Nialler9 and The Big Romance present the Listen Closely series of listening parties, a night featuring a focus album from an artist we love on the last Wednesday of the month.
Wednesday August 26th:
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream (1993)
Siamese Dream is one of defining alt-rock albums of the ’90s but it almost didn’t happen. The Pumpkins were barely functioning: Corgan was depressed and in ribbons; Jimmy Chamberlin was deep in hard drugs; Iha and D’arcy’s romance had ended. Corgan eventually played nearly everything himself apart from the drums vowing to end the band if the album flopped. Somehow, this strife and tensionhelped make Siamese Dream one of the finest alt-rock albums of all time. It piles on solos, endless layered guitars (with Butch Vig co-producing), long compositions that flirt with prog, and lyrics that go straight for the throat. Featuring ‘Cherub Rock’, ‘Today’, ‘Rocket’, ‘Disarm’ and ‘Mayonaise’. Not a filler among them.
Join Nialler9 and guest Mark O’Brien (Royal Yellow, Enemies) for a discussion about this modern classic record and a playback of the album on vinyl through The Big Romance’s wonderfully plush and clear Toby Hatchett soundsystem. We also chat about the artist’s discography, the album’s context, craft, production, lyrics and why the album matters for a live Nialler9 Podcast episode.
Tickets are limited to 45 for this intimate event.
Become a paid member of the Nialler9 Patreon to get half priced tickets.
♡ Nialler9 is independent and reader-supported. Support us on Patreon →
Doors: 7:00pm. Arrive early for seats.
Album playback and chat from 7.45pm
Previous albums covered at Listen Closely parties:
- Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole (1993)
- Alanis Morrisette – Jagged Little Pill (1995)
- Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It In People (2002)
- Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
- Rosalía – LUX (2025)
- DJ Shadow – Endtroducing (1996)
- Massive Attack – Mezzanine (1998)
- Bloc Party – Silent Alarm (2004)
- Outkast – Stankonia (2000)
- My Bloody Valentine – Loveless (1991)
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz (2009)
- Jeff Buckley – Grace (1994)
- The Prodigy – Music For The Jilted Generation (1994)
- LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver (2007)
- Kendrick Lamar – good kid M.a.a.d. city (2012)
- J DIlla – Donuts (2006)
- Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation Of (1998)
- The Avalanches – Since I Left You (2001)
- Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever ago (2007)
- The Strokes – Is This It (2001)
- Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (2022)
- Boards Of Canada – Music Has The Right To Children (1998)
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear (2015)
- Beastie Boys – Ill Communication (1994)
- Fiona Apple – Tidal (1996)
- Portishead – Dummy (1994)
- Laurie Anderson – Big Science (1982)
- Madvillain – Madvillainy (2004)
- Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (2005)
- Four Tet – Rounds (2003)
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
