Concert Review: Billy Corgan: A Return to Zero Tour with Return to Dust at Archer Music Hall in Allentown, PA

The Smashing Pumpkins music returns me right back to highschool every time I hear it. I've had the privilege of covering them last year in a stadium, when I saw Billy Corgan was touring intimate venues performing the bands music I had to jump on this experience. I never thought that I would see him in a venue with a 1,600 cap. The whole night was a transcendent experience back to my youth and a celebration of all the years that I have followed the Smashing Pumpkins.

Opening the night was Return to Dust. They are a group of very talented young men with amazing musicianship and also amazing hair. I've heard their music being spun on Octane recently and really loved their sound. I never really look into band members names until I am writing up the review or posting photos online. Then it hit me that the drummer was London Hudson, the son of Slash. To me this was a pleasant suprise, I didn't know anytthing about the band other than that they were talented.

They performed 7 songs, 5 from last year's debut album, Return to Dust, and their two singles, "Shine" and "Bored" from their upcoming EP Speak Like the Dead. Vocal duties are shared by guitarist Matty Bielawski and bassist Graham Stanush whom performed sitting down due to a broken foot. Rounding out the band was lead guitarist Sebastian Gonzalez who absolutely shredded the stage. These guys absolutely killed it and are talented way beyond their years. I cannot wait to dig deeper into their music and am eagerly awaiting the release of their EP. I am sure they walked out of the venue with many new fans.

At 9PM the lights went back down and the crowd errupted as Billy Corgan and his band made their way to the stage. Bathed in purple and blue lights Billy along with guitarist Kiki Wong, bassist Jenna Fournier and drummer Jake Hayden jumped right in with "Glass' Theme" from the Machina II/ The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music album. This set the tone for next two hours and 22 songs.

Billy Corgan, one of the most recognizable voices of my generation showed why all of the Smashing Pumpkins music is timeless. He sang his way through "Pentagrams", "Real Love", "Glass and the Ghost Children", "999", "Bullet With the Butterfly Wings", "1979", "Tonight, Tonigh"t and "Zero" like they were written yesterday but with the feeling of nostalgia. Kiki who has joined the Pumpkins full time has been a great addition to both projects. She is a shredder with great stage prescence. This is also the second time I have run into Jake as he was just out on the road drumming for Dorothy on her Redemption tour. I was not familiar with Jenna Fournier but she got a few songs to shine and let everyone get to know her. She performed "You Only Live Twice" (Nancy Sinatra) and performed "Tonight, Tonight" on vocals with Billy.

Two hours and 23 songs later, myself and all of the fans were filled with joy, sweat and tears. Seeing Billy Corgan perfom will never get old, whether it's in a stadium or a small club. If you can get to see him on one of these shows you will not be disappointed.