Perth!

 

Media Reviews

“Splendour in the Grass may be well underway but Perth got a sliver of the action at Challenge Stadium with long-time rockers Smashing Pumpkins performing their Oceania set in its entirety. Only a moment before 9:15pm, the house lights and music shut off in sync to queue the screams from the crowd.The Smashing Pumpkins got stuck into the music without messing around. An enormous air balloon appeared behind the band with bright lights projected onto it. The digital effects that floated across it for the rest of the set ranged from flashes of lightning to floating bodies and an array of atmospheric and abstract imagery. The band opened with comeback song Quasar, which was instantly recognisable with that familiar opening chord resounding throughout the venue. The set remained upbeat with loud drums but not masking Corgan’s melody to Panopticon – more evidence that The Smashing Pumpkins are back in action. After a slower few tracks, the atmosphere lifted with Glissandra. Again, the acoustics were spot on for this track and the music was a taste of the old-school days. The impressive bassist Nicole Fiorentino engaged the crowd during the songs – even more so than Corgan. As the final album song faded, the crowd screamed and applauded in unison for the performance of the new album (and with the realisation that the ‘hits’ section of the set had finally arrived). The band introduced the nostalgic quarter of their show with a cover of Bowie’s Space Oddity. The punters expressed their excitement with arms flailing in the air left, right and centre. An unexpected circle-pit developed near the front of the recently formed mosh pit. The next handful of tracks was cathartic for the patient crowd who had been respectful during the first part of the show. Tonight, Tonight and Bullet With Butterfly Wings were the highlight tracks of the night with strobes flashing around Corgan and the band. The man of the hour thanked Perth again and addressed the crowd after a highly satisfying performance of Today. After describing his last five days in Perth as “wonderful”, the giant mesmerising balloon turned white and the band left the stage. The house lights remained dark, indicating that it was up to the crowd to bring the Pumpkins back on stage. The band returned for a handful of tracks extending the set to a decent two hours. Zero received a heavy reception from the wild fans who were now smoothly crowd surfing and getting into more trouble with security.” – FasterLouder.com

 

“The great news tonight of course is that Perth is graced with the first date on the Oceania tour of Oceania. Starting with a full performance of their new album ‘Oceania’ (just released on June 22) could have been a gamble, but the fact that this is the Oceania leg of the tour and he’s been so good as to name the new opus after him wins a few points. The fact that it’s a bloody good album sort of wins to day too. Live Smashing Pumpkins move little from their designated spots on stage and a huge lit globe full of projected images hangs overhead. As a spectacle it could offer a little more, but then we came for the music: and tonight is bang on the money. Now those that expected or wanted a ‘greatest hits’ set were always going to be disappointed (don’t you guys know that by now). But let’s not start a ‘why? Billy why?’ diatribe here, we’ll leave that to the message boards where it seems to be a favourite topic over the years. From a personal point of view I left VERY satisfied. What we do get is a night that reminds you how good The Smashing Pumpkins really are. We get to hear a great new album, but you’ll have to give me a few more listens before I even feel remotely capable of ranking it amongst great Pumpkin albums of the past. We also get some of those anthems. Nowhere else to be other than here at Challenge Stadium tonight. I envy the rest of Oceania – these guys are coming your way…” - TheRockPit.net

“Sold-out and brimming with anticipation, Challenge Stadium was a hive of activity on Thursday night, with a diverse crowd of aging gen-X’ers, gothic teens and a representee from seemingly every sub-culture in between on hand for the return of cult-like alt-rock survivors The Smashing Pumpkins. Touring in support of their well received new album ‘Oceania’, the reformed ‘Pumpkins have been in the midst of a critical resurgence as of late, with the new record receiving the best response that head ‘Pumpkin and sole original member Billy Corgan has enjoyed in over fifteen years. Still, with the band billed to be playing their entire new album in it’s entirety, followed by a set of “greatest hits”, it was anyone’s guess as to how this show would go, especially given the unpredictable nature of the famously outspoken and divisive Corgan. A chorus of hoots and whistles erupted from the crowd as the lights went down in preparation for the Smashing Pumpkins, with the random outbursts then coalescing into a roaring cheer as the unmistakeable silhouette of lead vocalist/guitarist Billy Corgan appeared on stage. Situating himself behind one of the three synths set up before him, Corgan opened the set with a strange, unnerving organ coda, it’s clunking notes soon growing into a layered, swirling wash of electronics. With the maelstrom reaching a peak, the strains of ‘Oceania’ opener ‘Quasar’ saw a red glow begin to emanate from behind the giant black curtain covering the stage, with the curtain then dropping to reveal a massive, glowing orb hanging above the band, the combination of the spectacle and the song’s monumental riffage eliciting a loud roar from the crowd. Closing the first song of the set with a tearing solo from guitarist Jeff Schroeder, the band went on to make good on their promise of playing their new album in it’s entirety. But while some in attendance may have felt this was a poor move on Corgan’s part, hearing the album live worked exceptionally well, especially when complimented with the weird and wonderful visuals playing across the ever-transfixing orb. Bass guitarist Nicole Fiorentino’s backup vocals also proved to be a welcome addition to the Pumpkins’ sound, softening the harsh edges of Corgan’s distinctive nasally vocals. The band looked relieved to have gotten through it unscathed, and seemed genuinely appreciative of the crowd’s positive reaction. A solid, interesting and consistently entertaining night of music, this was a rare breed of show from the reformed Pumpkins, who in past years have made a point of steering clear of crowd-pleasing radio singles in favour of lengthy guitar jams, deep-cuts, and rarities.” – SpaceShipNews.com.au

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Video Highlights

• Today

• Disarm