Nice Tix: Smashing Pumpkins play craps; Walkmen/Sam Sparro play locally

After Billy Corgan resuscitated the Smashing Pumpkins to limited excitement, it seemed inevitable that Pumpkins 3.0 (Zwan 2.0?) would resort to stunts like anniversary shows and classic album tours. In 2009, Corgan, Chamberlain and ringers will trek the globe performing the debut album, Gish. Why not just cut to the chase and give people the Siamese Dream tour? Ah, wait until 2010. Additionally, Corgan announced that his crew would play a limited round of 20th anniversary shows in New York, L.A. and Chicago. Until then, tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am for its aforementioned $85 August gig at a casino in Hammond, IN.

Two points of consolation: (1) Corgan promises to return to the city in November and (2) the new "The Venue" at the Horseshoe Casino sounds insanely swank. It should be, as it's built from suckers' money. The LED and VIP suite–laden theatre was designed by Scéno Plus, who have created spaces for Cirque du Soliel and both the Mirage casino and Bellagio in Vegas.

To support their excellent new album, You & Me, the Walkmen bring their fuckton of reverb and F. Scott Fitzgerald fashion sense to the Metro on September 12. The next night, those looking for pop's next bright thing (of the week) should wrap a keffiya and shades around their head and boogie over to Subterranean for Sam Sparro. Born in Australia, Sparro moved to L.A. as a child. But like Black Kids and Hercules and Love Affair, he smartly first set his sights on conquering the candy-art-pop devouring British charts. His "Black and Gold" single hit #2. It's modern blue-eyed disco pop, and enough of a guilty pleasure to return from the grave in 20 years when teens "Sparro-roll" each other on the psi-web. Tickets go on sale this Saturday.