Photos by Andy Argyrakis

When alternative/electronic/industrial rockers Garbage released the album “Let All That We Imagine Be The Light,” its first long-player in four years, it was accompanied by the announcement of a major tour after previously joining Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Tears For Fears, Alanis Morissette and Blondie.

However, what was shaping up to be a cause for celebration turned bittersweet when the Madison, Wisconsin-bred band that met right here in Chicago followed up with additional details on Instagram for what’s now being dubbed “Happy Endings.”

“We haven’t played an extensive headline tour like this one in the States for almost a decade,” the post said in part. “If the truth be told, it is unlikely we will play many of the cities on this tour ever again…We are going out in style and we hope you will join us. That’s life my friends. Nothing stays the same forever. Everything must change. All beautiful things come to an end…”

Between then and now, front woman Shirley Manson cited additional economic and music business-related issues as the reasons for the retreat, but alongside fellow original/multi-instrumentalist members Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig, also the super producer behind Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, nonetheless filled up The Salt Shed for one presumably last time.

Even with the weight of the news, it was anything but a somber occasion as the multi-platinum players celebrated exactly three decades of setting trends, regularly breaking fresh rhythmic ground and offering thought-provoking social commentaries.

All anyone had to do was pay attention to such hypnotic grooves and assertive messages as “There’s No Future In Optimism,” “Hold” or “I Think I’m Paranoid,” which began a nearly two-hour evening set against a backdrop of strobe-lights.

“Run Baby Run,” “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing” and “Hammering In My Head” only contributed to the swelling momentum, while “#1 Crush,” “Bleed Like Me,” “Queer” and especially “Parade,” dedicated to a present Pulse nightclub shooting survivor, stirred up just as many emotions.

Garbage continued to “Push It” until “The Day That I Met God” courageously wrapped the initial set, and though the finish line was rapidly approaching, the intensity remained.

The enormous “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains” were a toss up in terms of the group’s commercial fortunes and also tied as apexes on this particular night, suggesting that no matter what does or doesn’t happen in the future, the body of work left behind is already proving to be nothing short of timeless.

For additional information on Garbage, visit Garbage.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at The Salt Shed include Kublai (Sept. 30); Durand Jones & The Indications (Oct. 1); 2Hollis (Oct. 2); AFI (Oct. 3); Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (Oct. 4); Ziggy Marley and Burning Spear (Oct. 5); Yung Lean (Oct. 7); The Oh Hellos (Oct. 8); Charley Crockett (Oct. 9); Aly & AJ (Oct. 10); Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners (Oct. 11); Aminé (Oct. 14); Neko Case (Oct. 16); Violent Femmes (Oct. 17); Lucius (Oct. 18); Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Oct. 21); Lorna Shore (Oct. 23); My Morning Jacket (Oct. 24-26) and Lil Tecca (Oct. 31). For additional details, visit SaltShedChicago.com.

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