Garbage 3/19/2005: Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY

Lusty. Loving. Driven. These are just a few of the words that flickered across the screen behind the rock-pop powerhouse, Garbage, at the band’s first tour stop in support of their new album, Bleed Like Me. The stellar New York City performance proved that Garbage is one band that continues to improve after being together for more than 10 years, thanks to the outrageous and uninhibited redhead at the helm.

Before the show started, a sea of hands waved and clapped in support of Garbage, which is comprised of Butch Vig, Steve Marker, and Duke Erikson, beside the firey front-woman, Shirley Ann Manson. Like a family, the band has experienced difficult times together in recent years. Overworked and stressed out, Garbage almost broke up two years ago when in the studio to record its fourth album. It was fitting that the deeply moving Nine Inch Nails cover of “Hurt” by Johnny Cash rang out in the darkness, before Garbage began its set. “I focus on the pain, the only things that’s real,” echoed the despairing voice of the late country singer. “The needle tears a hold. The old familiar sting. Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything.”

Luckily for fans, Garbage hasn’t gone away. The hard driving rhythms and extraordinary guitar and drum arrangements that made the band a smash hit in the mid-nineties continue on the new album, especially on tracks like “Bad Boyfriend,” and “Bleed Like Me.” Both were played with tremendous success at Hammerstein.

Sexual, intense, tart. These adjectives were the perfect choice to describe the sultry lead singer, a true rock goddess and on-stage vamp. Shirley teased guitarists Steve Marker and Duke Erikson as they played fast and furiously. She pranced back and forth in fishnet stockings and red leather boots with stiletto heels and cheetah fur trim. Her short black dress with a low-slung black leather belt left nothing to the imagination for concertgoers in the front row.

Shirley is known for re-creating herself; she experiments with fashion. She has showcased a variety of looks. She tried platinum blonde hair, short and spiked, ideal for the previous album. On this night, however, those famous red flaming locks returned. She looked lovely, assisted by thick wavy extensions. And no one can forgets that beautiful porcelain skin, heavy black eyeliner and piercing blood red lips. She devours you.

Now in her 30’s, Manson exudes a sense of liberation and confidence reflected in her lyrics about broken relationships and lost love. She expresses herself more clearly today. It is clean language, with touches of sentimentality, on the band’s first single from the new album, “Why Do You Love Me.”

“I think you’re sleeping with a friend of mine. I have no proof but I think I’m right. And you’ve still got the most beautiful face, it just makes me sad most of the time,” Shirley cried out, vulnerable yet strong.

The band’s set included performances of unforgettable hits such as “Stupid Girl” and “I’m Only Happy When It Rains” from their self-titled debut release. Shirley was quick to remind fans that “Queer,” was the first song that got the group some serious radio airplay in 1995.

“New York City, I can’t believe we’re here. We made it back to celebrate,” Shirley happily told the audience in a very thick Scottish accent. “I remember 10 years ago when we first came to play. It was some kind of fairytale. I thought I was living the American dream, coming from Scotland. This was one of our first tracks that was played in New York.”

The crowd was excited to hear Garbage perform tunes like “I Think I’m Paranoid,” “When I Grow Up,” and “Androgyny” from Version 2.0 and beautifulgarbage, all of which gave the band a chance to experiment in terms of sound and production. Fans grinned at Shirley because all she did was play a song they love. Mid-way through the show, in an endearing way, Shirley gave a shout out to a “special person” in the audience – Ms. Deborah Harry. “When I was 14 in Edinburgh, Scotland, there were very few people to listen to. I used to listen to Blondie records when I felt trapped. They made me feel so free. I want to give a big thank you to her for getting me here,” the singer declared.

With her hands up overhead and then pointing straight at the crowd, it was clear Shirley owned the stage. She looked over her shoulder and whispered into the microphone, “Sex Is Not The Enemy,” from the new CD. She even sang about a “Bad Boyfriend” while never letting go of her mic stand, which was decorated in sparkly pink tassel. At one point, a fan threw a pink feather boa on the stage; Shirley wrapped it around her shoulders and slithered across the floor on her knees.

Like the chorus repeats in the band’s latest hit, “I get back up and do it again,” that is exactly what Garbage does with each album and live performance. After touring with the likes of the Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt and The Distillers, among countless other alternative bands, Garbage knows how to deliver a memorable rock show. The practical nature of the three male band members combines with the spontaneous fire of this lead singer and makes for an always-interesting mix.

To conclude the night at Hammerstein Ballroom, the feisty front-woman was the first to run off stage, leaving the band to rock out for only a few more minutes. Drummer Butch Vig was the last to leave, climbing down from his seat, he held his drum sticks and waved them at the crowd.

Garbage is not the same as everybody else. They stand out; they strive to discover a unique connection with fans. They deliver a live show, which is comfortable, exciting and a worthwhile escape.

Jennifer Harmon is a freelance writer, reporter and poet living in New York City. You can contact her at [email protected]

Related Content

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter