In 1998, Garbage’s second album, “Version 2.0”, became their first and only UK Number 1 album, spawned five UK Top 20 hits and went on to sell around 4 million copies worldwide. This year, they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the record with a remastered re-issue and a tour. Tonight, the tour hits Digbeth Arena as part of the Skyline Series events. It’s an outdoor event in an abandoned yard next to the old railway tunnels. It’s a wonderful setting for live music and, coupled with a strong pair of support acts, helps to create a pleasant festival atmosphere early on.
Anniversary tours have become increasingly commonplace and it’s quite easy to dismiss them as “cash-ins” by bands who have ran out of new ideas. From the outset, it is clear that this is not the case for Garbage tonight. Rather than playing the album in order, the tracks are played out of sequence to keep fans engaged with B-Sides and rarities from the era are thrown in. Somewhat unusually, Garbage open with two B-Sides tonight; “Afterglow” and “Deadwood”. For the die hard fans at the front, this is a special opportunity to hear these deep cuts. For the more casual punters, these are perhaps songs they have never heard before. It’s certainly a risky move to open with two B-Sides but it absolutely pays off. Vocalist, Shirley Manson, delivers note perfect renditions of these beautiful tracks to a surprisingly engaged audience who hang on every word. These are restrained, slow burning performances that set the tone for the rest of the evening. This is not a legacy band going through the motions, playing a classic album in full with the hits tacked on at the end. Instead, this is a specially crafted set clearly designed to keep the band as interested as the audience.
Free from the shackles of playing the obvious hits, tonight’s set gives Garbage the opportunity to really show off the full range of their abilities. We overheard someone in the audience describe Version 2.0 as “every sound that defines the 90’s thrown into one album” and that certainly rings true tonight. “Temptation Waits” kicks off like The Fat of the Land-era The Prodigy and grungey “Wicked Ways”is mixed with a loud and energetic “Personal Jesus” before the chorus of the set’s first hit single, “Special”, sounding almost ‘Britpop’, generates the first sing-a-long of the evening.
The band appear reinvigorated by being able to play songs that they have rarely (or in some cases, never) played before. Shirley stomps around in circles to “Get Busy With The Fizzy”, climbs down into the crowd for “I Think I’m Paranoid” and drops to her knees for an incredibly powerful and beautiful “Soldier Through This”.
Shirley Manson‘s voice sounds as good as it ever did tonight. Her every move is as captivating and electrifying as it was 20 years ago and she remains completely unafraid to say whatever is on her mind. She talks often of our “troubled times”, confidently asks any Trump supporters in tonight’s audience to leave and explains that the music industry is like the Mafia. The history records will show that Garbage have had their personal struggles together but tonight Manson refers to them as her “beautiful band” and they all appear to enjoy every minute of being together.
The main set is finished with the closing track on the album and probably Garbage’s most tender moment, “You Look So Fine” and they return for an encore of “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing” and a cover of Bowie’s “Starman” with Digbeth Arena on backing vocals.
A casually interested fan may be disappointed at the lack of hits from Garbage‘s other records but they made it clear on social media that those songs would not be present on this tour. If you were able to forget about what they didn’t play and instead focus on the depth of the material that was showcased tonight, then it was hard not to be impressed.
The band sound incredible tonight; it’s loud but clear and perfectly mixed. They weave expertly through many different genres and it’s a pleasure to see them get so much enjoyment for what is arguably a somewhat self-indulgent set. Shirley points out that it’s been 20 years since Garbage were last in Birmingham and it’s unlikely they will be back in 20 years time. If tonight’s performance is anything to go by, we wouldn’t bet against it.
Photos by CJS Media
