Garbage had just released their second album, “Version 2.0”, just three weeks earlier and were on the road to support it. This Brixton gig was the first night of their UK leg, supported by a new US electronic act The Crystal Method who had released their debut album, “Vegas”, the previous summer. I’d not seen either band live before so was keen to see both.

Las Vegas band The Crystal Method were primarily an electronic dance act, with hints of trip-hop. I’d had their debut album, “Vegas”, for a few months and was pleased to see that they were supporting Garbage in the UK. Even though it was still relatively early days for The Crystal Method (they went on to release seven albums, a ton of singles, and feature on numerous vdieo and movie soundtracks) they were very intense live. Really great show, and an excellent opening act.

Garbage had exploded on to the scene in 1995 with their debut self-titled album “Garbage” which boasted some fantastic tracks – “Queer”, “Stupid Girl”, “Only Happy When It Rains” – and reached #20 in the US album charts and #6 here in the UK. Their follow-up, “Version 2.0” hit #13 in the US but scored their first #1 album here in the UK – where it also supplied five Top 20 singles, with three of them reaching #9 (“Push It”, “I Think I’m Paranoid” and “When I Grow Up”).

Garbage’s singer, Shirley Manson, has an amazing voice live. Right up there with some of the best singers I’ve seen, and the whole band were fantastic and put on a really great show.

SETLIST

1. Dumb
2. Not My Idea
3. Push It
4. Queer
5. Special
6. My Lover’s Box
7. Hammering in My Head
8. Medication
9. Stupid Girl
10. Temptation Waits
11. Trip My Wire
12. #1 Crush
13. Vow
14. I Think I’m Paranoid
15. When I Grow Up
16. Only Happy When It Rains
17. Thirteen (Encore)
18. Girl Don’t Come (Encore)
19. You Look So Fine (Encore)