Garbage

Returning to Britain for their first tour in almost three years, Garbage's live performance skills were put to the test when they took up the mighty challenge of the London Astoria on Wednesday the 14th November.

I should have known that the lack of support band was the first confirmation of their supergroup status. With no one for fans to compare them to, they were well and truly out on their own.

Arriving to a long-assembled enthusiastic audience, the band opened with my highlight of the 'Version 2.0' album, the energising rock of 'Push It'. The crowd were already moshing, and the band were loving it. Second track, the uplifting 'Special' was followed by the first of many interludes with the audience from Shirley, who thanked us profusely for being here, showing success meant she didn't take us for granted. The most-appreciated audience interaction from the extremely energetic Shirley, Duke and Steve was the icing on the cake.

Three songs in came the first of many tracks from the slated not rated dance-pop orientated 'beautifulgarbage' album. 'Androgyny', the top-ten single, was performed with much passion, although this wasn't reciprocated from the audience, which was packed with old school garbage fans, waiting to hear the old favourites. 'Shut Your Mouth' and 'Till the Day I Die' were faithfully moshed along to. 'Silence is Golden', which displayed Shirley’s extensive vocal talents, going down the best.

Crazier moshing was reserved for the songs from the first album. The atmospheric ambience of the Tricky collaboration ‘Milk’, the crashing, defining chords of ‘Supervixen’, the delicious hooks of ‘Not My Idea’ and the fantastic, lyrically-blessed, ‘Vow’. For the true Garbage fan, the moment Shirley delivered the now-famous ad lib that got her into the band, ‘Like Joan of Arc, coming back for more’, this was a moment to savour, along with her set of press ups during the show. The famous acerbic wit shone through in her response to the oft repeated ‘get your kit off’ chant. ‘Was that the postman?’ The two-song encore consisted of rare b-sides to the early single ‘Subhuman’, and was played with a raw energy and desire of a new band out to prove their worth, thus impressing me further.

Despite the lack of flashy sets, and Butch Vig’s mastery, the two guitarists, vocalist and excellent drumming by Matt Chamberlain filled the theatre ten times over. The fans left exhilarated and enthralled by the spectacle, having been treated to the best gig of their lives.