Garbage: The Warfield 2012

Garbage, a great band name plain and simple, a great band plain and simple. Promoting their newest release Not Your Kind of People, the band made a stop at the beautiful Warfield Theater in San Francisco, on a warm “Indian Summer” night.

Yet the entertaining evening began way before me and my two good friends entered the halls of the venue. My friend Rob and I were standing out front of the theater waiting for our other friend to show. As the two of us waited, we were “treated” to a free show, no not by delightful Parisian-inspired, Marcel Marceau-type mimes, or a talented young man playing the drums on upside-down buckets, but by two women, dancers let’s call them, who were standing in the lobby of their place of employment next to The Warfield, which so happens to be a “gentlemen’s club.” I guess their show was also about to begin soon, as they proceeded to perform various stretches, leg lifts and bends, and other exercises to loosen up those tired, strained muscles. (Careful, spinning around on high heels can be an occupational hazard.) And being that the weather was quite warm, even at 8pm, the two dancers were, shall we say, aptly dressed. Offended, hardly; surprised, definitely not. Another occurrence, where one says, “Wow, only in San Francisco.” Our other friend showed up right after and we headed to the venue doors for a pat down by security.

There was really only one woman I had in mind: Shirley Manson. After downing a few drinks in the lobby (of The Warfield, silly, not the Crazy Horse), we took our seats in the lower balcony. The stage was stark; Butch Vig’s drum kit donned the simple and stylish “g” in lowercase typewriter-style font. The guys in the band took the stage first, then Ms. Manson, who circled around like a lion in a cage ready to pounce. They played an even mix of newer songs, and older songs from their previous CDs.

Their debut, self-titled release gave us timeless-sounding hits, such as Stupid Girl, Only Happy When It Rains, and Queer—all three live at The Warfield did not disappoint, with the second being my favorite of the night, where you felt the band and the audience linked together. Their second CD, Version 2.0, IMHO one of the best CDs of the 1990s, was well represented too: I Think I’m Paranoid and Push It reverberated in my chest. Others on the set list: Shut Your Mouth and Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) from 2001’s BeautifulGarbage, and Why Do You Love Me from 2005’s Bleed Like Me. From Not Your Kind of People, the song, Battle In Me was delivered so hard and intensely, which is exactly the feeling you want at a Garbage show. It’s always such an inspiring reminder that such a full sound can come from just 5 people on a stage.

A great night had by all, including a few people who actually stood up, when no one else did, and danced by themselves to certain songs that really resonated with them, and to that I say, “Good on ya!” Garbage night was a hot one, full of cool friends, cool drinks, big sound, and big heels, and I’m not talking about Shirley’s.

Stupid Girl:

Why Do You Love Me:

Only Happy When It Rains: The guy standing up really, really likes this song, as he should! My friends and I can be seen in the lower right corner of this video. Sitting down, I really had a moment at the 2:15 mark, both arms in the air, fist pump in the air and all. Four vodkas with a splash of Shirley Manson… couldn’t help it. The girl behind us is having a moment too. And again, to that, I say, “Good on ya!” Nothing wrong with a harmless rock-out session. Always, always dance like no one is watching. BSo