Garbage Live Concert Review! The Bootleg In Echo Park, CA April 7, 2012! Their First Public Performance In 7 years!

“I thought backstage; we have no reason to be nervous tonight” Shirley Manson the fiery lead singer of Garbage exclaimed, “Because we’re with family!” This sentiment was echoed several times throughout Garbage’s return to the stage Friday night at the Bootleg Theater in Echo Park. This was the first public performance by the full band in seven years and judging from the crowd’s reaction the band hasn’t missed a beat.

In the seven years since the band released and toured behind Bleed Like Me, lead singer Shirley Manson became a Terminator at least on the small screen, Butch Vig, has been working with Muse and the Foo Fighters, Duke Erikson was working on a documentary and Steve Marker moved to Colorado. But when these four people come together they make some amazing music!

This was a special “rehearsal” for Garbage’s tour behind their new album Not Your Kind of People, and even though my friend Scotty and I tried we couldn’t get tickets for any of the El Rey shows. (FU Ticketmaster!) We managed to snag a couple tickets to tonight’s show which to me was even better!

Opening with Supervixen the band took to the minimal stage and rocked the two hour show from start to finish. The setlist leaned heavily on hits and album tracks from the first four albums which was surprising since the band is set to release their new album Not Your Kind of People on May 14th. Of the three new tracks first single Blood For Poppies was the most seamless transition in the set. It fit in perfectly during the setlist after the hit Vow and sounded similar in sound to the bands self titled first album but had a freshness when performed live.

Lead singer Shirley Manson proved yet again that there needs to be more sexy kick ass women in rock music. She commanded the stage and the crowd easily without smoke machines, a light show, and crazy make up, this was simply Garbage raw onstage for their fans. Due to this being a “rehearsal show” the band was loose and even stopped a few times to get their bearings, most notably during the encore before Special. It made the evening even more unique and gave their fans a glimpse into what the band goes through before embarking on a world tour.

To close the evening Garbage premiered a new song saying that this was the song that the band first wrote when they got back together for the first time. It was the moment that they new they were going to create something special. The song, titled The Battle in me, is quite simply one of the best Garbage songs ever! Even though it was the first time I heard the song it was an amazing way to close the evening. It made me want to hear Not Your Kind of People right now, like this second. I wish we would have heard a few more cuts off the new album, but honestly this was pretty much the perfect evening for any Garbage fan!

Setlist:

1. Supervixen
2. Temptation Waits
3. Shut Your Mouth
4. Metal Heart
5. Queer
6. Stupid Girl
7. Why Do You Love me?
8. #1 Crush
9. The Trick is to Keep Breathing
10. Vow
11. Blood For Poppies
12. Man On a Wire
13. Milk
14. I Think I’m Paranoid
15. Bad Boyfriend
16. Only Happy When It Rains
17. Push It
18. Special
19. The World Is Not Enough
20. Battle In Me

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