Shirley Manson – Still a formidable strong female force in alt rock as Garbage run a 2 hour set at the Yorkshire seaside resort

★★★★☆ (4/5)

GARBAGE PERFORMING AT BRIDLINGTON SPA THEATRE
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

Garbage's recent performance at Bridlington Spa was a triumphant display of the band's enduring charisma and musical prowess, however, sadly this was to a venue only 2/3rds full at a Yorkshire seaside town on a Monday night.

Touring with Garbage on this short run is Lucia Fairfull and her Best Boys. No stranger to me as I’ve been following them for the last 5 or 6 years, but with every performance Lucia is winning over new fans, tonight was a stunning set showing her sheer vocal talent and command of the stage.

By now they should be playing and selling out places like this in their own right and it just needs that lucky break before the masses flock to her as the new Florence and the Machine. ‘So Sweet I Could Die’ is a personal favourite and goes down really well with the crowd that came in early to see them. Lucia with her model looks and charisma to match ends their set on the barrier with a thousand new fans all now searching for tracks on Spotify to add to their collection.

“She’s like my daughter or maybe Granddaughter” Shirley Manson would say later on stage, clearly this run in Europe has developed a mutual musical kinship that fellow Glaswegian Manson will keep long after the tour.

From the moment Manson took to the stage, it was clear that this would be a night to remember. Dressed in her signature bold style, Manson commanded attention with her vibrant presence and fierce energy. Her voice, a unique blend of grit and melody, pierced through the venue, captivating the audience with each note.

Garbage open with #1 Crush, a b-side to their 2nd single in the UK released in 1995 and featured a version in the remixed Romeo & Juliet film. The setlist was a well-curated mix of classic hits and newer material, demonstrating the band's evolution while honouring their roots.

With the opening salvo including ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’ from the brilliant 2.0 (2nd album) they have immediately set a high bar, with pulsating rhythms and gritty guitar riffs that had the crowd roaring. Huge tracks like ‘Only Happy When It Rains’ and ‘Stupid Girl’ that came later, transported long-time fans back to the '90s, while newer songs from the more recent ‘No Gods No Masters’ album, showcased the band's relevance in today's music scene.

Instrumentally, the band was flawless. Duke Erikson and Steve Marker’s guitar work was both aggressive and nuanced, providing a dynamic backdrop to Manson’s vocals. Butch Vig, renowned for his production work as well as his drumming, laid down a solid foundation that was both powerful and precise. Then when you add touring bass player and ex Smashing Pumpkins - Ginger Pooley, together, their chemistry was palpable, a testament to years of collaboration and mutual understanding.

One of the highlights was a quite superb rendition of ‘Cities in Dust’ a Siouxsie and the Banshees song which Manson completely owns tonight, her long-time idol Siouxsie would love to have such a vocal range now.

Audience interaction was another highlight of the evening. Several shout outs for tracks surprisingly not on the setlist like ‘Queer’, Manson teases with the opening first 2 lines, or ‘Trip My Wire’ where the band actually join in for the first verse and chorus.

“Anymore Requests? – Bridlington Spa” She loves saying the name, despite admitting that they had never heard of the place before. Then she decides to switch up the setlist for ‘No Horses’ after one audience member pleaded her case so well.

Will it be one of their last performances? “Who knows how long Garbage have got left” is a statement recently made by Shirley Manson. Every date she has been saying goodbye to cities across Europe, although we also understand there is a new album in the waiting next year so who knows.

Celebrating nearly three decades in the industry, the band delivered a powerful and emotionally charged show tonight. One that should have been seen by more people, because you might not get the chance again anytime soon.