Theres nothing like an old-fashioned rock concert to explore one's religious beliefs. Or one's sexuality.

The show had sold out immediately, and the lucky ticketholders were ready. Ready to rock out, to get sweaty, to oogle the lead singer and the bass player, and above all, to serve witness to the much-anticipated tour for Zwan's debut album, Mary Star of the Sea.

After a grueling hour and a half, opening "band" The Childrens Hour took the stage and proceeded to maim the audience's eyes and ears with blinding blue spotlights, grating harp and ukelele accompaniments and some yelped lyrics that would make even Dolores O'Riordan cringe.

When the two "musicians" and the spotlights were finally shouted down, five damn gorgeous people took the stage. Beautifully bald Billy Corgan was in full Jesus mode, or as Christ-like as one can be in a long-sleeved checkered ringer and brown corduroys. David Pajo and New Yorker Matt Sweeny crouched and thrusted like all good guitar gods do. Minx Paz Lenchantin flung her hair and flashed that paralyzing, mile-wide smile while liquifying the crowd's bowels with her bass lines. And although Jimmy Chamberlin was hidden behind Corgan and a bunch of cymbals the whole time, he was surely looking quite attractive as well.

"Jesus I" was the surprising yet appropriate opener, nicely filled out with glorious lyric harmonization from each band member. The song eventually morphed into "God's Gonna Set This World on Fire," a traditional spiritual Zwan has regularly been call-and-responsing in live shows. And after Lenchantin forewent the bass in favor of the violin for the slower "Heartsongs" and "Of a Broken Heart," the audience was in a near cult-like trance brought on by the combination of her lulling string accompaniment, the sight of her closed eyes and parted red lips and the murmur of Corgan's mesmerizing drone.

Midway through the show, "Mary Star of the Sea," the second half of the sole epic song on the album, became a guitar epic of its own. The hailstorm of pure noise seemingly brought the heavens down, popping a few speakers and dropping several jaws with its intensity.

Those expecting an essential album run-through got "Ride a Black Swan," "Desire" and "El Sol," but also received a few bonuses; songs only available on the DVD version of the CD. "For Your Love," a song tailored to highlight the continuous adoration of "rock 'n roll kids" was especially relevant, as was the "Do you believe in peace?" theme of "A New Poetry." And the near-metal encore closer "Spilled Milk" effectively knocked the giddified crowd, a contingency of which had clearly never experienced a Siamese Dream or felt Mellon Collie their entire lives, on its collective ass.

This new mood of Zwan, and most importantly Corgan, perfectly paralleled the bright colors and active designs reflected on the stages; one overhead and three rear screens. The members joked and danced around on stage and even by-God smiled through "Endless Summer," "Lyric," "Declarations of Faith" and "Honestly." And when Corgan positively beamed while La De Dah-ing "Settle Down," it was hard to imagine him as the same man who used to dress in black and inform us that "The world is a vampire." If Corgan one day takes the final leap and establishes his own religion, he and Lenchantin would be spokespersons for one hell of an attractive faith.