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Garbage Is Not Rubbish: Garbage Live in Boston 4/17/05May 09 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Stupid girl -- Shirley Manson sure ain't.
"This is all about me," Shirley Manson reprimanded a fan in the front row who was trying to create a scene. Despite the fact that Garbage is a tight band with gobs of musical talent, there's no denying that Manson is the center of attention. The guitarists and bassists looked like accountants next to the strikingly glamourous Ms. Manson, who was wearing an '80s-inspired, off-the-shoulder dress. Manson's beauty permeated all the way to the back of Boston's Avalon club where I was standing*, and her voice was in top form. Come to think of it, I don't think she even introduced her band, and I got the impression that she chose the schlumpiest-looking guys she could to make herself look even more stunning. Looking at guitarist Duke Erickson, I kept thinking, "That guy should be doing my taxes." While drama queen Shirley Manson strutted and posed all over the stage, her band was quietly brilliant. Bleed Like Me, Garbage's latest album, had just come out that Tuesday, and Garbage knew better than to play too many songs from the new album. People never like to hear unfamiliar stuff at concerts, and since the new album had hit shelves less than a week earlier, it was an especially good move to focus on the classics. The diverse crowd was enthusiastic and knowledgeable but polite and under control. Since Avalon has to clear out concert-goers before its 10 PM club night, Garbage played a compact set full of hits and relatively little chatter. However, the clever, Scottish frontwoman did praise Boston as one of the first places in America to play Garbage on the radio and commented on the Boston - New York rivalry. With ample reverence, Garbage took the stage following a recording of "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. As the lights came up, the band launched into the familiar riffs of "Queer" from Garbage's self-titled 1995 release. In the 80 minute set, there was hardly any downtime, and I kept thinking, "Ooh, I love this song!" I was holding a heavy bag full of Amnesty tabling supplies, but "I'm Only Happy When it Rains," "I Think I'm Paranoid," and "Stupid Girl" took away my pain. I was curious to hear how the poppier songs from Beautiful Garbage (2001) would translate live, but "Shut Your Mouth" sounded even better with a harder edge than the album version. However, I would have preferred to hear "Androgyny" than "Cherry Lips," the only other song they played from that album. Bleed Like Me is more stripped-down and a tad darker than their previous album, so the new songs immediately sounded familiar and fit right into the setlist. Eric Avery, the bassist for Jane's Addiction, is helping out Garbage on this tour, contributing to their fuller, heavier sound. In addition to the crisp-sounding band and gorgeous vocals, the Garbage concert also featured cool lighting. A giant screen behind the musicians flashed with psychadelic patterns and colors. During another segment of the concert, the screen showed random words, most of which were sexual and/or curses. Let's all be thankful that Garbage has gotten over its drama and is back on the road again. Some critics have dismissed Garbage's new/old sound as deritive of the band's post-grunge alterative rock heyday. But if it ain't broke, why fix it? The crowd in Boston certainly enjoyed the show; it's never too early for '90s nostalgia. ** Setlist Queer Bad Boyfriend Supervixen Stupid Girl Special Metal Heart Shut Your Mouth Vow Bleed Like Me I Think I'm Paranoid Push It Only Happy When It Rains Why Do you Love Me (Encore) Sex Is Not The Enemy Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) Run Baby Run ____ * I got to see Garbage for free because I was gathering petitions for Amnesty International before the show. Thanks, Shirley, Butch, Steve, and Duke for supporting a great cause. ** Woah, just as I typed that, a Bush song started playing on Yahoo LAUNCHcast. That thing is psychic, I swear.  |
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