God, I hate it when I'm wrong. But when Steve from Placebo told me that they were planning to blow Garbage off the stage, I believed they would do it - they are the better band after all. And when I said Shirley Manson lacked sex appeal … well on both accounts I was worse than horribly wrong. It was, of course, a lot easier fir Garbage to make an impression.
They had the stunning lights, the better sound and the show to do it. But they also had something more - a passion and an energy that, while not lacking in Placebo's set, was just better conveyed. It certainly wasn't a case of Garbage being better … just a good deal more impressive.
This was Shirley Manson's night though. Not only was she singing with melodramatic richness, she was in complete control of the stage, stalking around it with sex-oozing danger, her prey the audience. With her appetite for fulfilling pleasure, she pounced, attacked and succeeded with her every move (except maybe when she got all political on us). If she's trying not to be vivaciously alluring, she's failing. Though it was Manson's who was receiving all the attention, it was clear that her inspiration was being driven by the superb musicians she was surrounded by, their perfectly crafted pop fuelling her drive. Hammering was the definite highlight in a strobe-light haze and pounding rhythm, everything unified into perfection as Manson writhed on the floor in pleasurable pain. #1 Crush and Paranoid were also well-crafted weapons for the hunt.
While I thought that Placebo's music would be better suited to the stage and Garbage the CD, quite the converse was true. Although Placebo gave it their all - they visibly seemed to be having a great time on stage - their biggest opponent was the audience, who largely seemed to misunderstand the band and failed to fall into the synchronisation that was achieved by Garbage.
But then it was always going to be an uphill battle when a band as heavy and simplicity-driven competes with the grandiosity of Garbage.
Brian Molko was as sexy as ever and - like Manson - was incredibly well supported by fine musicianship. Steve Hewitt's drumming was a definite highlight, as in fact was Nancy Boy, though the audience didn't seem to even recognise the song. Perhaps one could say the bands complemented each other with their diversity, and bounced each other off well, their uniqueness being what made it work so well as a double bill. With fear of flogging a dead horse, the notoriously poor acoustics of the Standard Bank arena were once again a problem and while the sound in the stands was adequate, on the floor, where I watched Placebo, it was worse than awful.
The Garbage set was one of the best live shows I have ever seen, I am sure that if I watched Placebo from the stands, they would have made a greater impression.
But hey, Manson and Molko on the same stage on one evening?… I'm happy.