TORONTO -- Shirley Manson was at a loss for words last night at Kool Haus.

And if you've ever seen the ferociously chatty, charming and funny Scottish frontwoman of techno-pop-rock band Garbage in action, you know that's something of a miracle.

Manson was overwhelmed by the hearty and warm reception given her and her highly skilled bandmates from Madison, Wis., --drummer Butch Vig, guitarist Duke Erikson and guitarist-keyboardist Steve Marker -- playing Toronto for the first time in support of their 2001 album beautifulgarbage. (The group actually opened for U2 last October at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.)

"I don't know what to say when people are like this -- it just totally disarms me," said Manson, a punk porcelain doll with fair skin, a short, peroxide blond hairdo and dressed in a white tank top and pants.

However, Manson wasn't so speechless earlier in the evening when she thanked Erikson for loaning her a pair of socks or lambasted her own father for sending in some rather horrible childhood pictures to music channel VH-1.

"Have you seen our Behind The Music yet?," she asked in her thick Scottish brogue. "Correct me if I'm wrong but it's rather dull.

"Laugh at yourself and the world laughs with you!" she summed up.

Garbage came out swinging with the loud, noisy pop of Push It and Temptation Waits from their 1998 release Version 2.0.

Manson -- a modern day Debbie Harry or Annie Lennox -- is just one of those mesmerizing stage presences and her big-sounding, highly skilled musical backup didn't hurt either.

She only faltered whenever Garbage, along with a touring bassist, slowed it down on the new songs Cup Of Coffee and So Like A Rose or for a bad version of the Stones' Wild Horses during the encore.

Otherwise, Manson -- suffering from bronchitis no less -- confidently stalked the stage while Vig wailed away on his drum kit and Erikson and Marker provided a formidable two-guitar attack.

Set highlights included Version 2.0 rockers I Think I'm Paranoid, Special, When I Grow Up, Hammering In My Head -- which saw the audience collectively jumping on the spot --older tunes Not My Idea, Stupid Girl, Vow and Only Happy When It Rains, and the new songs Shut Your Mouth and Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)

SHIRLEY CARES: Earlier yesterday, Manson -- a spokesperson for Viva Glam IV Lipstick this year with Elton John and Mary J. Blige -- was joined by Mac cosmetics president John Demsey in presenting a $100,000 cheque to Fashion Cares to benefit the Aids Committee Of Toronto. (More on: Garbage).

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5