[download] Smashing Pumpkins, September 1991 @ Axis, WFNX 8th anniversary party

The remarkable vault of DUANE BRUCE strikes again. Yesterday the former WFNX DJ unearthed Nirvana's 1990 gig at ManRay in Cambridge, and today he comes through with the SMASHING PUMPKINS' now-legendary September 23 show at Axis. You know, the 'FNX 8th birthday party that also featured Boston heroes BULLET LAVOLTA and those crazy cats in NIRVANA, who, you know, would release some album called Nevermind the very... next... day.

Much has been made of Nirvana's show that night, but finally we get a taste of the opening act. The Pumpkins were rising fast after the Caroline Records release of debut Gish a few months ealier -- read our album-specific interview with Billy Corgan from a few weeks ago -- and stardom was just around the corner for the Chicago quartet. Their set on this night opens with "Rocket," which would appear on breakthrough record Siamese Dream less than two years later.

Thirty minutes of beautiful, dirty rock and roll firepower on Lansdowne Street. "I just saw god," quips Bruce at the end.

LISTEN: Smashing Pumpkins, live at the WFNX 8th birthday party, September 23 @ Axis in Boston [click to stream]