New York City Buzz: Goodbye Pumpkins Hello U2

Whereas this was a week of goodbyes for The Smashing Pumpkins, it was a week of rebirth for U2. Three days after The Smashing Pumpkins played their farewell show in Chicago, U2 returned to its club roots Tuesday night at New York's Irving Plaza for its only full-length show in the U.S. this year. A far cry from the flashy pyrotechnics and excessive rave-like atmosphere that characterized the band's Popmart tour, this event was an intimate gathering for 1,000 fans, winners of K-ROCK radio's invite-only ticket giveaway.

The set list included selections from the band's two decade career, from "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" released in early 1980 to their new single "Beautiful Day" as well as a cover of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." As well as paying homage to the Ramones, Bono made a passing statement about the Pumpkins' departure, saying he felt "very, very bad in [his] soul" about it.

Marilyn Manson's drummer Ginger Fish, on the other hand was feeling very, very bad in general after the show at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. Manson and Fish were attempting to destroy the drum kit when Fish lost his balance and plummeted from the drum riser to the stage below. Security stood by for minutes as the injured drummer lay there like a beached er... whale, as they believed the fall to be a part of the act. Fish was eventually escorted off and treated for a broken collarbone at a nearby hospital.

The Offspring, having already given away a million dollars to a girl in Georgia and are still feeling generous. Fans in New York City can now vie for Dexter Holland and Noodles' Sony Playstation 2. Something tells me MTV won't be dedicating an entire week of Total Request Live and broadcasting live from Times Square for this follow-up contest.

If I do, by chance, win this fine piece of equipment, you can be sure I'm going straight to eBay with it. If *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake's half-eaten french toast from his breakfast at Z100's morning show last spring went for over $1,000, I know I can bling bling all the way to the bank with this one. Okay, maybe not.

Although fans of The Offspring generally don't display symptoms such as foaming at the mouth and unabashed stalking, I'm sure I can get at least $400 for it. Hell, it's not a million, but I won't complain. The Offspring are set to play the Roseland Ballroom December 17 and 18 with guests MxPx and Cypress Hill.

Frankly, I'd rather win one of B-Real's half-smoked Philly Blunts. [Slapping my head as I suddenly realize that I left Bif Naked's half-eaten pink lollipop at my friend's house in Tampa.] Bif gave me her lollipop after her set, claiming that it contained a little too much sugar for her tastes. Jyll, do you still have that thing in the freezer? Can you mail it back to me? It's eBay time. I gotta pay my phone bill.

CYA,

Bertie Cheng

Bertie Cheng's New York City Buzz column appears bi-weekly on ChartAttack. She is presently the webmistress of the kick ass Bif Naked webpage and a former college radio DJ at WHRB in Cambridge, Massachusetts.