Billy Corgan set to play UCSD’s Che Café

Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins (Photo from 'matthewf01' via Flickr)

Once a band goes platinum, you don’t expect to be able to enjoy a live performance in an intimate setting anymore. Those small venues may seem but a distant memory … but not to Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins!

Set to play six small clubs throughout the Southern California area from August 26-31, Billy Corgan will bring back the style and unique atmosphere smaller venues give to the audience. On August 30, the Che Café at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus is one of the hot spots to catch this rare experience.

Corgan also announced another surprise for this small tour: Mike Byrne, a 19-year-old drummer from Portland, Oregon, has joined The Smashing Pumpkins and will make his debut on tour and the Pumpkin’s next album – about which a major announcement is expected in September.

Byrne, who has been playing the drums since he was 11 years old, comments about joining the band, “I’m super excited to be playing with the band. Dream come true, man.”

When asked about how he feels his young age meshes with the new music the Pumpkins are creating, Byrne said, “I’ve always thought that Billy’s interpretation of music was a real fresh one, and that because the band was so rooted in the idea of kind of being like a musical shape-shifter, I feel that honestly it would work just perfectly. It’s not so much that I have some fresh point of view that he’s not already investigating so much as every time they release something it’s sort of a new direction and so working with him is easy in that we’re not operating on any founded musical principles. We’re starting from scratch and just working our influences up into something totally different.”

Corgan says that Byrne stood out from all the other drummers who tried out during the Pumpkin’s open call because Byrne “just seemed to have that X-factor that all the great drummers have, stunning blend of power, speed, and grace.” Corgan also adds, “ I believe in my heart he will push me to be a better musician.”

To seize this unique opportunity to see one of rock’s greatest artists, catch Billy Corgan and his new drummer, Mike Byrne, at one of the following Southern California locations:

• 8/26 – Tazzaria, Visalia
• 8/27 – Muddy Water, Santa Barbara
• 8/28 – Open, Long Beach
• 8/29 – Pappy & Harriet’s Palace, Pioneertown
• 8/30 – Che Café, La Jolla
• 8/31 – Hotel Café, Los Angeles