GARBAGE LIVE IN MANCHESTER – WHAT HAPPENED?

Friday night sees another legendary band arrive in Manchester to play (this time indoors after two rainy nights in a row at Castlefield Bowl!). Garbage were in fine form playing a very packed Manchester Apollo which is fast becoming one of my favorite venues and let’s be honest we’re spoiled for choice here.

The crowd certainly made an effort with their outfits, feather and animal print boas, sequin and feather tops, all in tribute to a very fashion conscious Shirley Manson, whose outfit did not disappoint tonight. Arriving on stage after the set, Manson wore a stunning metallic dress, like a traveling art installation that looked every inch the rock icon, and immediately started the night without ado, straight to business.

Manson’s voice is as iconic as her wardrobe collection, with a powerful vocal range that delivers every line with gusto and a don’t-give-a-fuck attitude that draws huge cheers from the audience. The setlist saw the band perform classic Garbage hits including ‘Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!), ‘Bleed Like Me’ and a Siouxsie and the Banshees cover of ‘Cities in Dust’.

Garbage, although their image is Manson, you can’t help but mention the rest of the band who give the band their unique sound, with Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig rounding out the post-grunge/electro pop sound – as the band is hard to pin down single genre and I imagine they like it that way.

The evening came to a dramatic close with an encore of ‘Milk’ and of course one of their most famous songs, ‘Only Happy When it Rains’. And just like that, the band leave the stage and in a huge anti-climax, the crowds descend into the harmonious Manchester night, no doubt very empowered after that iconic performance, a word that has been the focus of this review, but one that, can no doubt be related to this band continuing to make an impression on fans old and new.

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