(FORMER) TOP DOG SMASHING PUMPKINS
RISING THREAT ???

We on TOC’s music staff put so much effort into covering local artists that, frankly, we get pissed when people ask us the perennial annoying question: “Who will be the next Smashing Pumpkins?” What we assume they want to know is, Who will be the city’s next internationally known, radio-ready marquee rock band, an act that will epitomize the “sound” of Chicago, the leader in charge of a Liz Phair/Urge Overkill kind of “scene” (which has been dead for more than a decade, people)? The hell if we know.* Sure, Fall Out Boy hailed from here and spawned dozens of local emo wanna-bes, and South Side metal band Disturbed sells out large venues, but neither (thankfully) define the city. We’d offer up Andrew Bird, whose music we at least like, but he’s not a household name. The beauty of Chicago’s rock scene is its diversity, with glisteny pop, dirty garage rock, languid avant-rock and more living together in harmony. We don’t need—or want—another Smashing Pumpkins. So would you stop bothering us already?

*Well, okay, maybe it’s Wilco.