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. " />

Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Tuesday, March 19

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« Lollapalooza: Day Three Recap The Lumineers Announce Chicago Concert »

Concert Tue Aug 07 2012

Review/Photos: Garbage @ Cabaret Metro 8/07/12

Gapers N Top.jpg

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.

Gapers Garbage 1.jpg

Gapers Garbage 2 .jpg

Gapers Garbage 3.jpg

Gapers Garbage 5.jpg

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.

Gapers Garbage tall.jpg

Gapers Garbage 6.jpg

Gapers Garbage 7.jpg

Gapers Garbage 8 .jpg

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.

Gapers Garbage 9. jpg

Gapers Garbage 10 .jpg

Gapers Garbage 11 .jpg

Gapers Garbage 12.jpg

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.

Gapers Garbage 13.jpg

Gapers Garbage 14.jpg

Gapers Garbage top.jpg

The complete Garbage setlist from last night:

Gapers Garbage setlist.jpg

 
GB store

Alice Salazar / August 8, 2012 2:13 PM

Best show I have seen in a long time!

Jacob / August 10, 2012 10:18 AM

Some nice shots of Shirley, but where's the rest of the band? Butch Vig, Steve Marker and Duke Erikson don't even get mentioned. I get that she's the main attraction, but Garbage is a band -- they all write the music and they all performed a great show. One of the best that I've seen this year.

GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15