Smashing ‘meet ‘n’ greet’

Smashing Pumpkin frontman Billy Corgan (right) and Eqwanox drummer Nick Douch prior to Saturday night’s concert. Photo supplied.

Te Awamutu teenager Nick Douch got more then he bargained for when he went to the Smashing Pumpkins concert in Auckland last Saturday night. He was summoned backstage for a meet with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan before the show.

Nick, who has many strings to his bow, is drummer for local band Eqwanox who, in only their fourth gig, supported Corgan when he played in Auckland in 2005 during his solo effort, The Future Embrace tour.

He is also part of the Fill the House tickets project, a nationwide undertaking which he helps co-organise on a voluntary basis for the Child Cancer Foundation (www.childcancer.org). This involves liaising with tour promoters, artists, artist’s management, record companies and venues sourcing tickets to various events in order to give Child Cancer Foundation families some welcome time out from the stresses and strains of dealing with a child/teenager with cancer.

‘Billy’s influence on us was far reaching and helped us sort our musical direction,” says Nick. “Just by being around him we were able to get a feel for different things that we otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to. It was great to catch up with him again. He took away a demo copy of our forthcoming album ‘All Roads Lead From Here’ so it will be interesting to see what he thinks of it.”

And what did Nick think of Saturday night’s show?

“The Pumpkins show was amazing and Corgan’s varied treatment of songs and how he made them work is testament to his talent and why he is so popular and well respected in the industry. To be exposed to that at close quarters has helped us heaps.”

You can find out how by checking out Eqwanox when they support top Kiwi band The Bleeders at Diggers Bar in Hamilton on Friday, April 11 as part of their current New Zealand tour.

Meanwhile it’s back to the books as Nick continues his studies towards a Bachelor of Media Arts and Commercial Music Degree at Wintec, something that Corgan was instrumental in steering Nick and other members of his band towards.