Garbage
@ Sony Centre, Toronto
July 27, 2017
Ever since Garbage arrived on the scene in 1995 with their massive hit βStupid Girl,β I’ve long wanted to see them live, and as fortune would have it I was able to do so Wednesday night at the Sony Centre in Toronto.
Opening their set with the current single βNo Horsesβ from their sixth studio LP Strange Little Birds, Shirley Manson appeared as a vision in blood red with her matching slit gown and fiery red hair in a bun. Prowling and stalking the stage like a cat, she performed songs βSex Is Not The Enemyβ and βNumber 1 Crushβ and then, along with bandmates Butch Vig (drums), Steve Marker (lead guitar) and Duke Erikson (bass and rhythm guitar), had most of the sold out crowd on their feet and well into it. In between songs Manson carried on a friendly banter with the crowd, introducing the songs and at one point saying βIt’s always nice to come to Canada, but especially now,β no doubt reflecting her feelings after being on tour with Blondie in the U.S. for the last couple of months on the Rage and Rapture Tour.
After Manson strutted around the Sony Centre from front to back during one of the later songs, the band finished off the set in grand style with their Bond movie theme for The World Is Not Enough and their two monster hits βStupid Girlβ and βIt Only Happens When It Rains.β After leaving the stage to a raucous and cheering crowd, it was clear Garbage departed Toronto as conquering heroes.