Smashing Pumpkins/Fancy Space People/Light FM - Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan

With the completion and imminent release of the new album "Oceania," the Smashing Pumpkins took to the road to treat their fans to some of their new songs.  I caught their show at the Boulevard Pool, an intimate outdoor venue on the deck of a rooftop pool overlooking the Las Vegas strip.

Smashing Pumpkins - Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan

This was truly a tour for the fans, with only two hits ("Cherub Rock" and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings") played during the entire set.  Instead, the band focused on newer songs from "Oceania" and "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope," and on older album cuts from the "Gish"/"Siamese Dream"/"Mellon Collie" era.  Songs like "Silverfuck" and "Thru the Eyes of Ruby" were great surprises.  Billy and company even played a significant portion of "I Am One," although without any of the vocals.  The set included the first time I remember seeing "Frail and Bedazzled," one of my favorites.  I loved "Owata," with the substitution of Las Vegas for Chicago in the lyrics - the song's phrase "what a beautiful night" summarized the concert for me.

Starf***er/Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Wonder Ballroom

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark/Washington - Wonder Ballroom

An enthusiastic audience greeted the return of OMD, with the reunited original lineup.  The band played every hit song that you could hope to hear. Newer songs from "The History of Modern" fit seamlessly into the set and drew an appreciative response from the crowd. OMD had received complaints that they had not included "Secret" in earlier shows, so it was a pleasant surprise that they had rehearsed the song and included it in the encore. The show was a great blast from the past.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Wonder Ballroom