Live Review: Garbage - Happy Endings Tour with Starcrawler

9/29/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Salt Shed - Chicago
Monday - September 29, 2025

If this is the last foray for the band Garbage, on their "Happy Endings Tour", they certainly know how to go out in style, band certainly intact, Shirley Manson still ever so commanding on lead vocals.

Opening with a song from their latest release- "Let All That We Imagine Be the Light", which came out this past May, that being "There's No Future in Optimism"-A song that makes a statement on the beat down attributed to hate, all kinds of hate, and the power of love and tenderness, and the willingness and fortitude to overcome.

Not an easy thing to get across without coming off even handed, let alone fake.
But Shirley's take with all of this spoke volumes, not just in lyric and songwriting, but also commanding visually.

There she is, center stage, not much need for theatrics, just wearing a dark leather jacket, hands in pockets at center mic, heavily strobed and backlit, looking like the badass she always is.
It says lots in my opinion, not opening with a classic hit from the Garbage catalog, but with a single from their latest release, also followed by another, the song "Hold", and by this time she's removed her jacket, and you can see she's wearing an oversized black t shirt with the words "LET GAZA LIVE" on the front, in capital letters, bold and clear for everyone to see.
So again, a farewell tour that also acts not like a farewell tour.
Garbage, all four of them, acting out per usual in the present day, even though it seems like this is their last major go round.
My opinion though- never say never.

That they've made clear that current touring conditions, especially on this scale, it ain't easy production wise, and also expensive, putting themselves in a position of if doing it right, is it feasible.
Clearly Garbage don't want the look and feel of a nostalgia act whatsoever, steadfastly independent and forward thinking, nothing lame and dialed in whatsoever, honest and true to the core.
Still, in my opinion, it wouldn't surprise me if down the road you see them perform occasional one offs, or limited dates, or anything festival this or festival that related.

Having said that, this show back on Monday night at The Salt Shed Chicago, a celebration of sorts, with Butch Vig providing the undeniable cool backbeats at his drumkit, and the yin and yang of Duke Erikson and Steve Marker on mighty fine guitars, and with the add of Nicole Fiorentino on bass to punch up the sound.

A lively and concise bunch I tell ya, emphasized yet again with the heart and soul of Shirley Manson front and center.

Older songs, such as "I Think I'm Paranoid", or "Push It" in particular, let alone the double whammy encore of "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When it Rains" certainly pack a tried and true wallop.
But so do the newer tunes off of "Let All That We Imagine Be the Light" as well.

Again, nothing dialed in songwriting with these guys, all roads lead to honest contributions on a level playing field to the present day, and also, most importantly, Shirley's command and resoluteness of not just putting on a memorable show, but making certain moments special, such as a snippet of the song "Parade", dedicated to a gentleman in the first row along the pit rail, who happened to be a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub shooting back in the summer of 2016.
That she took the time to not only recognize him, but to play a bit of that song for him speaks volumes in regards to Shirley, and where her heart is at, sincere as all get out.
And like virtually every show I've seen with Garbage, it has always been this way- just solid individuals all, honest to the core.

Such resilience as well to the present day, all things Garbage, a lot wiser of course, age having something to do with it, but also coming off so damn cool and unique, their songs sounding not dated and tired at all.

Have to say that even though they played Chicago on a Monday night of all things, it felt more like a weekend night throughout the show, no worries about the four more days of work ahead.
Fuck all that, playing on a Monday.
They came to play, and embrace their tried and true Chicago fans.
Such a memorable show throughout.

Same holds true with opener Starcrawler, who came out gritty and trailblazing, and ended some ten songs later grittier and trailblazing-er, albeit a bit sweaty, courtesy of the caged lions in Arrow de Wilde on front and center vocal, followed by the equally unhinged guitarist Henri Cash.
These two- they know how to put on a show, and relish in all things playing live and hellbent.
Have seen them multiple times by now, and their confidence and their demeanor, their unpredictable nature makes you not look away from the stage whatsoever, big venue, smaller venue when they headline- it doesn't matter.

A solid touring band by now, some ten years in.
And hardworking, doing their damned best making a name for themselves.

Shirley definitely made mention of it at the beginning of Garbage's set, stating just how convincing and riveting they are to see perform live, but just how cool they are as individuals offstage as well.

The urgency fo their songs, the wicked stature of Arrow and her stage antics, equally measured by Henri's as well on lead guitar, what with the sweaty Chuck Berry duck walk as a case in point- these two certainly know how to feed off each other performing live, that's for sure.
Starcrawler's set was equally compelling and damned fun to witness as well.
Just adore these guys performing live.

Such a splendid time at The Salt Shed Chicago on a Monday night.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Starcrawler, Garbage, The Salt Shed, Chicago, Live Music, Fall 2025, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television

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Live Review: Garbage - Happy Endings Tour with Starcrawler

Starcrawler, Garbage, The Salt Shed, Chicago, Live Music, Fall 2025, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television

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