Under the low-lit marquee of the Theatre of Living Arts on June 16, 2025, Billy Corgan and The Machines of God delivered a mesmerizing 26-song set for their “A Return to Zero” tour, supported by rising alt-rockers Return to Dust.
The night opened with Return to Dust ripping through a seven-song set that included standouts like “Black Road,” “Face Down,” and “Bored,” their energy setting the perfect tone for what was to come.
Corgan took the stage and immediately launched into “Glass’ Theme,” followed by “Heavy Metal Machine” and the churning “Where Boys Fear to Tread.” The setlist was a carefully curated blend of Smashing Pumpkins deep cuts like “Pentagrams” and “The Crying Tree of Mercury,” balanced with fan favorites like “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” “1979,” and “Tonight, Tonight.” His vocals, raw and weathered, brought a new dimension to the classics while adding depth to the lesser-played tracks.
A major highlight of the night was guitarist KiKi Wongo, whose dynamic playing and stage presence added a fresh edge to Corgan’s sound. Her soaring leads on tracks like “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans” and “The Everlasting Gaze” elevated the performance, seamlessly weaving between grungy riffs and ethereal melodies.
The band’s tight musicianship carried through experimental pieces like “Glass and the Ghost Children” and “Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right),” showcasing both precision and spontaneity. Closing with “The Everlasting Gaze,” Corgan demonstrated once again that his creative spark remains strong, blending nostalgia and evolution in a room that felt both intimate and electric.
Billy Corgan
Return To Dust
