When Teenage Cancer Trust put The Cure frontman Robert Smith in charge of curating this year's Royal Albert Hall concert series, the bar was bound to be high. But nothing could quite prepare me for the electric energy Garbage and Placebo brought to night six of the week-long charity residency.
Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson summed up the mutual respect in the room when she thanked the "incredibly unique" Placebo for agreeing to support them, noting that their fellow rock icons could easily have headlined the event themselves.
© JOHN STEAD"Our respect for Placebo is endless. We've known them since the 90s, we all grew up together," she told the 5,900-strong crowd. "It feels particularly special for us to be sharing the stage with them tonight. That was something very magical."
Placebo's haunting return
Charismatic Placebo frontman Brian Molko endeared himself to the audience immediately, nervously admitting he was "[expletive] it". It was a monumental moment as the band, founded by Brian and bassist Stefan Olsdal in 1994, was performing their first show in two years.
Seamlessly segueing through a stripped-back catalogue of their hits, they delighted with softer, orchestral renditions of "Beautiful James", "Special K" and "Meds".
© JOHN STEADWhile I was personally holding out for "Every You Every Me" and "Infra-Red", they curated a haunting – and often surprising – setlist that kept the crowd guessing and was perfectly suited to the intimate setting of the Royal Albert Hall, complete with plush crimson boxes and a mirrored disco ball.
As the opening act reached its crescendo with a rarely performed version of "Centrefolds", the crowd rose to their feet for a standing ovation.
High-energy performance from Garbage
The mood shifted when Garbage – Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig – kicked off their set. I was a die-hard Garbage fan in my teens, wearing out my Version 2.0 CD until the album sleeve was falling apart, and Shirley proved she was still the poster girl for cool.
© JOHN STEADCaptivating the audience with her signature raspy vocals and incredible stage presence, the Scottish frontwoman proved she remains one of rock's most compelling performers.
The band struck a confident mix of newer material with grunge-pop anthems that defined the 90s and early 00s. Highlights included raw renditions of "Vow," "When I Grow Up," and "Push It", which she declared was their all-time favourite from their extensive discography.
Despite suffering from laryngitis, Shirley showed no sign of slowing down, letting the crowd chant the lyrics when she needed a breather, and at one point, sitting in a delighted fan's lap.
Personal touches and a special tribute to The Cure
Shirley seemed genuinely delighted to be in London, a city that meant so much to the band, where the stakes were higher, and where her late father had always come to support them.
© JOHN STEADTrue to form, the politically engaged rocker used her platform to touch upon issues close to her heart, thanking Londoners for participating in the anti-far-right rally held in the city earlier that day.
This gave extra punch to "The Men Who Rule the World," a track she declared felt even more prophetic now than when the band wrote it five years ago.
The most emotional moment of the night, however, came in the form of a major first: a moving cover of The Cure's "Lovesong."
"Without Robert Smith, we would not be here tonight, for a million reasons," she said, while fighting back tears. "We have been so moved by The Cure's music... We worked this up as a tribute to them."
As the show ended on a rousing rendition of "I'm Only Happy When It Rains," the vibe in the Royal Albert Hall was electric.
© Scarlet Page"To be an old band and come to London and play here for 30 years has been the most profound privilege. To still be around thanks to weirdos like you lot is not something we take for granted," Shirley said.
And it certainly wasn't an experience this former emo kid took for granted either.
The Teenage Cancer Trust gigs ran from March 23-29, featuring headliners selected by The Cure frontman Robert Smith, including the Manic Street Preachers, my bloody valentine and Wolf Alice.
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer, funding specialist nurses, youth workers and 28 hospital units within the NHS.
