Smashing Pumpkins open 'Guitar Center Sessions' May 17

Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY | USATODAY

Smashing Pumpkins, captured live in a rooftop concert at SXSW, will kick off the new season of Guitar Center Sessions on DirecTV.

The season opener airs May 17 at 9 p.m. ET/10 PT on DirecTV's Audience Network (Channel 239).

Next in line is Frank Turner, also filmed at SXSW, on May 24, followed by shows spotlighting a wide range of acts from Goo Goo Dolls to Talib Kweli to Fitz & The Tantrums. The 10-show series wraps up July 26 with its 50th episode, a concert by Dhani Harrison's Thenewno2.

The live performances, taped in high-definition at Guitar Center's Hollywood location, are augmented by music journalist Nic Harcourt's interviews with the artists.

"Today, more than ever before, any artist, established or up and coming, is working within a new convoluted paradigm full of challenges," Harcourt said in a statement. "The new episodes of Guitar Center Sessions feature a truly diverse group of artists, all sharing the ups and downs of their careers in the interviews and delivering blistering performances on stage."

Goo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik told USA TODAY, "Performing on Guitar Center Sessions was an amazing opportunity for us. Nic Harcourt is one of the last serious music aficionados left. It was an honor to be interviewed by him."

Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, introduced Sessions in 2010. Since then, the series has staged live performances by such artists as Peter Gabriel, Weezer, Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette, The Cult, Cake, Jakob Dylan, Blondie, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Bush, Ben Folds Five, Skylar Grey and Peter Frampton.

The schedule:

May 17, Smashing Pumpkins

May 24, Frank Turner

May 31, Goo Goo Dolls

June 7, OneRepublic

June 14, Fitz & The Tantrums

June 21, Alkaline Trio

June 28, Talib Kweli

July 12, Asking Alexandria

July 19, All Time Low

July 26, Thenewno2

Check out Smashing Pumpkins' performance of The Celestials, taped at SXSW for the season opener of Guitar Center Sessions: