Having endured a 21st-century career stumble, first with his band Zwan and then a solo career, Billy Corgan's decision to re-form The Smashing Pumpkins after a six-year hiatus was hardly a surprise. Nor was this control freak's decision to retain powerhouse drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, but shed the glamour of bassist D'Arcy Wretzky and the insouciance of guitarist James Iha in favour of the plainer, more subservient gifts of Ginger Reyes and Jeff Schroder.

Pictures: Smashing Pumpkins in concert

What was a surprise at the new line-up's first British show last night was just how re-energised and re-focused Corgan was. In a three-hour, interval-free show, the band rampaged through most of their hits and forthcoming album, Zeitgeist.

For the most part, Corgan's trademark aloofness (he didn't speak for the first hour) remained intact. So, typically, while there was so much to admire about The Smashing Pumpkins, there was little to actually love, even in a performance that was always engrossing and sometimes stunning.

The hits have weathered the years robustly, especially the lovely Tonight, Tonight and Bullet With Butterfly Wings, where Corgan reminded us that "despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage", while most of the new material suggested that his songwriting dander is as up as his performing one and, remarkably, by the end, this hitherto coldest of fish was cracking jokes about David Beckham.