The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer & Teen Mortgage, Depot At The Castle, Cardiff Castle, 14.06.24
The start of Cardiff Castle's Summer Sessions began with some traditional Welsh summer weather. As the hordes of South Wales alt scene packed into the castle grounds, I can guarantee that this was the weirdest and wettest show on the tour itinerary.
Now a mainstay of the Cardiff music scene Depot At The Castle is series of concerts that take place inside Cardiff Castle. It's a picturesque, festival setting where the main stage is accompanied by bars and food outlets, but perhaps fewer toilets than their should be.
This one gripe aside, and the extortionate price of beer of course, everything else runs smoothly, entrance, bag checks, filtering of the crowd into the grounds, the stage parallel to the Motte-and-Bailey that stands so proudly at the centre of our city.
As a bit of rain never put off the Welsh and many had arrived early to catch openers Teen Mortgage (7) a two piece playing fuzzy garage rock. Their first time in Wales they did seem a little swamped by the stage and by the occasion but cranked out some heavy distortion and bouncing drums on a short but impactful set.
The sound for the whole show was amazing, clear and warm without ever being too loud, visually the lights were well used and the inclusion of a signer at side of stage was a great touch, both of them rocking out with the rest of us.
Next up was Weezer (9) from "sunny Southern California" and their set was a hits packed journey through their catalogue for all of the Gen X and Millennials in the audience (lets face it that's the main bulk of the crowd). My Name Is Jonas, shifted into Beverly Hills (cue a massive singalong), the band in a rehearsed synchronization as they occasionally let loose from their pop rock bangers with some virtuoso shredding.
Undone - The Sweater Song was countered by Pork And Beans, as All My Favourite Songs, Island In The Sun, Perfect Situation, The Good Life, Hash Pipe and Buddy Holly all got an airing as did a tribute to Billy Corgan as they played a "song that he wrote" covering Hole's Celebrity Skin. (look it up - Ed)
With Buddy Holly closing it the show, the final show of this current run let the fans bask in the sunny disposition of Weezer while they seemingly enjoyed their first time in the Welsh rain.
Now smiles next though as the angstiest band in all of music were about to set grimaced grins of those wearing Zero T-shirts permanently. A 24 song set and what looked like an 8 members band as Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain took to the stage once again as The Smashing Pumpkins (8).
Drawing the bulk of the show from Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream and more recent output Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Acts, the ever contradictory played an album/arena tour set in a festival setting. I'll be honest and say this did lead to a few lulls that Weezer's more tightly packed hits but the like of Today, Ava Adore, Tonight Tonight and Bullet With Butterfly Wings were placed well enough for anyone not that au fait with Corgan and co to know something.
Rounding out the current touring band is Jack Bates (bass), Katie Cole (keyboards/guitars) and the woefully underused Kiki Wong (guitars), but Corgan seemed unnervingly happy even joking about his (supposed) Welsh heritage. As their mammoth show continued the really big songs hit last as 1979, Jellybelly, Cherub Rock and Zero (cue Simpsons Homerpolooza episode dancing).
One to tick off the list for sure but for South Wales Pumpkins fans this show had been a long time coming and was a loud way to kick off Cardiff's summer of live music.
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