William Patrick Corgan

When William Patrick Corgan announced that he’d be performing four acoustic sets at Madame ZuZu’s Emporium — the tea shop he owns in Chicago — they were billed as “William Patrick Corgan Early Years 1985-1990.” For those who struggle with calendars, that means it’s all pre-Gish, and thus before the Billy Corgan that fans have come to know and love over the last three decades both with and without the Smashing Pumpkins (although Corgan and guitarist James Iha technically formed the band and began performing together in 1988). Described on the official Eventbrite page as “a unique and intimate evening of story and song,” the two weekends made good on their promise of exploring Corgan’s “early years as a musician and songwriter with music written between 1985-1990 when he was a fledgling arti...