November 2022 • Volume 49 , Number 01 • www . illinoisentertainer . com
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COVER STORY : SMASHING PUMPKINS t ’ s not often that an artist is afforded the privilege of seeing the importance of their career painstakingly delineated in its relative historical importance . You usually have to wait until your screen has faded to afterworld black for that kind of cumulative honor . But at 55 , after nearly four decades spent helming Smashing Pumpkins , Billy Corgan can actually watch his life flash before his eyes , metaphorically , thanks Canadian alt-rock twins Tegan & Sara Quin . Their new Amazon Studios-underwritten streaming TV series High School , based on their recent formative year ' s memoir of the same name , is almost a gushing love letter to Corgan ’ s shape-shifting Chicago combo ; it shows the young Quins – played by twin actresses Railey and Seazynn Gilliland that were discovered on TikTok – first learning to play acoustic guitar to Pumpkin numbers like “ Today ,” analyzing Corgan ’ s layered “ Disarm ” lyrics , and rocking out at awkward parties to several SP catalog classics . The idea is as clear as it is touching – Smashing Pumpkins truly did help soundtrack Tegan and Sara ’ s early years and helped mold them into the truly unique , increasingly pop-savvy duo that they ’ ve become on their new sixth effort , Crybaby . And Corgan – currently on a co-headlining tour with fellow firebrands Janes ’ Addiction and preparing to release an intricate three-act , 33-track rock opera dubbed ATUM ( preceded by a chugging flagship single “ Beguiled ”), is truly touched the unexpected honor . After all , inspiring an entire next generation or two is never what a composer sets out to do . But it ’ s nice work if you can get it , and it only underscores his diehard belief that Smashing Pumpkins has always been a group of the people , not some coddled critical pet . IE ’ s Tom Lanham spoketoBilly .
HELLO MY NAME IS STEVE VAI
Chicago … guitar extraordinaire Steve Vai wants to make it up to you for canceling his concert in March of this year at the Copernicus Center . Due to personal injuries ( undergoing two serious surgeries ), his Inviolate Tour 2022 was postponed and rescheduled to the new date of Wednesday , November 16 . As Steve explains , he couldn ’ t be happier that he gets the chance to return to the city . “ I love Chicago ; I love performing there ,” Vai enthuses during a recent phone conversation . “ I get to see family too . My brother Michael lives there , and he ' s got a couple of really great restaurants . Chicago has always been a sweet spot ever since my Zappa days when we would tour there . And the audiences are fantastic ; it ’ s a great city .”
Billy Corgan , Metro , Chicago September , 2022 ( Photo : Curt Baran )
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1150 shows and 2000 bands , live music is back .
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Publisher Emeritis David Roberts
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