Garbage and Placebo delivered emotionally charged sets at the Royal Albert Hall on March 28 for Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust shows. Placebo returned to the stage after two years, opening with a stripped-back performance, while Garbage covered The Cure and spoke out on social issues. The gigs supported the charity aiding young cancer patients.
London's Royal Albert Hall hosted a night of music for the Teenage Cancer Trust on Saturday, March 28, curated by The Cure's Robert Smith. Placebo opened the bill with their first live show in nearly two years, since touring their 2022 album 'Never Let Me Go'. Frontman Brian Molko thanked the crowd, Garbage, Smith, and the charity, joking about nerves and adding, 'I need to apologise to the front row. It smells like Donald Trump up here.' Highlights included rare tracks like Sinéad O’Connor’s 'Jackie' cover and 'Follow The Cops Back Home', last played over 15 years ago, ending with 'Centrefolds' from 2004. Their setlist featured 'Special Needs', 'Pure Morning', 'Special K', and more, drawing a standing ovation. Yungblud attended, having joined Molko on stage previously and meeting Smith after My Bloody Valentine's set the night before. Garbage followed, entering to Angelo Badalamenti’s 'Laura Palmer’s Theme' from Twin Peaks. They played new tracks from 'Let All That We Imagine Be The Light', like 'There’s No Future in Optimism' and 'Hold'. Shirley Manson praised the Teenage Cancer Trust patients, Smith, London’s anti-far right protesters, and Placebo, saying, 'They could be headlining here themselves, but they have chosen to come and work with us.' She debuted a cover of The Cure’s 'Lovesong', introduced as 'a song by a band who inspired us to form a band', and addressed transgender rights amid a UK Girl Guides decision, calling it 'astoundingly weird, cruel and nonsensical'. Manson also spoke on gender fluidity and equality. The set included 'I Think I’m Paranoid', 'Push It', and encores 'Stupid Girl' and 'Only Happy When It Runs', with Manson noting, 'Tonight feels like fucking magic and it’s the kind of world I want to live in.' The shows followed sets by Elbow, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, and Manic Street Preachers earlier in the week. Garbage and Placebo have known each other since the 1990s. Garbage plans a UK and European tour this summer; Placebo prepares 'RE:CREATED' and a 30th anniversary tour.
