Bc2024-10-23b

Billy Corgan
Date	2024-10-23b
Venue	Madame Zuzu's
Location	Highland Park, IL, US
Venue Type	Teahouse
Capacity	300
Lineup	Billy Corgan
Order of Bands	Billy Corgan
Surfaced Recordings
AUD #1
Source	AUD
Format	WAV
Equipment	Church Audio CA-14 Cards > CA-Ugly Preamp > Roland R-07
Length	89m
Complete?	Yes
Lowest Circulating Generation	WAV(M) > FLAC
Live Music Archive	24-bit download
Release	20241122-Release-BC2024-10-23bAUD1
Notes	Same taper as AUD2
AUD #2
Source	AUD
Format	WAV
Equipment	DPA 4061's > CA-UGLY battery box > Sony PCM-M10
Length	87m
Complete?	Yes
Lowest Circulating Generation	WAV(M) > FLAC
Live Music Archive	24-bit download
Release	20241124-Release-BC2024-10-23bAUD2
Notes	Same taper as AUD1

I consider the gift of song to be the greatest gift of all in music; for the writer is able to crystallize a moment in time and, in turn, share that same gift with others in an act of endless revelation. So whether I choose the song of another or, selfishly, one hewn from my own hands and heart, the Songbook series is meant to celebrate the art in its native and most personal form. - Billy Corgan

Setlist

Set:

• Dancehall
• Stumbleine
• Zowie
• Don't Change [INXS]
• Shine On, Harvest Moon [Ruth Etting]
• Landslide [Fleetwood Mac]
• Wrath
• A Satisfied Mind [Joe Hayes]
• The Spaniards
• Pony Express [Zwan]
• 1979 (abandoned)
• 1979
• To Love Somebody [Bee Gees]
• Age of Innocence
• Travels
• To Scatter One's Own
• Cri de Coeur
• The Long Goodbye

Notes

• Songbook series of 4 shows held at Madame Zuzu's

Banter

Chloe Mendel Corgan: Welcome. This is the setlist, if anyone's interested in what it looks like for what the tickets you've been buying for are [sic]. Just can't reveal what the show is until after. It's five dollars for tickets and you'll see the dates and right when the show's over, we're gonna pick it immediately, so you don't have to wait. The winner will come up and grab their autographed, handwritten setlist, so...during the show, if you haven't bought a ticket, you should go get it because afterwards, there's no time. Um, yeah! And thank you for coming tonight, congratulations on buying a ticket, getting a seat 'cause they sold out pretty quickly, so we thank you for supporting us, keeping this local café venue alive. And we look forward to doing more, Billy doesn't do acoustic shows anymore, this is the only one...for ever, right? He's saying okay.

BC: You're -- you're stealing my thunder of my show, um...my show notes.

Chloe: Well, he'll tell you all about why.

BC: Yeah, they know.

Chloe: Um...is that it?

BC: I think so.

Chloe: Okay. Bye!

BC: I love my wife. Thank you so much for coming.

Dancehall

BC: How's everybody doing, you okay? Is it a Wednesday? Is it? I don't know. Hump day, right? Chicago Day.

Stumbleine

BC: Can't believe I wrote that 30 years ago! Your [unintelligible word]. Chicagoland. Who's from Chicago? (some crowd cheers) Hump day, right? And the Bears. Well, at least we have a quarterback now, right? It's only been a hundred years!

Zowie

Don't Change

BC: I think we're gonna have to have a no martini rule. Either that or I'm gonna murder one of our employees.

Chloe: (off mic) You can't say that!

BC: What'd you say, I shouldn't say that?

Chloe: (off mic) [mostly unintelligible but something about making martinis].

BC: What's that?

Chloe: (off mic) You're here to sell martinis.

BC: Well, unless you have a cone of silence, there'll be no martinis. Or, shake the martinis between songs, there you go, there's the solution. Otherwise, I'm going to jail and I'll never see my third child. It's a simple choice. Sound okay?

Shine On, Harvest Moon

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Chloe Mendel Corgan: Welcome. This is the setlist, if anyone's interested in what it looks like for what the tickets you've been buying for are [sic]. Just can't reveal what the show is until after. It's five dollars for tickets and you'll see the dates and right when the show's over, we're gonna pick it immediately, so you don't have to wait. The winner will come up and grab their autographed, handwritten setlist, so...during the show, if you haven't bought a ticket, you should go get it because afterwards, there's no time. Um, yeah! And thank you for coming tonight, congratulations on buying a ticket, getting a seat 'cause they sold out pretty quickly, so we thank you for supporting us, keeping this local café venue alive. And we look forward to doing more, Billy doesn't do acoustic shows anymore, this is the only one...for ever, right? He's saying okay.

BC: You're -- you're stealing my thunder of my show, um...my show notes.

Chloe: Well, he'll tell you all about why.

BC: Yeah, they know.

Chloe: Um...is that it?

BC: I think so.

Chloe: Okay. Bye!

BC: I love my wife. Thank you so much for coming.

Dancehall

BC: How's everybody doing, you okay? Is it a Wednesday? Is it? I don't know. Hump day, right? Chicago Day.

Stumbleine

BC: Can't believe I wrote that 30 years ago! Your [unintelligible word]. Chicagoland. Who's from Chicago? (some crowd cheers) Hump day, right? And the Bears. Well, at least we have a quarterback now, right? It's only been a hundred years!

Zowie

Don't Change

BC: I think we're gonna have to have a no martini rule. Either that or I'm gonna murder one of our employees.

Chloe: (off mic) You can't say that!

BC: What'd you say, I shouldn't say that?

Chloe: (off mic) [mostly unintelligible but something about making martinis].

BC: What's that?

Chloe: (off mic) You're here to sell martinis.

BC: Well, unless you have a cone of silence, there'll be no martinis. Or, shake the martinis between songs, there you go, there's the solution. Otherwise, I'm going to jail and I'll never see my third child. It's a simple choice. Sound okay?

Shine On, Harvest Moon

BC: I hear my son talking. (stretches and makes a noise) Maybe he's shaking the martinis now. There's a little story behind this song and uh, it was recorded in 1994, so 30 years ago. We were at the British Broadcasting Company and as you do, it's a union house, so when you go in there to do a session, you have four hours to record four songs. There were some technical issues and I banged off to a corner board and I started writing what became Bullet with Butterfly Wings, fortuitously, so thanks to them for that, and then, uh, then they eventually came back and said, "Okay, we only have 20 minutes less -- left in the session, there'll be no way to record another song", they wanted to get out of there -- they're not the nicest people -- and um, I don't know if it's a British thing or it's a BBC thing or maybe a bit of both, but um...I said, "Well, I think I can do this song in 20 minutes" and they said "There's no way." And I did the guitar in one take, the solo in one take and the vocal in two, still had time to go into the control room and listen to the vocal and say "Take the first half of this one and the second half of this one." And uh, our record company wanted to put it on a compilation record, which we put out called Pisces Iscariot in 1994. And uh, yeah, and uh, and uh, and much to our surprise, it became a hit song and turned a album track into a perennial single. Um, of course it got me to Stevie Nicks's house...uh, heh, yes, and that's a good part. And uh, and uh, the best part of the story is, uh, she was showing me her beautiful piano and uh, so she encouraged me to sit down and play the piano. I can't play piano very well, and then she sat down next to me and started playing Rhiannon. (a few jealous noises from the audience) Um, yeah, so, uh, so this song's, uh, brought a lot of gifts to our life. So I hope you enjoy it.

Landslide

Wrath

BC: Heh heh. Heh heh. I think I was playing somewhere and Jimmy Chamberlin of the Pumpkins was at the gig and -- I was playing solo -- and he said, heh, "I didn't know you could play harmonica." I said, "Neither did I."

A Satisfied Mind

BC: Thank you so much. I was joking during the first show that, um...my two solo acoustic albums, one came out as William Patrick Corgan and one came out as Billy Corgan. And uh, the streaming services don't count those as one name, so one record'd end up in one place and one record..., so now they're all under Billy Corgan 'cause that's apparently who I am, (clears throat), whether I wanna be or not. Um...but my name is William, by the way. (one person claps loudly) Yes, I was named after my father. (after no crowd reaction; to himself but on mic) Okay. (normal) But technically I'm not a Junior, even though they call me Junior in my family, 'cause my father was William Dale and I'm William Patrick. And why am I William Patrick? Because...I was born on St. Patrick's Day. Hump Day, Chicago, right? Green -- green river, Da Bears, see, it all comes together.

The Spaniards (abandoned immediately when Billy realizes his harmonica isn't where it's supposed to be)

BC: Shit, sorry. (grabs harmonica and begins affixing it to microphone stand) There's a famous story where Bob Dylan was playing Ravinia...and he asked -- he didn't have a harmonica in the right key, so...people threw their harmonicas onstage. (short pause) I think I met the guy who threw the harmonica, that was like his claim to fame. It's not supposed to be funny but it is kind of oddly funny. You know, like 40 years later, you're like "I'm the guy", you know? (short pause) I love awkward, so this is like, I could do this all day. Amazing how much better the show got when the martini shaking stopped...(gestures to Chloe off camera across the room) my love.

The Spaniards

BC: This next song I wrote for the band Zwan, which at the time was called the Djali Zwan. (no crowd response) When I said that during the first show, people applauded. (crowd cheers) When I wave my hands, don't applaud that band. But uh, I haven't played this song for over 20 years, so I hope you enjoy it, it's called The Pony Express.

Pony Express

BC: So since today is the, uh, 29 year anniversary of the releasing of Mellon Collie...like to play this one for you. Wrote this at my house at...well, I shouldn't say the address. It's for sale though, the house, like...if you see it online, it's a purple Victorian house. I was kind of shocked 'cause my childhood home was for sale and they listed me in the name but they didn't list me on the name of this house. I've fallen out of favor in -- in Wrigleyville. But I did write this song.

1979 (abandoned after 5 seconds)

BC: Don't you think that warrants this song? You'd think I get a little...mention.

1979 (abandoned after 4 seconds when the crowd cheers)

BC: It's like a Friday night, woo!

1979

(random clapping from crowd after post-song applause finishes)

BC: Well, you can applaud, it's okay, I just don't know what I'm doing. I'm changing the setlist. Oh yeah, here we go. This song is for all the lovers out there. (silence) No lovers in the crowd? Well, that's, uh -- this is for the lovers that may [unintelligible word]. I can't talk about the biology in front of my children. Are you leaving? C'mere, say hi.

Philomena: (very quietly) Bye bye.

BC: She said bye bye. Hey, wait, show 'em your dance moves real quick. What happened to the dancing?

Philomena: (off mic) I don't wanna dance.

BC: You don't wanna dance. Is he leaving too?

Chloe: (off mic) Yeah.

BC: Where is he?

Chloe: (off mic) Working the line.

BC: Oh, he's leaving?

Chloe: (off mic) Staying for it.

BC: Is he leaving or he's staying?

Chloe: (off mic) I'm taking him.

BC: You're taking him?

Chloe: (off mic) Yeah.

BC: Well, shouldn't he come say goodbye? AJC! (pause) I'm just stalling for time, really. Come on up here, handsome. (Augustus comes on stage) Ha! I said, "What's wrong?" He said, "You're wrong." He is a Corgan. (Billy talks to Augustus off mic) He's very angry. Why you angry? (Billy talks to Augustus off mic) Oh, he's angry when there's too many people. (Augustus tells Billy something off mic) Oh. You're not a big enough crowd. See you later, elitist. (Augustus begins leaving the stage) Wanna give 'em one dance move? One dance move? (Augustus gives one dance move and then walks behind the stage) (off mic) Get out of there! Get out of there! Get out of there! (Augustus appears to be lying down behind the stage trying to grab a miniature pumpkin) Get out of there! Come on, I gotta start the show. (into mic) He doesn't undershand, uh, show biz. (Billy is holding the pumpkin and Augustus says something to him) You want to eat the pumpkin?

Augustus: (off mic) Yes!

BC: (giving Augustus the pumpkin and gently pushing him off stage) Don't step on it. Get off my stage.

Augustus: (off stage) I curse you!!

BC: Hey, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess. That's the best part. Thank you for indulging me. Okay. For the lovers.

To Love Somebody

Age of Innocence

BC: Thank you so much, thank you. That's from the forthcoming Machina box set.

(a few people in the crowd ask when)

Guy in crowd: Right after the Zwan box set.

BC: No, the-the-the -- I think the Machina'll come before Zwan. Trying to go in order. Still having a good time? "After he finished shamelessly pandering with his kids.... He rolled out a couple classics but then he got bitter and...refused to play any more hits." Well, in the words of the great Bjorn Thursrud, my dear departed friend, he once said to me, "You've written a lot of hits, we just haven't produced them that way." (crowd groans) Hahaha. Last time I saw Bjorn, he had moved back to Vegas, where he had, uh, grown up. And uh, Flood, of course famously called him the Vegas viking and uh, Bjorn liked to gamble. He had gamed the system to where he was kicked out of a lot of casinos 'cause he -- he knew how to basically win about fifteen hundred bucks if he sat at the table long enough playing blackjack. So he invited me to a casino, um, he said "You're gonna love it, it's gonna be great" and the, uh, the contrivance of the casino was that the...uh, the dealer, when they were done dealing, would get up on a stripper pole behind the dealing and then they would dance. And when they were done dancing, they'd come back and deal cards. Sound like Bjorn? So here's to Bjorn, heh.

Travels

BC: Before I finish, I just want to say thank you so much for supporting our business and being with us tonight. I had a show in 2019 in Covington, Kentucky, when I was touring on the Cotillions...uh, record that no one could find 'cause it was under the wrong name. And uh, the gig was so terrible, not by me but by the audience, that I swore never to tour acoustic again, so the only place I play acoustic is here at the Teahouse, so I really appreciate you being here because I do love to play acoustic and I wish I could do it more, so.... 'Course, uh, thanks to my wife, who makes this all happen. Bozo and uh...uh, heh heh heh, you get the point.

To Scatter One's Own

Cri de Coeur

BC: Well, we've reached the bitter end. There's love to make, taxes to pay. Children to beat. Songs to write. Anybody want a pick? (he flicks a pick into the audience) Oh my god! Sorry about that. Reminds me of the story that, um, Jimmy went to hit a cymbal once and it slid out of his hand, so he hit the cymbal and it slid out of his hand and I saw it fly by my head, like this (short wind noise). And he hit a guy in the front row right between the eyes. And uh, he was bleeding, like, like this (gesturing profuse bleeding from the forehead). And uh, we'd always been told by our management back in the day: "Don't throw anything in the crowd, you'll get sued." So, you know, "You took out my eye with a pick!" And um, and uh, so the whole show we're looking at each other, like "Oh my god, we're gonna get sued, this guy's bleeding." And then we came off stage and it's like, "The guy's waiting, he wants to meet you guys." And Jimmy's like (gesturing jittery).... And the guy's like, "Bro, can you sign my stick?" So, yeah. (to person in crowd) Is your eye okay? (laughing) Heh, sorry about that, heh. Try it one more time. (throws another pick) There we go. That's what's supposed to happen.

Guy in crowd: She plays for the White Sox.

BC: Oh, we got a White Sox joke. Went right to the White Sox. I'll say this much about the White Sox. Uh...when I was a kid in the '70s, all before you were born, um...was anyone born in the '70s? Uh, my mother used to get, uh, free tickets every year to go to the White Sox, so I used to go to the White Sox games too, when I was a kid. And when they were in the World Series in 2005...? It's been a while, been a while. And uh, I was excited for them and uh, I went to the games and uh, I got a very South Side reception, you know? Anyone from the South Side here? Okay, so you appreciate this, so...you know, I go to the Cubs -- I go to the Sox game and I'm there and World Series, I'm excited. Who were they playing, does anyone remember? Houston Astros, right. And uh...they took 'em out of the National League, I'm still against that, I'm a purist and I remember the old uniforms, they were so cool, you know? Anyway, so uh, everywhere I went in Comiskey, it was like, (thick Chicago accent) "What the fuck YOU doin' here?" (normal voice) And I was like, "I'm here to support the team to win the World Series, I'm from Chicago." "Yeah, but you're a Cubs fan." So this goes out to the Sox. Yeah. Because, um, I-I wrote this song when I was recording, uh, with Rick Rubin in 2017, somewhere around there. And Rick Rubin pulled me aside and said "Is this song about aliens?" And I said, "Actually, it is, it's true." And uh, so I dedicate this to the Sox, 'cause they're gonna need to leave the planet. But I would happily be on the spaceship with them. See, that's the picture in my mind, you know, the...the Wilbur Wood era, the shorts, remember they had to wear the shorts? Bill Veeck, Bill Veeck. Me, Wilbur Wood, Bill Veeck and the 2024 White Sox on a...on a spacecraft going to...Uranus. Heh, that's the problem with getting old, it's like I don't know what a dad joke is anymore. Okay, this is the last song, thank you so much again. Thank you so much.

The Long Goodbye

BC: Now we'll do the drawing.

Guy in crowd: Encore!

BC: Encores, of course, are so last century. (dismissive) Ah. (normal) They're just more of the same, you know, it's just.... Alright, so, uh...you want it? Oh. Yeah, well, why are we talking about that? Um...you mind coming on stage here, young lady? Yeah, yeah, please. I wanna do the drawing at random now. Now it'd be really ironic if you picked your own winning ticket. What's your name?

Girl: Kim.

BC: Hi Kim. Sorry. Um, this is for the handwritten setlist, which is now wrong 'cause I changed the order. Uh, zero two four five nine eight three?

Kim: That's right, it's not mine!

BC: You got it? Come on up. Congratulations, thank you. Thanks for coming. Hey, have a good night, see you again soon, thanks so much everybody.

Photos & Memorabilia