Shirley Manson and company return triumphantly (and apologetically) to Seattle

by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer

GARBAGE
THE SHOWBOX SODO
September 26

It had been at least five years since Garbage last came through Seattle, their previous gig a truncated Bumbershoot set at Memorial Stadium. This wasn't exactly what loyal followers of the group were hoping for, after the American-Scottish act canceled a Paramount Theatre show the year before. But it would have to do for a while.

Last week at the Showbox SoDo, however, Seattle-area Garbage fans finally got their wish - a full-length set in an indoor venue, with no indifferent festival-goers getting in the way.

Garbage opened with an oldie but a goodie, 'Supervixen.' Vocalist and frontwoman Shirley Manson, who drew the loudest cheers when the band stepped on stage, looked viciously radiant in a one-piece short black dress with thigh-high boots, her reddish hair in a tight bun. She growled on the next song, 'I Think I'm Paranoid,' from the Grammy-nominated album Version 2.0 as some folks jumped up and down, clenching their fists.

ALL APOLOGIES
Before launching into 'Why Do You Love Me,' Manson told everyone that the night needed to start with an apology for the canceled Paramount concert. 'Do you forgive me?' asked the rock star sweetly. The audience replied with strong applause, but not before someone shouted 'Make up for it!' To that, Manson defended herself by saying that in all her many years of performing live, she'd only been responsible for that single cancellation.

Not Your Kind of People, the newest release from Garbage, was well-represented by six entries on the set list. Among them were 'Control,' 'Battle in Me,' and 'Blood for Poppies.' Another track from the CD, 'I Hate Love,' was picked by the crowd after Manson asked us to choose between it and 'Felt' (if I heard correctly). The song had never been played live before and was offered to Seattle fans for being 'shortchanged.'

But what everybody mostly came to hear were the hits, and Garbage didn't disappoint. Manson held out her microphone during 'Queer,' and of course we all sang along. 'Stupid Girl' was given a disco-style intro and had a cool electronic vibe throughout, while 'Special' featured some exceptional vocals by Manson primarily during the chorus.

The rest of the band shouldn't be overlooked. Butch Vig, Steve Marker, and Duke Erikson each contributed brilliantly to a performance that had bite and vibrant energy. It was like watching and hearing Garbage in its early days.

A SPECIAL DEDICATION
'Hammering in My Head,' though not being performed elsewhere on this tour, was added to the set list and dedicated to 'Albert at Seattle Gay Times,' said Manson. Yes, she meant me (although my employer was slightly misidentified). I had been informed just before the concert that the song would be played, and it was terrifically executed at the Showbox.

The main portion of the concert ended with two beloved favorites, 'Push It' and 'Only Happy When It Rains.' Welcomed back enthusiastically for an encore, Garbage ripped into 'Automatic Systematic Habit,' the aforementioned 'I Hate Love' (which was pure ear candy), 'The Trick Is to Keep Breathing,' and 'Vow.'

Garbage was clearly in their element at the Showbox SoDo. They've aged a bit, obviously, and they've taken long breaks between albums and songs, at times to focus on solo projects (Vig won a Grammy earlier this year for co-producing the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light), yet they're on a roll again with a noticeable second wind.

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