Smashing Pumpkins Led a Mellon Collie Singalong in Chicago That Was Anything but Melancholy

Smashing Pumpkins: great band. Some might even say they’re the 100th best band of all time. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: Great album. Some might even say it’s the 84th best record of all time. So, Billy Corgan and company’s “Rats in a Cage Tour,” which features a full set of Mellon Collie cuts and a second set of fan favorites and rarities, should be a pretty rockin’ time, yeah? Well, you know what, for the most part, it is. Last night, Smashing Pumpkins stopped by the United Center for a homecoming show in Chicago, and while there wasn’t much in the way of surprises or special guests (as was the case for their Lollapalooza shows a few months ago), the gang still managed to do justice to the city and Mellon Collie. Corgan’s voice remains nasal and iconic, the playing was expectedly proficient, and a vast majority of the songs are tried and true. Both on paper and on stage, the foundation for the show they put together is simply rock solid. Find Last-Minute Smashing Pumpkins Tickets Here And Chicago received the Pumpkins with open arms. Throughout the marathon, 30-song split set, the audience turned into a roaring chorus, loudly singing along with nearly all of the Mellon...