The Smashing Pumpkins have finally started marking the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness. Their Rats In A Cage Tour opened last night in Columbus, and the band played a 32-song show packed with live debuts and songs they haven’t touched for nearly two decades.
The show took place at Columbus’ Value City Center, with no opening act. The first set covered 16 of the 28 tracks from the double album, including “Cupid De Locke,” “Fuck You (An Ode To No One)” and the heavy “Galapogos.” All three songs have been absent from the band’s shows for about two decades.
The second set jumped across the band’s career, from the early hits to late-era tracks. They played “Jesus Is The Sun,” an extremely early demo, for the first time ever, alongside two other live debuts: “Machina, Machina” and “Sojourner.”
The Songs That Returned
- “Cupid De Locke” — first time since 2008
- “Galapogos” — first time since 2008
- “Fuck You (An Ode To No One)” — first time since 2007
- “By Starlight” — first time since 2010
- “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness” — first time since 2018
- “As Rome Burns” — first time since 2010
- “Superchrist” — first time since 2019
The set also included a tease of “Tales Of A Scorched Earth” during “Zero” and a “Blew Away” intro to “Disarm.”
What The Show Delivered
The show ran long, and the band brought cool lights and stage costumes throughout. Videos from the show are available to watch.
The setlist covers a wide range of the band’s career, from the early days to their latest material. The demo “Jesus Is The Sun” was a particular highlight, marking its first-ever live performance.
The Two Debut Tracks
“Machina, Machina” and “Sojourner” were both heard live for the first time. “Edin,” “Pentagrams,” “War Dreams Of Itself,” “Dorian,” “Stand Inside Your Love,” “Today,” “Cherub Rock,” “The Everlasting Gaze” and “Superchrist” made up the remainder of the second set.
The setlist, via Setlist.fm, runs from “1979” through “Superchrist,” with the demo “Jesus Is The Sun” landing at position 30.
A Long Wait For The Party
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness actually turned 30 last year, but the band waited until now to mark the anniversary with a tour. The Rats In A Cage Tour is described as two unique sets celebrating the album at 30 and nearly four decades of unruly hits and dark treasures.
The Columbus opener showed what that promise means in practice: a marathon set that dug deep into the band’s catalog while bringing out songs that had been buried for years.
Our Call On The Set
This is a show built for the dedicated fan. The live debuts and the return of long-lost tracks give it a reason to exist beyond simple nostalgia.
The band has put in the work, and the setlist reflects it. Thirty-two songs is a lot, but the variety keeps it from feeling like filler. The demo performance, in particular, shows a willingness to dig past the polished records and play something raw.
The Rats In A Cage Tour continues its run, and fans who have followed the band for decades will find plenty here to justify the trip.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.