As one of the most influential bands to emerge from Chicago’s alternative rock scene, The Smashing Pumpkins played a pivotal role in shaping the dense, guitar-driven sound of the 1990s with landmark albums such as Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Now, 35 years after their 1990 debut Gish, the question is – how does the band measure up in 2025?
The Smashing Pumpkins, 2025 Edition: A Well-Oiled Machine
For anyone who caught The Smashing Pumpkins at Gröna Lund two nights earlier, the Liseberg concert didn’t hold many surprises. The setlist was identical — 19 songs, no encores—delivered in about an hour and forty-five minutes.
When James Iha jokingly asked the crowd “What do you want to hear?” before screaming “WHAT THE **** DO YOU WANT?!”, the rhetorical nature of the question was clear. The band performed its programme with precision, running like a well-oiled machine, and there was clearly no room for spontaneous detours this evening.
A Tour Rooted in Nostalgia
Although the Pumpkins have been unexpectedly prolific in recent years—with Aghori Mhori Mei (2024) following just a year after the triple album ATUM—this tour is a nostalgic one. The spotlight was firmly on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream, and the often overlooked two Machina albums – Machina: The Machines of God and Machina II: Friends & Enemies of Modern Music.
Corgan’s separate project Billy Corgan and the Machines of God, which focuses on Machina and Mellon Collie, has clearly influenced the main band’s shows. With much of the original line-up restored, revisiting the albums they once shaped also feels both natural and inevitable.
Deep Cuts and Crowd-Pleasers
The set was rich in surprises for long-time fans. “Glass’ Theme”, from the obscure Machina II, was a true rarity, while Mellon Collie gems “Bodies”, “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans” and “Jellybelly” were played in sequence—a dream run for devoted listeners.
These sat alongside crowd-pleasers like “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”, “1979” and “Tonight, Tonight”. Even though they avoided the most extreme and darkest moments of Mellon Collie, it was still oddly amusing to hear Corgan chant “love is suicide” in Bodies while surrounded by candyfloss, rollercoasters and families at an amusement park.
A Near-Classic Line-up
As we already touched upon, the line-up now boasts three-quarters of the original band: Billy Corgan, James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The only missing piece is bassist D’arcy Wretzky, replaced by Jack Bates.
Given the renaissance of the Machina era in the setlist, it would have been great to see bassist Melissa Auf der Maur return to the Pumpkins. She has joined some stops of “Billy Corgan and the Machines of God” in the past, making her potential involvement a tantalising prospect.
Kiki Wong: A New Spark
Then there’s the band’s newest guitar heroine, Kiki Wong. She brings both talent and undeniable star power to the stage, her presence adding a fresh dynamic to the group. At times it feels as though her virtuosity is deliberately dialed back—her role often centering on melodic layers, harmonies, and driving riffs rather than unrestrained solos. Yet even within these boundaries, her playing stands out as precise and expressive, highlighting the unique challenge of carving out space in a band so defined by Corgan’s singular guitar voice.
Kiki’s Guitar Pick Scavenger Hunt
Earlier in the day, Wong posted videos on social media showing herself hiding exclusive guitar picks around Liseberg, encouraging fans to share their finds online and tag her. Each pick carried a unique design made specifically for this concert, turning them into collectible keepsakes of the night. It was a fun treat for the lucky ones who stumbled upon one. I, however, only learned about the scavenger hunt after the show and unfortunately never managed to find any myself.
Band Line-up
In summary, here’s the line-up on stage:
- Billy Corgan – Vocals, guitar
- James Iha – Guitar
- Jimmy Chamberlin – Drums
- Kiki Wong – Guitar
- Jack Bates – Bass
Covers, Banter and Gothic Flair
Among the quirks were a cover of Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and playful guitar teases of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” before launching into “Zero”.
Iha and Corgan’s banter kept things light, with jokes about playing in an amusement park, teasing bystanders on the terrace, and even Iha gamely testing his Swedish with a simple “tack”. The stage set, with its Tim Burton-esque Halloween flair, felt fitting for the Pumpkins’ gothic carnival aesthetic.
Shooting the Show
I had secured my ticket back in February, rightly assuming it would sell out quickly, and was fortunate enough to receive a CrowdSnapper photo pass as well. Unusually, photographers were allowed five songs instead of the typical three. Less generous was the location: FOH (Front of House), some 35 metres from the stage. My 70–180 mm telephoto lens was barely sufficient—this was bird-watcher territory. I chose my Sony a7RII as my primary camera over the a7III for its higher 42.4-megapixel resolution, which allowed for significant cropping. To make focusing easier at such a distance, I also switched to APS-C mode partway through the set. Additionally, I brought some Micro Four-Thirds gear to gain extra reach. It was a challenge, but I made the most of the equipment at my disposal.
After my allotted songs, I joined the crowd as a regular ticketholder. From an even worse vantage point, I was mostly reliant on the big screen—hardly the most immersive way to watch, but still worth it. The Smashing Pumpkins don’t play Gothenburg every day, after all, and missing this would have been a real bummer. While my experience shooting and viewing the show was less than ideal, the performance itself was top-tier, and I would have had serious FOMO had I skipped it.
Setlist
- Glass' Theme
- Heavy Metal Machine
- Today
- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
- 1979
- Edin
- Pentagrams
- Take My Breath Away (Berlin cover)
- Mayonaise
- Disarm
- Tonight, Tonight
- Cherub Rock
- Bodies
- Porcelina of the Vast Oceans
- Jellybelly
- 999
- Ava Adore
- Zero (preceded by teases of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love")
- The Everlasting Gaze
This show was shot with
Long Range Shots
- Camera: Sony a7R II
- Lens: Tamron 70-180/f2.8
Long Range Back-up
- Camera: Panasonic Lumix GX9
- Lens: Lumix G Vario 45-150/f4.0-5.6
Wider Shots
- Camera: Sony a7 III
- Lens: Tamron 28-75/f2.8
More Concert Photos
More From the Artist
Empires – Music Video
From the 2023 album ATUM.