Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction, Poppy

Groan, roll your eyes, bitterly list your Adore (Super Deluxe) boxset on eBay – these reactions are fair. The decade-plus deluge of nü Pumpkins material has been exhausting. But 2022 is not the year we start questioning the glorious, try-hard purity of Billy Corgan’s artistic impulses. Thirty-three song rock operas simply aren’t the domain of bands in “as long as there’s some money” mode, so Moody audiences should have no reason to anticipate anything less from this Nineties-sandwiching arena run with Jane’s Addiction. Still, don’t be shocked if the alt-rock overachiever of the night trophy goes to the opener: endlessly prolific concept-rocker Poppy. —2859246