Garbage cover The Cure at London gig for the Teenage Cancer Trust
Garbage covered Lovesong by The Cure at their Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall to honour Robert Smith, who has curated a week of shows at the historic venue.
Singer Shirley Manson said they had never played the 1989 single before but had “whipped it up” in “tribute to The Cure and the great Robert Smith, who asked us to play tonight”.
She admitted she hoped to get through the song without crying, and said afterwards “that feels like a bucket list moment” singing “in this insanely beautiful building” a song written by the people who had inspired them to start a band.
Manson, dressed appropriately all in black, delivered a high energy performance, leaving the stage several times to climb the stairs on both sides, at one point sitting next to an audience member and serenading them.
She discussed the Together Alliance march against the far right that took place in the capital on Saturday, getting cheers when she asked if anyone in the audience attended.
Garbage were especially keen to play the show “on a day when the people of London came out on the streets to fight fascism” she said, adding: “We have an incredible country, we must fight to protect it.”
And she referenced this week’s news that Girlguiding members who identify as transgender girls will have to leave by September, saying “there’s probably about three in the country” before attacking gender stereotypes and playing 2001 single Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!).
Manson also addressed personal issues, emotionally addressing the recent death of her father, who used to attend all her London shows dating back to her 1980s Scottish band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, saying the last few years had been “challenging in a billion ways”.
Garbage’s line-up has remained unchanged since forming in 1993, with American musicians Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and drummer and former Nirvana producer Butch Vig, now joined by touring bassist and backing vocalist Nicole Fiorentino.
By this time everyone was on their feet, and Manson asked her fans to help her voice by singing along to the encores, Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains, saying “tonight feels like magic and it’s the kind of world I want to live in”.
Manson also praised openers Placebo, saying they had known them since the 1990s, and they could easily have headlined the show.
The band played a rapturously received stripped back set, their first show in two years, with singer and guitarist Brian Molko thanking their fans for supporting the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust, and asking them to give the charity a round of applause.
This week has seen headline shows from Elbow on Monday, a comedy night on Tuesday and then Mogwai, Manic Street Preachers and My Bloody Valentine from Wednesday to Friday.
The gig series ends on Sunday with Brit Award-winning indie band Wolf Alice, supported by London singer-songwriter Nilufer Yanya.