What would a Smashing Pumpkins concert be without an adventure? I guess it wouldn't be a Pumpkins show.
After driving the thirteen miles it takes to get to the Mesa amphitheater, I realize (much to my dismay) someone forgot the tickets. "SHIT" I yell, as I make my way back home to pick them up. This is in the middle of rush hour mind you! I reach warp 9 on the freeway, run in and jump back out. We make with hour to spare. 26miles in rush hour traffic in half an hour-not bad at all.

After being patted down we make our way in. The grass is already innundated with people. Rather than attempt finding a decent place we decide to buy the imperative concert shirts. We slowly wait our turn and buy our goods. My sister and I finally reach the field, staring like the crowd ahead of us at the stage. A bit spartan, if I should say so myself. A few Machina inspired carboard lamps hanging from the rafters. Some more Machina-esque paintings adorning the rest of the stage. I can understand the No opening band technique, but damn-I paid $33.00 to see a spectacle! Something for my money anyway.

Roughly an hour later, the fog machines start working. The house lights go off and the crowd begins clapping, whistling, screaming and waving their hands. Screams of "PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS! Bodies move to the front, immediately the human heat rises. A curtain rolls covering the white background with the cover of new CD. The bands steps onstage.

Billy, as always wearing black long sleeve shirt, leather vest and matching skirt. Apparently no one told him this is summer time in the desert.

James ever the quiet one, gazes at his shoes more than he acknowledges the crowd. Looking like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever in his white suit and black shirt. The lovely Melissa Auf der Maur wearing a skin tight white outfit. Looking like a sugarplum faerie, she receives the abundant, "I love you's" that once used to rain down solely on Billy.

Billy begins the notes of Age of Innocence. The singer eyes the crowd and smirks, he even giggles as he begins the song. The pumpkins follow with Glass & The Ghost Children.

The stage bursts with lights, as the riff from The Everlasting Gaze erupts from Billy's guitar. The crowd sings along and pogo-sticks. The music stops as we sing a long "We all want to hold in the Everlasting Gaze" etc. A rare moment in the spotlight, James sings Blew Away for the fourth song.

James comments how they haven't played an outside arena in a while and he feels like throwing a freesbe. Billy on the other hand isn't as talkative. Only saying a few "Thank you's" and "thanks for coming". He also mentions that they've played here three times in the past year- all infront of the same people.

In between takes the singer uses a towel to wipe the sweat gleaming from his dome while exchanging guitars. Billy brings out the acoustic guitar to perform To Shiela and Ava Adore.
Billy takes some time to introduce the band, welcoming Melissa by calling her Queen of the Cacti. Jimmy waves to the crowd, wearing a "white trash & proud" black tank top. He stands behind his dayglow, antifreeze green, drum-set with the shield on the bass drum reading JC. Billy plays the crowd pleasers Today followed by Tonight, Tonight. The Pumpkins perform Rock On followed by one of Billy's tradmark rants,"We are the Machines, We are the Machines of God..."

The crowd beckons for an encore. After roughly five minutes the band comes out. The lights dim and Jimmy does a quick drum roll, repeats it and Billy begins the familiar chords to Cherub Rock. The seizure-causing lights flicker and intensify. The crowd sings their heart out "Freak out, Give in..." The song continues, Billy pulls off one more solo and the song, along with the show, comes to an end.

The house lights come on, the band waves goodbye and claps. Billy staring at the sweaty, drooling masses grasp his heart and smiles. The exodus toward the parking lot resumes. We make our way out with the rest of the human flesh-or as Billy would call us Machines of God.