RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Smashing Pumpkins came to shakedown 1994. That was the last time Chicago’s alt-rock heroes played Lollapalooza, back when it was still touring around the country and not yet in the band’s backyard.
Headlining the festival again 32 years later was about recognizing that past while moving into a new era and a new audience for the band — and proving they very much still had a place on the lineup.
The Pumpkins kicked things off with a succession of three of their biggest hits (“1979,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Today”) to rope in the audience and then sashayed three guest stars for even more likeability. The spread was a cross-generational split that smartly catered to both the Day 1 fans as well as the new listeners not born in the 1900s, both of whom were seen in the respectable crowd that chose the set over Charli xcx.
The Smashing Pumpkins perform at the Bud Light stage at Lollapalooza on July 31, 2026.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Yungblud was up first. The spirited UK rocker has been a recent compadre of the band, featuring them on his song “Zombie.” But Friday they switched things up with Yungblud doing a reverent take of “Luna,” with his honeyed vocals giving a more polished take on the song.
Then there was Olivia Rodrigo. The “Sour” star had been spotted at O’Hare on Thursday by internet sleuths, leading to speculation she was going to be doing something at Lollapalooza. Guesting with the Pumpkins was a natural fit. Rodrigo has always worn her love for ‘90s alt-rock on her sleeve — whether touring with the Breeders or, last year, bringing out Weezer for her own headlining set at the festival .
Corgan looked downright smitten to be doing a slowed-down, acoustic duet of “Thirty-Three” with the pop star who brought a heightened emotion to the track.
The final Pumpkins guest was none other than the band’s one-time bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, who has been back on the radar lately with her tell-all ‘90s memoir, “Even the Good Girls Will Cry.” She ripped through a scorching version of “The Everlasting Gaze” and fit in so well with the band — of course, also including founding guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin — that you only hope they find a way to properly reunite in the future. No disregard to touring bassist Jack Bates, of course, who held his own during the 17-song set, as did touring guitarist Kiki Wong, whose whiplash solo on “Ava Adore” was next level.
The Smashing Pumpkins perform at the Bud Light stage at Lollapalooza on July 31, 2026.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
All of it was a fitting way to close out “Pumpkinpalooza” that has blanketed the city over the past few days. In addition to the band’s warm-up show at Riviera Wednesday night (also featuring Auf der Maur and “Brady Bunch” actor Barry Williams on a random cover of “It’s A Sunshine Day”), there was a pop-up merch store on Wabash Avenue selling crossover designs merging the Pumpkins and the Chicago Cubs. Corgan and his kids paid a visit to the shop Friday before it closed for good. His family — including wife Chloe Mendel — has also been helping to run the Madame Zuzu’s Celestial Lounge pop-up in Lolla’s Vibe Village where they’ve been selling goods from their Highland Park tea shop.
If there’s one thing you have to give to the Pumpkins, it’s the fact that they’ve always stayed close to their Chicago roots. The band never left home for the coasts as so many did in the halcyon days, and anytime they play our fair city, it’s done with the utmost love and consideration for the place that raised them.
There’s one moment in the set that always drives this home. When the band plays “Tonight Tonight,” it feels like a birth right to shout the famous “city by the lake” lyric. Except Friday night, fans did so right next to Lake Michigan, making it even more meaningful.
Nature got the memo — as the band played the song, a sudden burst of rain blanketed the crowd like a ritualistic baptism.
The Smashing Pumpkins perform on Day 2 of Lollapalooza in Grant Park on Friday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
“We just got a rain disco party,” said Corgan, before shifting gears. “All right, back to the sorrow,” he declared, launching into the gloomy psych rocker “Pentagrams.”
But he couldn’t fool anyone — Corgan was enjoying the night just as much as everyone else in the park. We all felt right at home.
Set list
1979 Bullet With Butterfly Wings Today Edin Disarm Luna (with Yungblud) Porcelina of the Vast Oceans Jellybelly Tonight, Tonight Pentagrams Thirty-Three (with Olivia Rodrigo) Ava Adore War Dreams of Itself Mayonaise Cherub Rock Zero The Everlasting Gaze (with Melissa Auf der Maur)
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