Smashing Pumpkins, The Fillmore Residency
I’m a big Smashing Pumpkins fan, so I was delighted to hear they’ve just announced a 20th Anniversary Tour and a new documentary and concert DVD, If All Goes Wrong
One of the discs in the DVD set is a full concert filmed during their multi-night Fillmore Residency in San Francisco last year.
Get this – my daughter and I were at one of the shows. How cool is that? Maybe we’ll be on DVD. (You can pre-order the DVD through Amazon right here
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| Smashing Pumpkins If All Goes Wrong Available at Amazon |
As a single parent with half-time custody, I cherish the time I get to spend with my children. I attend their soccer and lacrosse games, help with homework, watch Survivor with them on Thursday nights. I also like involving them in my passions – hiking, sailing, hitting the beach.
So, what’s a family to do when it comes to having different musical tastes?
Take them to a rock show of my choice.
Selfish of me? Nah. I figure if they see my unbridled enthusiasm with a band I like, they’ll learn first-hand how to enjoy a show responsibly. Plus, they’ll have fun.
You might think it’s crazy to drag a kid along to a show – concerts start late, there’s drinking and pot and a few sketchy people, for starts. For some shows, yes. But they aren’t all like that.
I took my sixteen-year-old daughter to see the Smashing Pumpkins during their multi-night run at San Francisco’s Fillmore Theatre. We had a great time. The Fillmore is a ballroom-type venue where concert-goers stand to watch a show. You can wander as close to the stage as you like, or hang back where there’s more elbow room. (There’s a full bar and a balcony, so you can sit if you really want.) The venue is small, so seeing a show there is intimate.
If All Goes Wrong
Billy Corgan and his new Pumpkins lineup impressed. Their show had everything – bright lights, big sound, witty banter, a bit of acoustic, greatest hits. My daughter isn’t the biggest Smashing Pumpkins fan, but she knows their music through me and she was thrilled to attend the show.
More than that – she and I both enjoyed the father-daughter bonding that came from the experience. We watched a too-drunk woman fall down for no reason, we avoided the second-hand smoke of some people lighting joints, we flipped open cell phones to light up the room for an encore, we bought T-shirts to proudly wear back at home.
While the Fillmore tends to be an all-ages venue, not all concerts are kid-friendly. The Pogues, for instance, had way too many men in the crowd drinking way too much Jameson’s and Guiness. (Mea culpa.) Then again, not all concerts are parent-friendly, with packs of teens getting dropped off at the Fillmore front door. (If Miley Cyrus ever played there, I’d skip, for sure.)
But for the right band, the Fillmore is a great venue for parents and kids to attend a rock show together. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up on a DVD.
- Alt-Rock Music Trivia Quiz
- Dirty Old Town, The Pogues
- George Clinton, Flashlight Youtube Video
- Father and Daughter Stories: Hitting the Pump
- U2 on Letterman 2009
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs Live on Letterman – Youtube
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Comment by zlie17
| October 2nd, 2008
interesting because I’m a regular concert goer myself. there are some concerts where I see parents hanging out with their kids, and I think it’s soooo cool for them to do that! I wish my parents did that! (I didn’t start getting into music til i was maybe 16?)
I do think it depends where the venue is and what kind of music. I go to mostly rock concerts. and i actually prefer smaller venues.. merriweather is the best for big venues, and i usually have really good seats. but small venues, I’m loving 930 club in DC. and that’s where i usually hang back, just cuz i don’t want to get trapped in a midst of crazy teenagers moshing! if my sisters let me, I’d take their kids to concerts!
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| October 2nd, 2008
I wouldn’t know The Smashing Pumpkins if I ran over them! But I will tell you this. When my kids were growing up and we were in the car, we would listen to MY music. I would say, “The driver gets to pick the music.” And I wasn’t just saying that to be a smartass, or have my way. I believe that about every situation. When my kids got older, they got to pick the music when they were driving. And I discovered some really cool stuff while listening to their music. (Although, apparently NOT The Smashing Pumpkins.) :)
Cathouse Teri’s last blog post..Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
Comment by The Exception
| October 2nd, 2008
I am sure your daughter loved it! I am definitely one for exploring new and old with my daughter – exposing her to my passions and well as experiencing the new with her!! And I explore hers with her too.
Smashing Pumpkins with your daughter… and what, pray tell, did you do with your son… an all trumpet fiesta?
The Exception’s last blog post..Hunters and Gatherers (Caution: Generalities in Use)
Comment by Holly Hoffman
| October 2nd, 2008
My dad took me to my first festival at 10, and I was at my first bona fide concert by 12. Thanks to my pops passion for music, I was a concert-goer from… well, go. He took me to a concert every year, at least once a year. I’ll never forget, as it is seered on my brain, him at KISS – screaming at Gene Simmons as he rode a crane over the crowd, hoping he would spit on us… and me praying he wouldn’t.
What were the odds I would end up a DJ, a station manager, a music director, and a sound tech in college? My dad kicks ass for these reasons.
Oh, and I LOVE Smashing Pumpkins. I was younger than your daughter when Siamese Dream came out, but it was unlike anything I’d heard before. Ooo… I need to go dig that one out.
Holly Hoffman’s last blog post..Allowing the Writer Within to Shine Through
Comment by Mad Cartoonist
| October 2nd, 2008
If I dragged my kids (two 9 yo’s) to a concert, it would be a disaster all around!
And I want to enjoy the music as a ADULT, not cater to my kids’ demands for potty breaks and food etc. (I’m a custodial parent and have only a few days “off” a month to indulge my “non-mommy” side, after all.)
Plus, I cannot get my kids to like most rock music! They’d hate being dragged to a rock concert.
My kids dislike pretty much anything with a strong bass beat. So at home and in the car we listen to salsa, bubblegum retro rock (Cheetah girls, Beach Boys), folk, and bluegrass. And yay! One of my big favorites, vintage swing jazz! My daughter idolizes Ella Fitzgerald and we sing along–she knows all the words. And my son is a big salsa fan, loves to sing and dance along with that.
I’m hoping they’ll eventually expand their tastes. They’d probably like one of the country music concerts so common here in flyover country, but I’m not sure I’d survive that.
Comment by Laura
| October 2nd, 2008
I love the Smashing Pumpkins. I have yet to attend a concert before though!
I dont really do crowds! But I really would like to attend one – one day!
Sounds like you guys had a really awesome time!
Laura’s last blog post..He said NO!
Comment by T
| October 2nd, 2008
Sounds like a blast! My kiddos love to see live music. I have taken my oldest daughter to a concert and I look forward to sharing more with them. I enjoy their music as well. The three of us sing ALL THE TIME… in the car and around the house.
Let us know if you’re on the DVD. That would ROCK!
T’s last blog post..Be the peace
Comment by dadshouse
| October 2nd, 2008
I tried taking my son to Tool, but he backed out at the last minute. I ended up taking a neighbor. Who knew these middle-aged men were so into Tool? My neighbor’s son was majorly jealous that he didn’t get to go.
My son and I saw trumpeter Eric Miyashiro play with a local community college jazz band. Eric is a Maynard Ferguson protoge. My son insisted we sit in the front row.
Comment by Katherine (SOLO dot MOM)
| October 2nd, 2008
How cool would that be if you were on the DVD? Wow. Great bonding time experience. I took Kass to a Michael Buble’ concert last year. It was fabulous… not exactly the Smashing Pumpkins, but it was an amazing experience for both of us that she has yet to stop talking about. Keep up those wonderful memories… they are worth every penny!
Thanks for sharing with us.
Katherine (SOLO dot MOM)’s last blog post..Single Edition Approached Me For An Interview!
Comment by krn
| October 2nd, 2008
You’re a very cool Dad! Before you get too excited about the compliment, maybe I outta mention that I’m a forty plus year old Mom? I’m cool, though. At least my eight year old thinks so. ;)
Anyway, The Smashing Pumpkins beats the hell out of our last family concert–The Care Bears. No, I’m not kidding (stop doubting my coolness, I can tell you are, hehe) and it was, uhhhhhhmmm, cheerful. Cheerful and colorful. I’m pleased to report that no t-shirts were purchased!
Hope you’re both on the DVD. That would make it even cooler.
Comment by H
| October 3rd, 2008
That sounds so fun. I hope my son still wants to be seen in public with me when he’s a teenager!
My son is 8 and has his favorite bands already – most of them were popular even before I was born. I love taking him to shows. At his age though, the start time is a hinderance. But if his favorite band came to town (Kraftwerk reunion?), there is nothing that would keep us away. He would probably explode in happiness or turn into a robot forever. ;-)
Comment by MJ
| November 25th, 2008
I have been wondering if The Smashing Pumpking would be appropriate for a 7 year old.. he really wants to go. He loves listening to Green Day and RHCP, I guess I’m not sure if I should take him or not… any suggestions???
Comment by dadshouse
| November 25th, 2008
I think Green Day attracts a younger crowd than the Pumpkins. Depends on the venue, and how much pot smoke you want to expose your kids to. The crowd where I saw the show was pretty mellow – unlike the Pogues show where they were drunk and unruly.
Comment by MJ
| November 25th, 2008
I got pretty good balcony seats.. so no moshing. I’ve never been to a concert at this venue.. the Midland downtown KC. I guess everyone thinks he is too young to go.. I guess I really want to take him but am worried of the unknown.