Garbage
The Warfield
October 24, 2025
Photos by Raymond Ahner
After over three decades of defying genre lines and expectations, Garbage brought their farewell tour to San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre on a recent Friday night, and put on a show that felt equal parts celebration and catharsis. The near sold-out crowd packed the historic venue early, buzzing with anticipation to say goodbye to one of alternative rock’s most enduring and inventive bands.
Opening their nineteen song set with “There’s No Future in Optimism,” Garbage immediately reminded everyone of their unique sonic chemistry—Butch Vig’s impeccable production sensibility meeting Shirley Manson’s commanding stage presence. Manson, ever the enigmatic frontwoman, paced the entire stage in shimmering black, her voice cutting through the mix with the same venom and vulnerability that made Version 2.0 a 90s masterpiece. Between songs, she spoke candidly about the band’s history, gratitude toward their fans, her father, and the bittersweet nature of closing this chapter.
The setlist was a career-spanning journey—“Chinese Fire Horse” and “#1 Crush” both drew huge singalongs, while deeper cuts like “The Trick Is to Keep Breathing” and “Bleed Like Me” offered moments of introspection. The band’s live sound was razor sharp: Duke Erikson’s and Steve Marker’s guitars intertwined perfectly, while Vig’s drumming anchored everything with precision and power.
By the time they wrapped up their two-song encore with “Stupid Girl,” and ” Only Happy When It Rains,”the entire room was on its feet, bathed in strobes and nostalgia. As Manson raised her arms and simply said, “Thank you, San Francisco—you’ve been our heart,” it felt like the end of an era.
Garbage’s farewell wasn’t a quiet fade-out—it was a bold, emotional, and unapologetic reminder of their legacy. Few bands have blended grit, glamour, and electronic edge quite like them. If this truly is the end, they went out exactly as they came in—loud, stylish, and unforgettable.
Here’s a slideshow with more photos of Garbage by Raymond Ahner:
