On the Road Again
Live Reviews:

Garbage
September 22, 1998
Plaza of Nations, Vancouver, BC.

"They said we could never mix pop and electronica," Shirley Manson proclaimed to the loudmouthed audience squished into the Plaza of Nations; adolescent crowd-surfers falling at her feet. "They said we'd fall on our faces, but thanks to people like you, we've proved them all wrong."

Storming the stage in perfect time to a screeching frenzy of synthesizers and guitars, Garbage-lady Shirley Manson came flying out of the dark and into the aqua-blue lights. Dressed in a wooly blazer and a shortly hemmed red dress, the less-gothic-than-usual-Manson was like a cherry splash of girly-ness against a very macho backdrop of ampage courtesy of band member/producer Butch Vig (drums), and guitarists Duke Erickson and Steve Marker.

The set began with "Vow" and "As Heaven Is Wide" - oldies from their 1995 self-titled debut album that drew the dancing audience in from the get-go. It was a perfect beginning to a non-stop dance stomp through the constantly inventive Garbage hit parade: rock guitars, techno big beats and layers upon layers of essential groove and power-pop were the order of the day.

Beneath a searing light show, Manson brought the show to a sultry lull with a hypnotic performance of "Number One Crush" the Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack's smash hit. Then, with a glittery, orange guitar slung over her swaggering torso, Manson and the band belted out a triple guitar sample-set of wares from their second album, Version 2.0.

After an enticingly dreamy performance of "Queer", the concert climax came with "Push It". Later, with her signature doom and gloom at an apparent minimum, Manson and the clan ran through "Only Happy When It Rains".

Towards the end of the show, when a young fan's driver's license was thrown on stage, Manson scolded: "And just how did you expect to get home tonight?"

I'm sure the girl didn't give a damn. I'm sure she just wanted to hear "Number One Crush" in the Indian Summer twilight for the rest of the night - maybe even her life. This band proves it. Garbage can really rock your world.