(Photo: Eric Allen  © 2016 PopMartZoo)

Alternative rockers Garbage returned to Music City’s historic Ryman Auditorium last night for the first time since 2005. Ferocious Scotswoman Shirley Manson captivated multitudes of devoted ‘darklings’ during a nearly 2-hour set which mined a contrasting batch of shining jewels from all six of the band’s albums including 1995 hit “Only Happy When It Rains” and the current “Empty.” Although illness related no-fly orders meant Butch Vig was absent from the evening’s performance, drummer Eric Gardener slammed through the blistering set without missing a beat.

Once Manson and company took command of the stage with opener “Supervixen,” it was immediately obvious the band’s global tour promoting Strange Little Birds (Garbage’s latest and darkest album yet) is an unmistakable quest to prove it is possible to defy ageism and successfully make music on their own terms without interference from the politics of a major record label. The rock band’s latest offering is the second full-length released via its own independent Stunvolume record label. Despite its gloomy, misanthropic tone, the critically acclaimed Strange Little Birds easily managed to concurrently claim the number one spots atop Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts.

The all but sold-out crowd stood on its feet throughout the evening, never showing signs of fatigue as it cheered and sang along to everything the band’s well-armed arsenal hurled upon everyone in attendance. The audience included spirited twenty-somethings and silver-haired seniors alike, with every age in between disregarding any evidence of a musical generation gap. The steamy, humid night didn’t dampen spirits as the energetic troop danced, sang, and fist-pumped its way throughout the beloved group’s well received set.

As the evening’s performance came to a close with the energetic favorite “Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)” the foot stomping masses made it clear they weren’t ready to go home. Luckily, Manson and her faithful bandmates Duke Erikson and Steve Marker happily indulged spellbound onlookers with a generous encore consisting of “Sometimes,” “Empty,” and “#1 Crush.” Hopefully fans won’t have to wait another 11 years until Garbage returns to Nashville.

Set List: 

Supervixen
I Think I’m Paranoid
Stupid Girl
Automatic Systematic Habit
Blood For Poppies
The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
My Lover’s Box
Sex Is Not The Enemy
Special
A Stroke Of Luck
Even Though Our Love Is Doomed
Why Do You Love Me
Control
Blackout
Bleed Like Me
Push It
Vow
Only Happy When It Rains
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)

Encore:
Sometimes
Empty
#1 Crush