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The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the most iconic alternative rock bands of all time, and they have been consistently releasing studio albums in the last few years, somehow kick-starting their career back into high gear, such resurgence also sprinkled with drama and on-and-off relationships between its bandmates. Despite such ups and downs, their fanbase has stayed steadfastly loyal and has consistently supported the band's tours whenever they choose to perform live.

As part of their ongoing tour, dubbed The World Is A Vampire Summer Tour, The Smashing Pumpkins, as usual led by Billy Corgan – dressed in his typical black fashion and sporting his customary facial pain with an obscure symbol across his forehead – proved that they still got it when they performed at the iThink Financial Amphitheater this week. Joining Corgan were original members guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, along with guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who initially replaced co-founder Iha and has been a member of the band since 2006, plus live musicians Jack Bates on bass and Katie Cole on keyboards and background vocals.

During a two-hour set that was also graced with Mother Nature in the form of consistent rain, the sextet performed several of their biggest hits, as well as some deep cuts from their extensive catalog. Corgan – who was in fine form both vocally and instrumentally – and his bandmates sounded as tight and powerful (and I’d go further to say heavier) as ever, and the crowd was clearly enjoying every minute of the show, following many of the songs with deafening ovations and cheers.

The night’s opening salvo came in the form of “The Everlasting Gaze” from their 2000’s record Machina/The Machines Of God, which was followed by “Doomsday Clock”, an opening combination that really set things into motion. The rest of the setlist was a mix of old and new, with well-known anthems from the band's early albums like Bullet With Butterfly Wings, an acoustic version of “Tonight, Tonight,” and the sempiternal “Disarm”, as well as more recent material from their 2018 album Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.

In addition to the careful mix that really reverberated in the airwaves, the performance was visually stunning. The stage was bathed in multicolored lights, with elaborate projections that accompanied each track and varied in color, hue, and shape, mixed with fog effects, which added to the aural experience of the spectacle.

The band closed their 21-song extravaganza with a rousing rendition of their classic hit "Zero," which brought the crowd to its feet. It was a passionate, and I’d dare to say exultant performance, that showed The Smashing Pumpkins really owning the night and sounding the best I’ve ever seen them live. If you're a fan of alternative rock, then you definitely don't want to miss them if they are coming to your neck of the woods during this tour run.