I had never seen Garbage before. I did come perilously close a few years ago as they were due to support Blondie, but when that Covid-affected gig was rearranged, Garbage were unavailable. Therefore, once I heard they were touring again I was at the front of the queue. Unfinished business, you see.
Garbage; an American/Scottish combination with lead singer, Shirley Manson hailing from Edinburgh, and a Wisconsin trio of Duke Erikson (Guitar/Keys), Steve Marker (Guitar/Keys) and Butch Vig (Drums). Also, on tour we had Ginger Pooley (of Smashing Pumpkins) on Bass and backing vocals. Their musical style has been described widely from Alternative or Electropop, to Post-Grunge. I like to think of them simply as a banging rock band who would make any road-trip pass quickly. They are one of the best bands of the last 30 years. Heck, you don’t get a Bond Movie theme tune gig unless you’re at the top of your game.
I at once warmed to Manson during her between songs speeches. Tales of mental illness and one reference of being the person the family never knew what to do with. Yes, by the end, I had quite the affinity, even empathising with Manson’s continuous pacing in a circle on numerous occasions. Opening with #1 Crush and Godhead, we then had two of my favourites in I Think I’m Paranoid and Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go). I have got to say, it’s not often you get a show which grips and rocks you from beginning to end, but this one did.
Great numbers continued to come: Special, The Men Who Rule the World, Hammering in My Head and The Creeps, before the poignant Bleed Like Me and arguably their most recognisable tune outside of fandom in Stupid Girl. There was a Siouxsie and the Banshees cover of Cities in the Dust before unleashing the 30-year-old debut single, Vow. Wow! We also had When I Grow Up, Push It and one of the most kick-ass songs of all time in Why Do You Love Me? Garbage then departed the stage, returning after a few minutes for the encore we all knew was going to happen. There, we were treated to a further two monsters in Milk and Only Happy When It Rains.
It’s easy for the uneducated to think of Garbage as solely being Shirley Manson, but this is a team, each member, plus Pooley, giving it all. Manson told the crowd that this was the 6th time playing at The Halls in Wolverhampton, although remarking that the place looked a whole lot better since its recent revamp. Understatement of the year to all of us who knew the Wolverhampton Civic. But reference was also made to their advancing years. Manson is 57 and the rest of the band even older. Commenting on not knowing what the future holds, Manson said this gig might turn out to be the last they ever play at the venue, but they really hope not, and that they may be back one day. We hope so too.
Cheers
Antony N Britt - Author 