New Music: Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, Nickel Creek

A stunning hardcover edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon as well as eagerly-awaited full-length returns from Depeche Mode and Nickel Creek are featured in my column this week.

Title: Pink Floyd — The Dark Side Of The Moon: The Official 50th Anniversary Book

Author: Jill Furmanovsky
Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Hardcover: 160 pages

Tell me more: Released in March 1973, Pink Floyd's eighth studio album The Dark Side of the Moon would ultimately prove to be one of the most iconic rock albums of the 20th century and is the groundbreaking English troupe's most beloved effort. According to Wikipedia, The Dark Side of the Moon is certified 14 times platinum in the United Kingdom and topped the LPs and Tape charts in the U.S. where it has "charted for 975 weeks." Now in celebration of the 50th anniversary of that release, Thames & Hudson has issued the must-have "Pink Floyd — The Dark Side Of The Moon: The Official 50th Anniversary Book." 

Curated by Jill Furmanovsky and featuring art direction from Aubrey Powell, the gorgeous LP-sized hardcover volume features rare and previously unseen photographs (including backstage and onstage images of the band taken during The Dark Side of the Moon tours of 1972-1975), song lyrics, tour dates, a Melody Maker review of the band's 1972 Wembley concert and much more; the book was created with the involvement of members of Pink Floyd. A truly marvelous keepsake for fans of Pink Floyd and The Dark Side of the Moon. Information: wwnorton.com.

Artist: Depeche Mode

Title: Memento Mori (Columbia Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Depeche Mode, Color Theory, Erasure

Tell me more: On their 15th studio album Memento Mori, Depeche Mode remind the music world why the British outfit matters more than ever; this is especially true following co-founder Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher's tragic death on May 26, 2022. Electronic rock's most enduring artist, Depeche Mode's David Gahan and Martin Gore are back with a brilliant batch of tracks that revisit familiar territory even while moving their sound ever onward into the future. The opener "My Cosmos is Mine" is a dark and brooding track with Gahan's powerful baritone awash in the troupe's signature electronica soundscape. The compelling "Watch Another Angel Die" is infectious on its surface even as the song's lyrics ponder religious doubt. The album's most enticing track, "Ghosts Again," is a sweeping number with a dynamic rhythm and irresistible flow across its full length. Romantic doubt ("Don't Say You Love Me," "Before We Drown"), self reflection ("My Favorite Stranger"), death ("Soul With Me"), obsession ("Always You," "Never Let Me Go") and human nature ("People Are Good") are detailed expertly via compelling originals produced by James Ford — along with additional production by Marta Salogni. Information: depechemode.com.

Artist: Nickel Creek

Title: Celebrants (Repair Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Nickel Creek, First Aid Kit, bluegrass music

Tell me more: Celebrants is Americana outfit Nickel Creek's first original album since 2014's A Dotted Line. It almost goes without saying that it is wonderful to have new music from the talented trio of Chris Thile, Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins — especially when the disc is as great as this one. My favorite track is the sumptuous musical jaunt "Strangers," with the dashing mix of Thile's mandolin, Sara Watkins' fiddle and Sean Watkins' acoustic guitar work dancing with the trio's artful harmonies. Other standout songs on the 18-track disc include the gorgeous "Holding Pattern," rousing "Where the Long Line Leads," sonically ambitious "The Meadow" and bewitching "Stone's Throw." Additional kudos to bassist Jeff Picker for his musical skills that enhance the music making across Celebrants. Information: nickelcreek.com.

Robert Kinsler

New Dave Gahan & Soulsavers album 'Imposter' to be released November 12, 2021

This project sounds super interesting...Robert Kinsler

New Dave Gahan & Soulsavers Album IMPOSTER to be Released November 12th   Unique album finds Dave & Soulsavers breathing new life into carefully selected tracks imbued with personal meaning   First Song “Metal Heart” Available October 8th

Multi-platinum selling, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted recording artist and songwriter Dave Gahan, along with long time musical partner Soulsavers (Rich Machin), will release a new album on November 12. Entitled Imposter, Dave takes listeners on a personal journey of 12 meticulously chosen reimagined songs from across genres and time periods, including selections from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Charlie Chaplin, Cat Power and Mark Lanegan, amongst others.    One would be remiss to refer to Imposter as a cover album. Rather, Imposter is a story of songs, which Dave Gahan & Soulsavers listened to, studied, absorbed, and gave a new life. All of the songs have deep meaning to Dave, making Imposter a reflection of Dave’s life – a story told by others, but in his own distinct voice.    “When I listen to other people’s voices and songs—more importantly the way they sing them and interpret the words—I feel at home,” Dave Gahan confesses. “I identify with it. It comforts me more than anything else. There’s not one performer on the record who I haven’t been moved by.” He adds, “I know we made something special, and I hope other people feel that and it takes them on a little kind of trip—especially people who love music and have for years.”   The first offering from Imposter will be “Metal Heart.” Written by Chan Marshall (Cat Power), and first released in 1998, the reimagined version from Dave & Soulsavers will drop on October 8.    Imposter track listing: The Dark End of the Street Strange Religion Lilac Wine I Held My Baby Last Night A Man Needs a Maid Metal Heart Shut Me Down Where My Love Lies Asleep Smile The Desperate Kingdom of Love Not Dark Yet Always On My Mind  Unlike Dave Gahan & Soulsavers’ past albums which were transatlantic collaborations where the duo recorded separately and passed parts back and forth, the recording of Imposter was done live as a ten-member band at the famed Shangri-La Recording Studio in Malibu, CA in November of 2019. This allowed for not only a more intimate collaboration, but for Dave & Soulsavers to truly absorb the atmosphere and have the space to breathe a different spirit into the tracks. In an interview with podcaster and media personality Chris Black, Dave noted, “This was the first time we were all in one space. It was kind of lucky [timing] as well… Arriving at Shangri-La every day, it was magical. We’d have coffee, go in, and work.”   Imposter, also produced by Rich Machin and Dave Gahan, serves as the collaborators’ third album, following their critically acclaimed 2015 release Angels & Ghosts and their first release, 2012’s The Light the Dead See.The album will be released in digital, as well as physical formats, worldwide on November 12th through Columbia Records.   Visit www.DaveGahan.com and Instagram.com/theimposter for additional album information and updates.

Special guests for Rock Hall 2020 Induction Special coming to HBO on Nov. 7, 2020

This just in; plan to tune in on Nov. 7, 2020 if you have HBO...Robert Kinsler

Ringo Starr will be among the notables featured at the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Special on Nov. 7.

SPECIAL GUEST STARS ANNOUNCED FOR

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME 2020 INDUCTIONS

DEBUTS NOV. 7 ON HBO

 

2020 performer Inductees are Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., and T-Rex

 

Ahmet Ertegun Award Honorees Jon Landau and Irving Azoff

 

CLEVELAND, OH (October 8, 2020) – The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction debuts Saturday, Nov. 7 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and to stream on HBO Max.

 

The special presentation will honor this year’s inductees: Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex, and Ahmet Ertegun Award honorees Jon Landau and Irving Azoff. This special event is in lieu of the live Induction Ceremony originally scheduled for May 2 of this year.

 

Billy Idol performing at House of Blues Anaheim 
on March 13, 2017. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

The special will feature guests including Luke Bryan, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Billy Gibbons, Dave Grohl, Don Henley, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Chris Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brad Paisley, Bruce Springsteen, St. Vincent, Ringo Starr, Charlize Theron, Nancy Wilson and more, all highlighting the importance and influence of the 2020 Inductees.

 

Dave Grohl kicks off the show with a heartfelt introduction to this year’s class of inductees, and the special guests will speak further on how the 2020 Inductees impacted their personal and professional careers.

 

“We’re honored to come together with this distinguished group of musicians and artists to celebrate our 2020 class of Inductees,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “While this year’s program will be different than those of years past, we look forward to recognizing their impact on the industry, their fans and the next generation of artists.”

 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction is executive produced by Joel Gallen, John Sykes, and Joel Peresman; directed by Joel Gallen.

 

The radio simulcast can be heard on SiriusXM at 8 p.m. ET on Nov. 7 on Classic Vinyl (channel 26), VOLUME (channel 106), and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio (channel 310) and online with the SiriusXM app.  For more information on SiriusXM, visit siriusxm.com.

 

Celebrate this year’s Inductees with the 2020 Inductee exhibit, now open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The Museum is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST with advance tickets required at rockhall.com. Plus, grab your official 2020 Inductee program book now at rockhall.com/store.

 

ABOUT ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, and engaging programs. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock! 

Depeche Mode's groundbreaking documentary 'Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest' coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on June 26, 2020

Good news that Depeche Mode's acclaimed documentary 'SPiRiTS in the Forest' coming out later this month...

Depeche Mode's 'SPiRiTS in the Forest' available for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray on Friday, June 26, 2020  

PACKAGE INCLUDES NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN VIDEO & AUDIO OF FULL BERLIN CONCERT


Following widespread tastemaker press, fan praise and global box office success, Depeche Mode, along with Sony Music Entertainment, will release their boundary-breaking, feature-length documentary and concert film, Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest, on DVD and Blu-Ray on June 26, 2020. The band announced the news today on their social media; click here to see original post and click here to see the trailer. Pre-order is available here.
 
This special four-disc (two video discs plus two audio discs) configuration presents the definitive Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest experience at its most immersive, and will be available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats. The package’s two video discs contain the SPiRiTS in the Forest documentary, alongside LiVE SPiRiTS, a full-length Depeche Mode concert performance filmed at the final two shows of the Global Spirit Tour at the Waldbühne in Berlin. This footage has never been previously released or broadcast in its entirety. In addition to the two video discs, the package includes two CDs containing the LiVE SPiRiTS soundtrack, the live audio recording from the performance. The package promises to be essential for collectors, longtime fans, and newcomers alike. 
 
LiVE SPiRiTS audio CD Track list:
 
DISC 1 
1.   Intro
2.   Going Backwards
3.   It’s No Good
4.   A Pain That I’m Used To
5.   Useless
6.   Precious
7.   World in My Eyes
8.   Cover Me
9.   The Things You Said
10. Insight
11. Poison Heart
 
DISC 2 
1.   Where’s the Revolution
2.   Everything Counts
3.   Stripped
4.   Enjoy the Silence
5.   Never Let Me Down Again
6.   I Want You Now
7.   Heroes
8.   Walking In My Shoes
9.   Personal Jesus
10. Just Can’t Get Enough
 
Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest set “the new gold standard for concert films,” according to Forbes. Re-envisioning the very concept of a music documentary, director and longtime Depeche Mode collaborator Anton Corbijn focused the narrative on six super fans from different regions of the globe. The film zeroes in on their lives – all extremely different save for their love of Depeche Mode’s music and the way that music has shaped their experiences – intercut with the final Berlin show, held at the iconic Waldbühne (“Forest Stage”) on the record-breaking two-year Global Spirit Tour in 2018, which saw them play to over 3 million fans at 115 shows around the world. The music, including several of Depeche Mode’s biggest hits, and the Spirits’ stories entwine seamlessly, illuminating the enduring power of Depeche Mode and the power music has to cross boundaries and borders and ultimately unite us. 
 
One of the strongest performing event cinema releases, Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest initially opened on 3,000 screens across nearly 80 countries last November. The film grossed $4.5 million and was seen by over 220,000 people. Recently, it began streaming on Prime Video in over 130 territories worldwide and can also be found on iTunes. Watch here. 
 
For more information, please visit spiritsintheforest.com.
 
LINKS & DETAILS:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/depechemode
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/depechemode/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/depechemode

TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

While TJR and Robert Kinsler were at the 2020 NAMM Show last weekend, they took out a few minutes to discuss last week's announcement about the Inductees who will be getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees announced

The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 have just been announced. 

Dave Matthews, right, with violin player Boyd
Tinsley at Irvine Meadows in August 2006.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

On first view, I would love to see Depeche Mode, Todd Rundgren, Kraftwerk and the Dave Matthews Band get in next year.

Rundgren, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode have been previously nominated, and all three are totally deserving of the honor.

Other nominees that deserve to get in now, or at a later date include T. Rex, Nine Inch Nails and Thin Lizzy.

What are your thoughts? 

Posted by Robert Kinsler


Below is the official media release from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2020 INDUCTION

35^th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to take place on May 2, 2020 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio

Fans can cast their vote for Inductees at Google, Rockhall.com, or the Museum

Depeche Mode

CLEVELAND (October 15, 2020) — The Nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 are:

• Pat Benatar
• Dave Matthews Band
• Depeche Mode
• The Doobie Brothers
• Whitney Houston
• Judas Priest
• Kraftwerk
• MC5
• Motörhead
• Nine Inch Nails
• The Notorious B.I.G.
• Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
• Todd Rundgren
• Soundgarden
• T.Rex
• Thin Lizzy

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Nine out of 16 of the Nominees are on the ballot for the first time, including Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Motörhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy, and Whitney Houston.

Inductees will be announced in January 2020. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, takes place at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, 2020. The Ceremony is preceded by Induction Week, which includes a special dedication of the 2020 Inductee exhibit, Celebration Day, and other events and activities at the Museum and around town! Ticket on-sale information will be announced later.

Todd Rundgren

Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to participate in the induction selection process. Beginning October 15 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. EST on January 10, 2020, fans can go to Google and search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or any nominee name plus “vote” to cast a ballot with Google, vote at rockhall.com, or at the Museum in Cleveland. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees. 

The Nominees were announced live on SiriusXM VOLUME channel 106’s “Feedback” morning show today with hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski along with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Joel Peresman.   

Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by January 31, 2020 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/support  to learn more.

Klipsch Audio, a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer, is a strategic partner and presenting sponsor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, its Induction Ceremony events and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Main Stage. Klipsch’s renowned products deliver the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience throughout the iconic museum.

Follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter and Instagram (@rockhall) and join the conversation at #RockHall2020.

Press can access hi-resolution images and bios for Nominees at rockhall.com/press-room. Media Credential Applications become available in December 2019. For interviews, contact swilson@rockhall.org. 

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter and Instagram (@rockhall). Long Live Rock!

About Klipsch Audio

In 1946 Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Through the use of highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American loudspeaker company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world. We are the Keepers of the Sound®. Klipsch Group, Inc. is a VOXX International Company (NASDAQ: VOXX).

You can vote here.

Depeche Mode to present new documentary ' Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest'

Here is a media release that just landed in our inbox...

IN CINEMAS WORLDWIDE ON NOVEMBER 21

FEATURING EMOTIONAL STORIES HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIVERSAL POWER OF MUSIC, INTERWOVEN WITH PERFORMANCES FROM THE BAND’S RECORD-BREAKING 2017/2018 GLOBAL SPIRIT TOUR, THE FILM WILL BE PREMIERED BY TRAFALGAR RELEASING AND SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AS A WORLDWIDE, SPECIAL, ONE-NIGHT THEATRICAL EVENT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Tickets on sale from September 26 at spiritsintheforest.com

DEPECHE MODE TO PRESENT NEW DOCUMENTARY DEPECHE MODE: SPIRITS IN THE FOREST IN CINEMAS WORLDWIDE ON NOVEMBER 21 FEATURING EMOTIONAL STORIES HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIVERSAL POWER OF MUSIC, INTERWOVEN WITH PERFORMANCES FROM THE BAND’S RECORD-BREAKING 2017/2018 GLOBAL SPIRIT TOUR, THE FILM WILL BE PREMIERED BY TRAFALGAR RELEASING AND SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AS A WORLDWIDE, SPECIAL, ONE-NIGHT THEATRICAL EVENT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Tickets on sale from September 26 at spiritsintheforest.com London, UK, September 19: Depeche Mode, along with Trafalgar Releasing, Sony Music Entertainment and BBH Entertainment, are excited to announce the upcoming release of the new feature-length documentary and concert film, SPIRITS in the Forest, coming to cinemas worldwide for a one-night event on November 21. The film will bring fans together around the world to celebrate the impact of Depeche Mode’s music and performances. SPIRITS in the Forest will be screened in more than 2,400 cinemas, from Adelaide to Zagreb, in over 70 countries.  Directed by award-winning filmmaker and long-time artistic collaborator Anton Corbijn, the release of Depeche Mode: SPIRITS in the Forest follows the band’s 2017/2018 Global Spirit Tour, which saw them play to over 3 million fans at 115 shows around the world. Diving into the deeply emotional stories of six special Depeche Mode fans, the film weaves together exhilarating musical performances filmed at the final shows of the tour at Berlin’s famed Waldbühne (“Forest Stage”) with intimate documentary footage filmed in the fans’ hometowns across the globe. It shows not only how and why the band’s popularity and relevance has continued to grow over the course of their career, but provides a unique look into music’s incredible power to build communities, enable people to overcome adversity, and create/ connections across the boundaries of language, location, gender, age, and circumstance. "I'm exceptionally proud to share this film and the powerful story that it tells," said Dave Gahan, of Depeche Mode. "It's amazing to see the very real ways that music has impacted the lives of our fans."  Added Martin Gore, "In today's world of turmoil and divisiveness, music really can be a force for good and can bring people together." Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing has said on the news: “Trafalgar Releasing are excited to be working with Sony Music and the Depeche Mode team on the upcoming release of SPIRITS in the Forest. As a band who have always been on the cusp of innovation with their unique sound, we look forward to bringing fans around the world together to celebrate one of the most exciting and influential music acts of the last century." This year has been strong for music releases from Trafalgar Releasing in cinema. Recent successes have included BRING THE SOUL: THE MOVIE, which became the single largest event cinema release globally, Grateful Dead’s 9th Annual Meet-Up at the Movies, Tribeca documentary Between Me and My Mind about Phish frontman, Trey Anastasio, Rush Cinema Strangiato 2019 and The Cure: Anniversary 1978-2018 Live in Hyde Park London. Trafalgar Releasing’s music slate also includes the upcoming Roger Waters  Us + Them, which recently received its World Premiere at the International Venice Film Festival, Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M² and Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour. The London based outfit have previously released films including Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams, The Music Center presents Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration, Khalid Free Spirit, One More Time with Feeling, among others. Depeche Mode: SPIRITS in the Forest will be screened in cinemas around the world on November 21. Tickets are on-sale from September 26 at spiritsintheforest.com, where fans can find the most up-to-date information regarding participating theaters and sign up for event alerts. LINKS & DETAILS: Global theatrical release date: November 21, 2019 Website: spiritsintheforest.com Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/depechemode Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/depechemode/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/depechemode

Garbage revisits glorious past; previews future in Las Vegas

Garbage performing in Las Vegas on Oct. 5, 2018.

Garbage, Rituals Of Mine
Where: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas
When: Friday, October 6, 2018
Next: Garbage will headline at The Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona on Oct. 7. 
Information: Garbage is on tour through Nov. 3, 2018. For all of the band's upcoming tour dates and ticket information, visit Garbage.com



Performing for just under two hours on Friday night, Garbage performed a wide-ranging concert that celebrated the band's 25-year history while previewing a memorable new song that came in the encore.

Singer Shirley Manson and drummer Butch Vig of Garbage.

Garbage began its current tour in late September in connection with the 20th anniversary of band's terrific sophomore album Version 2.0 (originally released in May 1998), which was re-released as a must-own and expanded deluxe edition in June 2018. That album's original track listing and some of the wonderful B-sides and bonus tracks the quartet recorded in the late 1990s (also included on the recent deluxe edition) were presented at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resort on Friday night, Oct. 5, 2018. 

Shirley Manson caught up in the moment at The
Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Through the fast-moving fog of time it's easy to forget how groundbreaking Garbage was when they emerged with their self-titled debut album in August 1995. In an era personified by American grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, etc.) and a testosterone-fueled sonic aesthetic of the day, here was a band fronted by Scottish female singer Shirley Manson where the bona fide power of modern rock was artfully fused with electronica and an emphasis on creating masterful songs. In addition to Manson (lead vocals, guitar), top-tier American musicians Duke Erikson (guitar, keyboards), Steve Marker (guitar) and Butch Vig (percussion) have always been fully involved in the creation and production of the troupe's original material. 

Watching Garbage perform in Las Vegas was to be fully reminded how well the outfit's songcraft and talents as musicians have endured. Manson — with eye-catching makeup to match her dramatic attire — was engaged with the audience and relaxed even when their was a technical glitch forcing the band to re-start "Special" early on. "Let's take a moment to recover," Manson mused. "Good evening Las Vegas."

The subsequent 2.0 performance of "Special" was epic and thrilled the crowd, the song's iconic verses and soaring choruses hitting the collective mark. That masterful performance was followed by decidedly dark, post-goth take on the group's theme song for the 1999 James Bond flick "The World Is Not Enough." That alluring track had an almost symphonic feel, with the song growing in power to an impact-filled finale.

There was also a sense of paying tribute to seminal artists who came before Garbage, laying the groundwork for bands willing to make their mark in rock's rich tapestry. Early in the wide, on the band's cool "Wicked Ways" Garbage suddenly segued into Depeche Mode's blues rocker "Personal Jesus." Garbage pulled off a similar feat several times later in the set, finishing off the forceful rocker "13x Forever" with a bit of The Kinks' wistful 1965 hit "Tired of Waiting for You." Garbage ended its regular set with the fiery "You Look So Fine," wrapped up with a reworked slice of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams."

Shirley Manson and Butch Vig of Garbage in the final moments
of the band's memorable set in Las Vegas on Oct. 5, 2018.

"It's not a normal Garbage set," Manson explained before the band's performance of "Hammering In My Head," a song she added was the "only party song we've ever written." She then noted that this night would feature a set of songs "you've never heard."

Guitarist Duke Erikson.

Manson wasn't kidding about this night's foray into distant musical worlds. Among the cuts showcased was the group's absolutely stunning take on the Big Star classic "Thirteen" — the 1972 song chronicling adolescence retained its melancholy-draped moodscape even while reworked with Garbage's signature sound. Another strong cover, The Seeds' 1965 "Can't Seem To Make You Mine," included Manson even pounding out keyboards to fire up the garage rock classic.

For sure, many fans on hand at The Chelsea responded loudest with the performance of the band's best-known material ("Special," "I Think I'm Paranoid," "Push It"), but this writer was most impressed by the eclectic mix of originals and covers, played with a sense of artistry and pure fun.

Garbage delivered a solid three-song encore to cap a great concert, with the simmering rocker "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing," introspective 2017 original "No Horses" and the night-ending electronica-flavored "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)."

Combine the musical instincts of Warpaint, Eddie Vedder and Björk and you might well come up with Sacramento, California' duo Rituals Of Mine. Performing a 30-minute set of hard-hitting songs whose lyrical tides dealt mostly with relationships, the crowd welcomed and cheered the twosome's high-octane electronica/rock fusion. 

Review and photography by Robert Kinsler

Garbage Setlist at The Chelsea on October 5, 2018

1. Deadwood
2. Temptation Waits
3. Wicked Ways (with Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" snippet)
4. Special
5. The World Is Not Enough
6. 13x Forever (with The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You" snippet)
7. Get Busy With the Fizzy
8. Hammering In My Head
9. Medication
10. Thirteen (Big Star cover)
11. Can't Seem To Make You Mine (The Seeds cover)
12. I Think I'm Paranoid
13. Sleep Together
14. Dumb
15. Soldier Through This
16. Lick The Pavement
17. Push It
18. When I Grow Up
19. You Look So Fine (with Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" snippet)
Encore
20. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
21. No Horses
22. Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)