Summersault: Notes From the Front
Vancouver
August 13, 2000
Main Stage Act 1: Treble Charger
Finally a main stage performance. I've been waiting since 2:30 to get the goods on these four fellas who have certainly been around the block a time or two themselves.
Last year they were stuck on the side stage for Edgefest but this year, it's the mains all the way. Hey, "They're a moving on up". The big question in my mind is will they make it to that "deluxe apartment in the sky?" If not, it won't be for a lack of paying their dues that's for sure.
 Their set consisted of huge waving flags (sporting their album cover), a stage dressed in army camouflage and the guys in military garb. The whole effect was something like a MASH unit.
Greg Nori vocals/guitar addressed the crowd as their "summersault platoon" before Plunging into power popping cords. Songs like "Business" and their top 20 hit "American Psycho" off their latest CD 'Wide Awake Bored', were instant crowd pleasers and set off a wild surfing, pogo session craze. Mind you that's what you do at festivals... right?
Treble Charger had some capturing moments but sadly, at the end of the day, not enough to have them "living in the sky".
 Main Stage Act 2: Deftones
Generating some audience anticipation (apprehension), the Deftones opened their set by bombarded the crowd with a soft piano recording, like a corny romance movie track, played at great volume.
Being that the Deftones were the only really heavy band on the bill the piano was soon killed, and the rest of us stunned, as they opened up for real with some really fucking  loud guitars! Loud enough to get me scurrying for toilet paper since I hadn't come with ear plugs. All around me however you could definitely pick out their following.
The fetal styled vocalist "Chino Moreno" belted out each song with a look of intense seriousness. The band reminded me a bit of a metal version of the old school faves, "Bad Brains".
What can I say? The fans loved the angst, the in your face, heavy hitting, guitar ridden, complexity that bordered madness.
Mind you, there were times that a more melodic, mellower sense prevailed and helped sooth the anger, but it lasted just long enough for the moshing crowd to build up their strength.
Ultimately, I was only too happy to have the show end and have my ears rest.
 Act 5: The Foo Fighters
It was gang busters when the Foo Fighters came on! They broke what was becoming the monotony of a long hot afternoon under the dome instantly with their raw, real, thrashing good fun. I'm sure I wasn't the only one sweating to the oldies out there who gave a big sigh of relief.
This is not a contrived band and they know how to keep the crowd in a steady hoopla state for the entire show. Dave Grohl vocals/guitar dedicated their fifth song 'I'll stick around' to our very own punk rock man Joey Shithead of D.O.A. "hail punk rock I say!"
By song seven, (I later found out it was a Foo's rendition of Pink
Floyd's 'Have a Cigar'), Dave ended up kicking Taylor Hawkins off his drums and took over. He was fabulous and went completely binki on the kit.
"What more do you want to know?" That Dave had the crowd singing? That they played the hits? That there was a sea of swaying arms during a mellow version of 'Big Me'. That people lit lighters (Which Dave scoffed at since it was still daylight out). That the rest of the band was rock solid... Well it was.
The Final Act: Smashing Pumpkins
Ever see "The Everlasting Gaze" video? If so, you know what the pumpkins looked like on stage last week. With Billy (the man) Corgan: vocals/guitar, James (hair in face) Iha: lead guitar, Melissa (poised) Auf Der Maur: bass guitar and Jimmy (he's back) Chamberlain: drums, never failed in delivering the songs we love from past to present.
 Melissa who sported a large Canadian flag behind her, sang a duet with James Iha half way through the set. A Human League song that reduced me to laughter. "Just a little Canadian fun with some 80's disco shit" she said. Auf Der Maur sounded pretty good.
"I of the mourning" my favorite song off their latest CD 'MACHINA/the machines of God' was one of the peaceful moments in the show. Watching Melissa perform was pure pleasure. The oh so popular "The Everlasting Gaze" and "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" had the crowd enthralled as they sang, danced and stared in awe of the band who gave them songs they will forever listen to and tonight, remember.
The Smashing Pumpkins on a whole hit every level of emotion and appeared to have a good time doing so. From a "junebug skipping like a stone" to a "rat in a cage" anyone in touch with their emotions was taken for a ride.
Farewell Smashing Pumpkins, you will always be remembered.
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