By: David Schultz

The Smashing Pumpkins reunion seems to be all the rage these days with people eagerly awaiting the Pumpkins new album and tour. While it will be nice to see what Billy Corgan has been up to since Zwan's disintegration, you would be hard pressed to say that the Pumpkins' sound has been missed. Not that the band's era-defining sound deserves relegation to the 90s, it's just been kept alive by the Silversun Pickups. Although the Los Angeles based foursome are no strangers to New York City, their Tuesday night headlining set at Webster Hall may well have served as their coming out party. Like most debutantes, they showed a lot of poise and potential as well as experienced some awkward moments.

On Carnavas, the Pickups first full-length album, Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger lay down a hypnotic mixture of guitar and bass that sinuously worked the psyche in the same manner as Sonic Youth. Largely in part to a substandard sound system, the Pickups were never able to work those melodies to their proper volume at Webster Hall. Technically sound, songs like "Little Lover's So Polite" and "Lazy Eye" drew fantastic responses without ever hitting the heights of which they are capable. For the most part, the Pickups dug in their heels and perfunctorily ran through a healthy number of the tracks on Carnavas; that they failed to add anything to the live performance hardly served as a detraction.

In contrast to Christopher Guanlao reaching to the heavens, bringing down his drumsticks from as high as he could reach, Joe Lester remained relatively stationary behind his keyboards. They also received occasional jolts of energy from members of the opening act, Sea Wolf: Aniela Perry sat in for a number, energetically rocking out behind her cello and to cap off a three song encore from Pikul, Byron Reynolds brought out a snare and cymbal for the evening's final number.

If the Silversun Pickups sound seems familiar, their voice doesn't. Quite different from his speaking voice, Aubert's scratchy, ethereal vocals give the Pickups an otherworldly quality. If his voice seems unearthly, his demeanor isn't. After noticing an "exuberant" fan that seemed to be jeopardizing the safety and generally annoying everybody around him, Aubert took time between songs to not-so-gently chastise the fellow, mixing political commentary into a simple lesson on etiquette and goodwill towards your fellow man (and woman).

Not so long ago, all the Internet buzz in the world seemed to swirl around the Silversun Pickups. Such attention will age a band quickly, or at least force them to experience their growing pains in public. The Pickups seem to be past that stage and should have the freedom to mature at their own pace, without unrealistic expectations foisted upon them.

Labels: Live Reviews, Silversun Pickups