Garbage returned to Brazil for the first time in seven years with an electrifying performance at The Town .
The band was formed in the 90s by the brilliant mind of Butch Vig , who had already produced two of the biggest rock albums of the time: Nirvana Nevermind (1991) and Smashing Pumpkins Gish (1991) . Led by the powerful figure of Shirley Manson , Garbage celebrates 30 years of career in 2023, with seven studio albums released.
The band's musical trajectory includes broad and revolutionary experimentation with a unique sound, mixing elements of grunge, techno, power pop, and even trip-hop. The audacity of their sound created a new and creative space for heavy music and its intertwining with pop, and their influence can still be felt in contemporary bands.
The setlist for the performance at The Town consisted of a compilation of hits from Garbage's career. The band performed hits such as "Stupid Girl," "#1 Crush," and "I Think I'm Paranoid," in addition to tracks from their other five albums.
Wearing a shocking pink dress sewn over her black outfit and heavy eye makeup, Shirley Manson moved across the stage at The Town with a mesmerizing presence and a powerful, spine-tingling voice. The singer had some microphone issues at the start of the performance, but the problem was quickly resolved, allowing the deep bass of her voice to carry through the Autódromo.
With a dark sound and bright lights, Garbage performed for a more select number of fans, but the excitement of the audience closest to the stage earned Shirley praise right after the first song.
At 57, the singer made a point of highlighting Garbage's love for Brazil and apologized for the delay in returning, but assured that she would love to come back soon, despite the uncertainties. "Life is strange, we don't know if we'll be back. We hope so, but we're old and tired," she said in a speech after "Only Happy When It Rains".
With 30 years of career and songs full of social criticism and sociopolitical commentary, Garbage remains strong and relevant, showing how fluid and powerful rock can be, unafraid to take risks and unconcerned with labels. Nothing better to summarize the essence of the band than Shirley Manson's speech this Saturday night: “Have a wonderful life, don't be boring, don't be afraid, be brave and kind. Love yourselves, we love you, São Paulo, thank you for everything.”
Wikimetal full coverage of The Town 2023 here and also on our Instagram .
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