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Concert Tue Aug 07 2012
Review/Photos: Garbage @ Cabaret Metro 8/07/12
After seeing Garbage play last night, it's pretty doubtful that anyone in her/his right mind could claim that Shirley Manson isn't on top of her game. She owned the stage with a strong female assertiveness and her distinctive voice coupled with her rock moves and didn't even seem tired after playing a set that lasted over ninety minutes.
But it wasn't just stamina and stage presence that made seeing Garbage great for fans. It was super special to see them at a club like The Metro when one could see them easily selling out a venue much larger, like The Riviera Theater, for example. Surely it was obvious when fans gathered way before even openers local garage rockers White Mystery (who were fantastically tight and energetic as usual) took the stage that there was a level of heightened devotion. But one could sense that the band has a special relationship with the Metro as well as with the city.
The fans also made it a great night overall, always excited and happy to sing along to their favorite songs and Garbage played quite a few of them. In fact, every song felt like a hit single in its very catchy and incredibly strong composition. The nostalgia the sold-out crowd felt was so definite it could almost be squeezed in one's hand. It was easy to guess that some of the audience had been waiting for this show, earnestly counting down the days, since tickets went on sale and would probably hold this night dear forever.
The other interesting aspect about the show and Manson's stage presence in particular was her banter in between songs. She come off as very powerful while she was singing and gentle while she was talking. Manson modestly thanked first White Mystery, then redheads, then her family, then all of Scotland. She also told a very heartwarming story about a girl who first met her when she was 7 who had cancer at the time and survived and was in attendance at the show. Manson's Scottish accent was indeed charming but it was her affectionate heartwarming sensibility while talking that made fans appreciate her whole self and all sides to clearly a very complex and interesting person and musician.
The complete Garbage setlist from last night:
Alice Salazar / August 8, 2012 2:13 PM
Best show I have seen in a long time!