Surely the hottest ticket at SXSW

From Billboard: “Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, Hanson’s Taylor Hanson and Fountains Of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger have formed a new band, Tinted Windows.

The group has recorded its debut album at Stratosphere Sound Studios in New York, which Schlesinger and Iha co-own with Ivy‘s Andy Chase. The set is expected this spring on a label to be announced. Tinted Windows will play its first major show at Billboard’s South by Southwest showcase, to be held March 20 at Pangaea in Austin, Texas.”

Um, wow.

[news via, image via]

Smashing Pumpkins live in 97 :: dark with the occasional beam of iridescence

Tonight after several days of torrential rain, there was a shift at sunset. The clouds were still black and heavy, but all around the edges and breaking through the middle were rosy cantaloupe-colored streaks of light, as the sun set behind Pikes Peak.

As the sky showed off like that a few hours ago, I was listening to this 1997 bootleg from my Smashing Pumpkins at my beloved acoustic Bridge School Benefit in California. Somehow this set fit perfectly – a bit shimmery, dark with the occasional beam of iridescence. I was at this show during the autumn of my freshman year of college. It probably rained that night too. It often does at Bridge School, and we all shiver in the rain to enjoy the oft-sensational lineup of music.

This is an excellent set.

SMASHING PUMPKINS
BRIDGE SCHOOL BENEFIT 10/19/1997
Introduction
Behold! the Night Mare
Eye
Set the Ray to Jerry
Ava Adore
To Sheila
1979
X.Y.U.
Heart of Gold/Cinnamon Girl (tease)
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
Porcelina of the Vast Oceans (with John Popper on harmonica)

ZIP: SMASHING PUMPKINS, BRIDGE SCHOOL

[thanks to the original taper]