The Smashing Pumpkins - Rock the Riviera: Live Radio Broadcast - Chicago 1995 (2015)

This superb live radio broadcast, transmitted from Chicagos 2,500 capacity Riviera Theatre in late 1995, commemorates a real homecoming for The Smashing Pumpkins - the band had made their live debut in the city almost exactly seven years earlier. The gig was also a special release party show for their third album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Adding to the celebratory nature of the event, the band are joined onstage by local heroes Cheap Trick (hailing from Rockford, 85 miles North West of Chicago) for a unique triple-decker encore. The Pumpkins debut album, Gish, was released by US indie label Caroline (Hut in the UK) in 1991. Overseen by Nirvanas classic Nevermind producer Butch Vig, the record quickly became a college radio favourite - and went gold in 1994. The bands early success led to Virgin signing them and the July 1993 release of their sophomore album, Siamese Dream. Boasting a very layered production with countless overdubs (consequently the mixing alone took a reputed 35 days!), the musics sound was described by Rolling Stone magazines reviewer as closer to progressive rock than to punk or grunge. The album went on to sell over 6 million copies worldwide and firmly established the band as major players in the burgeoning Alt-rock arena. Its remarkable songs are heavily featured in this evenings set, which includes storming live versions of Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm (all three were also released as singles), Geek U.S.A., and Mayonaise. The follow-up, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, released over two years later (the day after this broadcast), was a sprawling affair consisting of - depending on the format purchased - either 28 (CD & cassette) or 30 (triple-vinyl) tracks. In fact, over 57 different songs had been completed during the recording sessions. Amongst the albums highlights played during this showcase performance are Tonight, Tonight, Jellybean and Zero. Other undisputed Smashing Pumpkins classics are Bullet with Butterfly Wings (which went on to become the bands sole number one single on the Billboard chart) and the 9-minute magnum opus Porcelina of the Vast Oceans. At encore time - as an extra-special treat for the hometown crowd - the Pumpkins are joined by near-neighbours, the aforementioned Cheap Trick, and the augmented line-up steams through a trio of the Rockford boys best rockers, culminating in the rather appropriate grand-slam finale, Auf Wiedersehen.