Arts & Entertainment

Corgan's Zwan lets love rule 

By Bridget Brown
The Daily Cougar

What is Zwan? Zwan is more than a band -- itis a feeling. A feeling of happiness, love and good old-fashioned rock ini roll. Zwan embodies the peace and love vibe of the1960s when rock was pure and frontmen had soul, and it pulls this off with the help of its infectious, recovering melancholic lead singer Billy "Pumpkin" Corgan.

Mauro Alvarez/The Daily Cougar

Zwan stopped by the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Monday night in support of its debut album Mary Star of the Sea. The crowd was the biggest group of nerds ever assembled in one place. Apparently the cool thing to do was try to look hip while sporting your Smashing Pumpkins T-shirt and yelling out things like "Hey Billy, why donit you play 1979." But, the truth is, they donit know the new Corgan. Zwan is anything but sad. It is uplifting and screeches with guitar rifts so profound that it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and instantly brings a smile to your face.

The Pumpkinis original drummer Jimmy Chamberlinis eloquent rhythm set up the perfect base for Billy Corganis endless guitar solos. Tortoiseis guitarist Dave Pajo, Skunkis guitarist Matt Sweeney and A Perfect Circleis bassist Paz Lenchantin added the extra genius needed to help underplay the fact that Corgan wants to be a guitar rock god. Aside from Corgan, Chamberlin and Lenchantin stole the show. Many Pumpkin fans were thrilled to see Chamberlin in action because they may have missed him during the time he was booted from The Pumpkins in 1996. Lenchantin showed off her musical talents, switching between bass and violin. In a time of manufactured pop, itis always great to see a chick that really rocks.

The band was all smiles as it flew through hits off its album. Songs played were "Lyric," "Settle Down," "Declarations Of Faith," "Honestly," "Ride A Black Swan" and "Baby Letis Rock." Almost every song was infused with Corganis attempts at Zepplin-esque guitar solos.

Zwanis light show was incredible. Colors of light flew across the audience and swirled behind the band, giving the whole show a psychedelic theme. The appearance of the band played off the colors and cover art of the album. The result had the audience feeling as if they were characters in the Beatlesi movie Yellow Submarine.

Zwan also played a few songs off its forthcoming album.

"We usually donit do this one because itis new, but since weire in Houston we will go ahead. Itis off our new album. Itis called ‘Houston we have a problem,i" Corgan said.

Most of the songs played were true anthems -- after all, Corgan did say on the bandis Web site that Zwan had attempted to make the loudest rock album ever. This is more apparent in a live show than it is on the record. The best example was Corganis 10-minute solo during the first encore. The song, "Jesus, I / Mary Star Of The Sea" is already a 14-minute track, but the band played for at least 30 minutes with two false endings. Each of the members did have a chance to solo, and Chamberlainis was superior, but Corgan insisted on stealing the spotlight by soloing his little heart out. He even burst out with the "Star Spangled Banner" in a cheap attempt to excite the crowd.

After hearing 15 minutes of cheering from the awe-struck audience, Zwan came back for a second encore.

"When we made up the set list tonight we were going to do a slow one for the last song," Corgan said. "But you guys have been such a great audience that I think we are going to do one that rocks."

Suprisingly, the once too-depressed-to-move Corgan stayed around for 20 minutes after his bandmates left to shake fansi hands and blow kisses.

Zwan

Verizon Wireless Theater

The verdict: Zwan has a good concept going, but Corgan should stop showing off and acknowledge the talents of the other members of his band.

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