Live Review: Garbage – 20th July 2024 – Wembley Arena, London, UK
4 min read
It was a nostalgia drenched affair for Shirley Manson and bandmates Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker – otherwise known as Garbage – on Saturday night as the band set up shop at Wembley Arena for a final show of their current European tour. Often speaking of their remarkable 30 years together and still in their original founding form, Manson highlighted the fact that she never really felt like she fit in as a female lead from the UK in the States, where the band resides, and not quite fitting in in the UK with the remainder of the band being from the US. This made this weekends incredible show also one of reflection, appreciation and adoration for her “bunch of weirdo’s” as she would often lovingly refer to her fans, for keeping them relevant and showing up for a band that she described as being “complicated to love”.
Dressed in what was reminiscent of a mutilated wedding dress, Manson dominated the iconic Wembley stage, proving to be the reigning queen of rock as she masterfully delivered her bands hit-filled catalogue with brashness, confidence and emotion – at several points becoming quite overwhelmed at the reception of the audience and gratitude for a career which has not been so easy for the outfit, drawing attention to playing the venue in 1999 and always having a strange and conflicting relationship with London fans, while reminding us through stadium worthy performances of hits including a very sexualised opening of #1 Crush, stellar renditions of Version 2.0’s I Think I’m Paranoid and Special and dipping her toes into the bands more poppy numbers like Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) of the bands diverse repertoire.
Despite being released 3 years ago, the set was made up in large part of songs featured on the bands seventh studio record, No Gods No Masters with the likes of The Men Who Rule the World, Godhead and The Creeps all sitting confidently among the foursomes more commercial numbers, while Manson dedicated their performance of Wolves to her nephew, Syd who was present for the Saturday’s show.
For a band like Garbage, it’s the earlier back catalogue hits that fans are most excited to hear and that certainly rang very true during this weekend’s tour closing show. Run Baby Run and Bleed Like Me’s title track provided the set with more grunge-laden moments while Why Do You Love Me had the crowd bouncing along in a mosh-pit style frenzy.
While a couple of the bands big hitters were missed off this tours set including Queer and Bond theme song The World Is Not Enough, that was certainly made up for by the plethora of rock staples being dished up by the band including debut album non-single Vow which was a punchy highlight of the night while a spectacular rendition of Push It made us feel like we were right back in 1998.
Nestled right in the centre of the set, our personal favourite, Stupid Girl made its appearance and I was instantly transported back to my teenage bedroom in 1996 when I first fell in love with Garbage. As a pop loving music fan with rare dalliances outside of the genre, there aren’t too many acts on the heavier side that cut through the sugary walls of my musical tastes but Stupid Girl provided me with that introduction more than any other rock act, so hearing the song being performed on Saturday was a pretty special moment. As was the bands gorgeous performance of encore number, Milk which washed over the crowd with haunting nostalgia and set closer, Only Happy When It Rains.
Emotions were high for the band and its powerful front woman – that was very clear with Manson often seemingly tearful when frequently praising her “fucking bunch of weirdos” as she celebrated not fitting in and feeling different both personally and as a band, and it was clear by the Wembley crowds response that the feeling of love and gratitude was VERY much mutual.
Setlist:
#1 Crush
Godhead
I Think I’m Paranoid
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)
Special
The Men Who Rule the World
Metal Heart
Run Baby Run
Hammering in My Head
The Creeps
The Trick Is to Keep Breathing
Bleed Like Me
Stupid Girl
Wolves
No Gods No Masters
Cities in Dust (Siouxsie and the Banshees cover)
Vow
When I Grow Up
Why Do You Love Me
Push It
Encore:
Milk
Only Happy When It Rains
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
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