The Smashing Pumpkins - Scarborough Open Air Theatre 13.08.2025

Arriving in Scarborough on one the the hottest days of the year you could immediately sense that the North Bay was divided into two tribes. However with the beach crammed with shorts and swimsuit wearers it was more a case of Bods & Rockers rather than Mods & Rockers!

Black t shirts with ZERO or the entwined SP logo were order of the day too as thousands made their way to the Open Air Theatre to witness Smashing Pumpkins tear the place up!

I have to admit I was super excited about this one as I have loved this band since their first tour here in the UK way way back and have many a story but not enough space haha.

Despite the tour being called 'The Aghori Tour' (after the new album title 'Aghori Mhori Mei') we were also celebrating the 30th Anniversary of 'Mellon Collie' and the 'Infinite Sadness' AND the reissue of 'Machina' so it was always going to be an awesome night!

Kicking off the evening though was Rocket from L.A. they certainly struck a chord with the early comers with their off kilter almost shoe gazer style fitting in perfectly sitting somewhere between pumpkins, Deftones, Lush etc sound wise. Definitely keeping an eye on them.

More up tempo but still with a dark goth pop tinge White Lies were next and whilst new to me they certainly had an energetic response from the Scarborough throng.

I knew before hand that for Smashing Pumpkins we wouldn’t be in the photo pit and had to shoot from the soundboard so I invested in a step stool to try shoot over the heads and arms during our allotted time and I eagerly awaited the start of the headline set.

The stage production was huge black and white swirls on the “towers “ either side of the stage reminding me of the artwork on the cd box set of 'Aeroplane Flies High' and an array of lighting rigs to bedazzle the audience!

And out they come Billy Corgan resplendent in a long black and white frock coat (I think they’re called that) they dive straight in with a pummelling 'Glass Theme' a ferocious punk rock blast if ever there was one to get the crowd jumping! The opposite end of the scale Heavy Metal machine follows with its almost sludgey stoner groove forcing you to pump your fist and nod your head in time whether you want to or not!!!

The atmosphere on this gorgeous summer evening is fantastic and the band seem to be in a brilliant relaxed mood, James Iha talking to the crowd about fish 'n chips and the cold sea and referring to the seaside resort by its nickname Scarbados in a loving way was great to see and Billy himself was in fine form having fun up there chatting and joking throwing plectrums out etc which if you believe the media is a rarity (it’s not though).

'Pentagrams' is the first from 'Aghori' tonight with its beautiful intro building into the solid back beat and chugging three guitar riff wall, for me this album is a total Pumpkins classic.

So only being allowed to photograph the first three songs at a gig meant that it was time to pack away the cameras etc and be escorted through the crowd to leave our bags with security at the stage and the band send said crowd (and some of us camera jockeys)i nto a frenzy with a back to back 'Today' and 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings'

Dunno about you but trying to pack a rucksack then make your way through thousands of folk who are bouncing about off each other while you’re also singing your face off to two classic SP songs can take a bit more time than expected especially when a group of them decide to box you in and scream “despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage“ in your face!

But I got back to my seat unscathed and settled in for the rest of an incredible evening! Kicking off with another two from 'Mellon collie' 'Muzzle' and the perfect pop of '1979'.

'Edin' (from 'Aghori' ) utilises the three guitar line up perfectly building from that almost eastern melody to the crunching chords making way for Jimmy Chamberlain to come hammering in with the most powerful of drum fills - In my opinion Jimmy is hard to beat at the kit in any genre, he can play the most intricate of rhythms and smash out ferocious beats at the drop of a hat and make it look so relaxed I swear he didn’t break a sweat up there dispute kicking the crap out of the kit for almost two hours!

The showstopping 'Mayonaise' brings a tear to thousands of eyes Corgans voice vulnerable and emotional cutting through the summer night.

Total contrast though when Billy takes off his guitar and strolls around the stage mic in hand leading the band and the Scarborough crowd through a very faithful rendition of Berlin’s hit 'Take My Breath Away'! Talk about a curveball

Despite being on different albums I have always thought 'Disarm' and 'Tonight Tonight' work so well together and hearing them live just confirmed that thought tenfold in my mind! Both have a huge sound in there big production and when ran together just unbeatable!

In Kiki Wong the Pumpkins have themselves an absolute rock star providing that beefed up third guitar adding a depth to those riffs on the likes of 'Jellybelly', 'Sighommi' and 'Bodies' and a stage presence second to none it’s hard to believe she’s only been in the band since 2024.

James can’t resist attempting a verse of Scarborough Fair before Jimmy and Billy send everyone into a frenzy with that unmistakable opening to 'Cherub Rock' one of THE defining songs of the 90s in my opinion and by the look of it down there in the pit many others too!

I’ve only seen Jack Bates play live alongside his dad in Peter Hook & The Light even though he’s been in the pumpkinsten years now but tonight I saw just why he’s maintained that role … he’s perfect for it plain and simple, holding down those solid bass lines making them his own is no mean feat but he does it in style!

'Ava Adore' is our only visit to the 'Adore' album and the slow burner groove of it fits brilliantly building us up to an absolutely raging 'Zero' once again making the most of all three guitars set to stun! 8000 or so voices as one echoing across the bay “Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness, And cleanliness is godliness, and God is empty, Just like me” is quite something!

Another fun snippet of the Zep classic 'Whole Lotta Love' takes us into the nights final song 'The Everlasting Gaze' which at first I thought was an odd one to go out on BUT by the time Jacks filthy bass lines and those fuzzed out chords had pummelled me I realised it was a brilliant move and by the end I’d been online and preordered the 'Machina' reissue and was off down the seafront with a grin on my face!

Scarborough Open Air Theatre have had an awesome run of gigs this summer with a very varied programme, can’t wait to see what 2026 season brings it’s got big shoes to fill !

The Smashing Pumpkins

White Lies

Rocket

Photos & Review - G's Gig Photos