Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY HELEN LAME’
Returning to the Warfield in San Francisco for possibly the last time, Shirley Manson and Garbage performed a hits laden set of alternative rock songs, old and new before a packed house Friday night.
Shirley Manson of Garbage performs Friday night at The Warfield in San Francisco.
Continuing their rant against the corruption of the music industry and how corporate greed can make it near impossible for many bands attempting to tour the USA to even break even, the band’s 37 date appropriately titled Happy Endings tour has consistently been referenced as likely Garbage’s final tour that will be able to cross the interior of the country due to financial constraints.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their self titled debut album that sold four million copies, Garbage recently dropped their eighth studio release Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, a solid collection that provided four of the 19 songs played during Friday night’s 95 minute set.
Shirley Manson of Garbage performs Friday night at The Warfield.
The fiery Edinburgh-born Manson is a survivor who hasn’t been shy documenting her struggles with depression, sexism and self harm. Now 58, she’s thankfully avoided the brutal spotlight that that has claimed some high profile contemporaries including Amy Winehouse, Dolores O’Riordan and Sinead O’Connor.
Manson, 59, joined by Duke Erikson (guitar, bass, keyboards), Steve Marker (guitar and keyboards), and Butch Vig on drums, all of whom have comprised the band since its inception in 1994 in Madison, WI, was highly personable and talkative throughout.
Shirley Manson of Garbage soaks in some love from a sold out crowd Friday night at The Warfield.
Opening with “There’s No Future in Optimism” and the synthesized tempo shifting “Hold” from the new album, the band reaffirmed their place in grunge alt-rock royalty with breakthrough hits “I Think I’m Paranoid,” “Bleed Like Me,” “Queer,” “When I Grow Up” and the kaleidoscopic set closing “The Day That I Met God” before a highly lively encore of “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains.”
Frequently introducing songs with background antidotes including how a mid-90’s trip on a Japanese bullet train served as the inspiration for “Hammering in My Head,” Manson also made it clear how happy the band was to be visiting the live and let live environs of the Bay Area.
While hopefully the Bay Area’s coastal accessibility will increase the likelihood of seeing the band again, Garbage’s Happy Endings tour continues with a show at the Silver Legacy Casino in Reno on Sunday night.
