Garbage Manchester Academy 20 Years Paranoid Tour 09.09.2018

Garbage-Manchester Academy

20 Years Paranoid Tour

 09.09.2018

 

I last seen 'Garbage' in '2012' for the '20 Years Queer' Celebration of the debut album titled 'Garbage', I recall meeting 'Butch Vig' before the show and having a great conversation about him producing 'Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album while he smoked a Cig, he even kindly got the whole band to sign my stuff .

 

 

This year I can hardly believe it's 20 years of 'Version 2.0' their second album, this time I had the good fortune to meet the delightful 'Ms 'Shirley Manson' who spent time chatting with a  few of us, signing things and even doing photos, she has always been an Icon to me- I told her this she was quite humble , she was the one person that influenced me to dye my hair red even though I was blonde .

 

Tonight support comes from 'The Estrons' from Wales, Swansea who came straight from the 90's rock band old skool, singer 'Tali' is nervous , she says "This is the biggest crowd we've played to Thanks Manchester!", they were great I enjoyed their set, as they come to the last song in the set she says "We'll be over at the merch come and say 'Hi' cant hang around I'm in court tomorrow Fxxking 'Swansea' crowd look astonished, she tells us the Ep will be out next week and then they were gone-One to watch.

 

 

Much of the amps have disappeared ready for our main act, there's always a lot of space for 'Shirley' to stomp around. 

 

 

As the lights go down the guys in the band walk on and wave to us taking their position and 'Shirley' emerges to a rapturous welcome,in a baggy white t-shirt fishnet tights and 'Title' boxing boots, her hair is still Ginger tied back in tiny ponytail and shaved at the back, her eyes in 'Bowie- esque' make up with an Orange strip across her eyes adding to the 'Gothic/Glam' image. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They begin with 'Afterglow' a B side and 'Deadwood' then one of my favourites 'Temptation Waits' she speaks to us and tells us the story behind the making of this album, she says "We basically made this album  in 'America' and most of time we were drunk,we spent 100,000's dollars on a bar bill, it's a wonder it was finished" she then tells us she always enjoys coming back to 'Manchester' and dedicates 'Special' to us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She glides across the stage the epitamy of 90's glam rock,posturing on the amps and 'Butch's' drumkit and coming over to us with the mic for an audience sing along, in fact she involves us in most of the show, she then begins the 'Bond Theme' a crowd favourite not on the album 'The World Is Not Enough' her vocals mesmerising and plays some more B sides for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 The album theme continues with a heavy version of 'Hammering In My Head' and 'Medication', the tour all about that era so they have dug out songs they haven't played live and some forgotten, 'Can't Seem To Make You Mine' was a favourite that made it to the setlist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Then it was time to go all out mosh with "I Think I'm Paranoid' the crowd were jumping it was a great atmosphere and 'Shirley' was in awe of the crowd and got rather emotional at times  she was very gratious to us saying "We're 50 somethings now to of got this far is all down to you guys".

 

 

She got particularly emotional  during another 'B-side' called 'Soldier Through This",then brought things back up to speed with 'Lick The Pavement' and it's A Side 'Push It' which everyone goes bananas for ( not to be confused with the Salt N Pepa track) it was an Indie Classic ahead of it's time with the most bizarre video at the time with aliens and supernatural goings on -You Tube it!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They still haven't even left the stage yet and are belting out the songs, between each song there are monologues from various quotes in the past over the PA,'When I Grow Up' gets the crowd involved singing the lyrics and unifys the audience both Old and Young generations, then there's the sereneley marvellous 'You Look So Fine'. 

 

 

The show is simplistic  with no wardrobe changes  it's all about the music, the crowd, the connection between band and audience, there was a cover of 'Fleetwood Mac' song  'Dreams', there was an even more special  encore of 'David Bowie's' 'Starman', and then it was time to say goodnight, I remember how fantastic they were last time but they blew the lid off the box tonight it was 'Magic' !!. 

 

 

The 2 CD edition of 'Version 2.0' is out now on the super Deluxe edition is available for more than half price , I suggest if you don't know who 'Garbage' are it's time to learn. 

 

 

 

 Lmi  xo 

 

Next time- Strap In .. it's a rowdy one !