Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson performs at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Thursday, Dec. 6. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)
Garbage singer Shirley Manson told the capacity crowd at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland on Thursday night that she and her bandmates were disappointed when they came to the venue and saw that it was filled with thousands of seats.
“Bands like us don’t like playing in seated venues,” Manson said.
PHOTO GALLERY: Garbage and Imagine Dragons at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino
They didn’t need to worry. For nearly two hours as the band tore through their entire catalog, ranging from hits including “Stupid Girl” and “Special” to deep cuts like “Milk,” the nearly sold-out crowd was on its collective feet.
“Thank you for standing for us,” Manson thanked the crowd profusely before dedicating “Cherry Lips” to the thousands of fans that were so into it they made the floor bounce.
At its core, Garbage is still a great alternative rock band that has the big hooks, the moody interludes and the samples and beats that sounded cutting edge nearly two decades ago and today, all of those components continue to shine and make the band continue to being in a class of its own.
Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson and guitarist Duke Erikson perform at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Thursday Highland. (Terry Pierson)
Take the audience–there were plenty in attendance who were likely toddlers when the band’s eponymous debut came out in 1995, but then there was the set whose high school memories were scored by Garbage at the prom and experiments with Manson’s heavy black eyeliner documented in the pages of yearbooks across America.
The fans regarded the band, particularly Manson, with incredible fervor. She bounded around the stage, her shocking orange-red hair pulled into a high bun atop her head, wearing a black dress, looking not unlike Magenta at the end of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” just before the trip back to Transylvania.
Her energy never wavered and she commanded all attention, whether she was doing push-ups on stage or telling stories between songs.
PHOTO GALLERY: Garbage and Imagine Dragons at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino
One of the most poignant moments of the evening was when Manson stopped to talk about Bean Baxter, morning drive personality for show sponsor KROQ. Baxter recently donated a kidney to a coworker. Manson spoke of the support the station, and Baxter in particular, gave Garbage and then she dedicated “#1 Crush” to the DJ.
But Garbage wasn’t the only highlight of the night. Those who arrived in time to see Imagine Dragons witnessed the next great thing to happen in music.
Imagine Dragons reminded me that the human body is one giant percussion instrument. They stomped their feet, slapped their thighs, clapped their hands and I even saw a fest chest thwacks in there to give the catchy music even more of a pulse.
Dan Reynolds, of Imagine Dragons, hits a giant drum during the band’s set at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland on Dec. 6, 2012. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)
The syncopated synchronized handclaps were pretty epic, even outweighing frontman Dan Reynolds’ prowess on the giant drum standing next to him and the smaller one in front of him.
The enthusiasm from the up-and-coming indie rock band earned the members a standing ovation from a decent amount of fans in the crowd after their set.
Manson was impressed with the opening act as well, calling them “mighty” and describing them as sounding like the Scottish Highlands.
Here’s hoping Imagine Dragons sound just as timeless as Garbage 20 years from now.
Garbage set list for Dec. 6, 2012
-“Automatic Systematic Habit”
-“I Think I’m Paranoid”
-“Shut Your Mouth”
-“Why Do You Love Me”
-“Hammering in My Head”
-“Queer”
-“Stupid Girl”
-“Control”
-“#1 Crush”
-I’m missing this 10th one. Garbage fans, if you were in attendance and want to help me out, let me know in the comments below.
-“Special”
-“Blood For Poppies”
-“Cherry Lips”
-“Battle In Me”
-“Milk”
-“Push It”
-“Vow”
-“You Look So Fine”
Encore:
-“When I Grow Up”
-“Cup of Coffee”
-“Only Happy When it Rains”
PHOTO GALLERY: Garbage and Imagine Dragons at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino