It’s been a long time since Garbage have been back to Australia, and I was l there and they were amazing. I saw their set at Good Things in Sydney and they were again amazing. So here we are tonight in one of the most prestigious venues we have, the Sydney Opera House to see them be amazing here too. I can’t wait.
Kicking things off with ‘There’s No Future in Optimism’ and wow the sound in here is massive. Shirley asks if we’re ready for love and I can tell you that tonight we sure are. If that opener was anything to go by then we are in for a treat tonight. Bathed in red it’s time for ‘Hold’ and vocally Shirley’s chops are insane. I’m so glad I’m here tonight. This one chunks along before the crowd cheers as ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’ starts and I honestly never thought I’d hear this in the opera house but here we are. Letting us all take the chorus is fun and she is on fire. The band once again, wow they sound phenomenal and I’m loving this so much. Next is my favourite Garbage song so I’ll enjoy ‘Vow’ and come back. Now what makes me sad is that I’m not sure if that’s the last time I’ll get to hear my favourite Garbage song live in Australia but if it was I’m good, that was massive. ‘Run Baby Run’ is a catchy little tune that balances this set perfectly.
Stopping to address the crowd and thanking us nice and early and this being their final show of their final 2025 tour and sending love to everyone was lovely. They kick things back in with ‘The Trick Is to Keep Breathing’ from their second album and that was a nice inclusion to throw this slower one in. Throwing in an audible with ‘Fix Me Now’ from the first album was definitely a treat and the band nailed it. ‘Hammering in My Head’ is wild and lets Butch go to town. The row in front of me are happy with the next one, and it was ‘Wolves’ and damn that was amazing. Shoutout to Baz and throwing in their track from Romeo and Juliet and ‘#1 Crush’ and that was something. Things rock back up with ‘Wicked Ways’ with a perfect mashup of ‘Personal Jesus’ in the middle was seamless and we lapped up every second of that. What a highlight.
Shirley shares some love and just wants everything to be ok which leads into ‘Queer’ and that was a treat to hear. Steve and Duke ring in ‘Chinese Fire Horse’ and what a song. That might be up there as one of my faves of the night. Everyone knows this one and as ‘When I Grow Up’ kicks in people start standing up and you can see how much they just love this song. We’re stating to get to the big ones now and ‘Cherry Lips’ is one of those and probably got the biggest reaction of the night so far, go baby go indeed. Then to follow it with ‘Push It’ was something else, you forget how great this song is. Everyone is standing now and then everyone sits for the new one ha ha as ‘The Day That I Met God’ and the story behind it was perfect, and this one is so different but really cool. As it rings out the band leave the stage for a quick breather.
Then as soon as the next one started everyone was back up on their feet as it was ‘Stupid Girl’ and you know these big songs mean so much to the people here, then closing with ‘Only Happy When It Rains’ and the look of love from Shirley as the entire place sings the song back is perfect. Goosebumps. The perfect closer, and hopefully not the last time we’ll ever hear it in Australia.
How a band 30 years in can be at the top of their game is astonishing as I actually think they’re just getting better. What a tremendous show from an amazing band. That was a major musical highlight for 2025.
Essential Information
Venue: Sydney Opera House
Date: December 14, 2025
Presented by: Frontier Touring
Set list:
There’s No Future in Optimism
Hold
I Think I’m Paranoid
Vow
Run Baby Run
The Trick Is to Keep Breathing
Fix Me Now
Hammering in My Head
Wolves
#1 Crush
Wicked Ways
Queer
Chinese Fire Horse
When I Grow Up
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)
Push It
The Day That I Met God
Stupid Girl
Only Happy When It Rains
