Nine Inch Nails Live

LIVE REVIEW: NINE INCH NAILS AT HONDA CENTER

Everyone has that one band they absolutely love. That one band that every time they come to town, you drop what you are doing to go see them live. Since the year 2000 when I first saw my all time favorite band, Nine Inch Nails live, I have made it a point to be at every single Los Angeles area show they have done since as well as a few others outside of the area. Last year I had the chance to attend both nights of the Peel It Back tour. I even remember telling my friends I was with, if this tour does a second round, I have to go, this was too damn good not to see again. And low and behold not long after the first leg wrapped up, the second leg was announced. Of course this one had to be in Orange County but, it’s Nine Inch Nails, and I’ll make the trek. After this show, my total of seeing Nine Inch Nails is up to twenty two times and I’m not even close to being done seeing them. This night at the Honda Center not only was astoundingly sublime but, filled with great memories to last a lifetime (wink wink).

The way the show starts on the small B stage is something really special. The stripped down piano version of “Right Where It Belongs” is devastatingly stunning. Then you add in a bit of my all time favorite song in “Somewhat Damaged” and it’s a recipe for greatness. The emotional weight of both those songs are enough to bring tears to your eyes, as it did Trent. Then moving into a partially solo/acoustic performance of “Ruiner” was something else as well. That song in particular sounded so good with just a piano. Then to close out that section with “Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)” remix really gets the crowd’s energy pumping as Trent and band made their way to the main stage. The space in between was filled with a glorious Josh Freese drum solo section that included a snippet of “Getting Smaller” (which I hope that song makes its way into future set lists). Josh is so special in Nine Inch Nails. If you’ve seen NIN before you know what I mean. The second act on the main stage was just an onslaught of heavy classics like “Wish,””March Of The Pigs,” “Gave Up,” “Heresy.” One of the coolest moments was when “The Frail” was used as the transition out of “March Of The Pigs” into “Reptile.” Wow! What a seriously surreal section of the show. The seemlessness of the way those two songs meld together should be studied. Then we moved back to the small stage for the “Remix” section of the show. The way these remixes hit the audience is wild. If you’ve never been to a rave, this is a small glimpse into the fun you could be having. “Vessel,” and “Closer,” got the crowd jumping and dancing. Then you got hit with the How To Destroy Angels song “Parasite” and that in itself was a treat. This remix version is quite the jam. Closing out this section was the newest song “As Alive As You Need Me To Be.” This song I can’t get enough of. Watching all the camera angles this evening and how Trent, Atticus and BoyzNoize manipulate the sounds was exciting and inspiring. Sure certain parts were on tape but the live remixing really takes things to a whole other level. Now back to the main stage and more awesomness as “Mr. Self Destruct” erupted with such a loud pop that you couldn’t tell if it was Josh’s drums or the audience. The rest of the set was just choice cuts like “Less Than,” “The Hand That Feeds,” and “Head Like A Hole.” I’m personally glad to see “The Perfect Drug” still in the set. This song was for years not played live and in the last few years and tours, it’s been a prominent staple! Plus getting to watch Josh Freese on drums during that drum break is so exquisite. And as always, “Hurt” closed out the show.

The production for this show is something else. The tight camera angles mixed with the lights and visuals makes for a very intense visual show. Then you add in the music, lyrics and vocals, and it just comes together so perfectly. I’ve seen this show three times now and this one just might been the best one. I’ve seen Nine Inch Nails twenty two times now and this was one of the best tours I’ve ever seen. The addition of Stu Brooks to the band brought even more life and energy to the band live. As good as Alessandro was at his instruments his lack of energy on stage always seemed to be a damper. Stu on the other hand moves around and you can see/hear the vitality in him as the songs are played. This lineup of Trent, Atticus, Robin, Josh and Stu is one that I hope stays for a long while. Nine Inch Nails are one of the best live bands of all time. Each tour evokes something different as it should. The sheer intensity you get from a NIN show is unlike anything else. Even the most casual fan will walk out of the show a full fledged fan. The albums and songs are timeless and will be for generations to come. Who knows how much longer Trent will keep going. I surely hope he’s not done yet. Nine Inch Nails are more than just a band. If you are like me, it means so much more. Plus, we still need a full on tour for The Fragile! Just putting that out in the universe to make happen!! What a night and show. If you’ve never seen Nine Inch Nails, make a point to rectify that! You won’t be sorry!

Overall Grade: A

By: Brian Lacy

Setlist:

01) Right Where It Belongs (Acoustic, with Somewhat Damaged Outro)
02) Ruiner (Partially Acoustic)
03) Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)
04) Wish
05) March Of The Pigs
06) The Frail
07) Reptile
08) Heresy
09) Copy Of A
10) Gave Up
11) Vessel (with BoyzNoize- Remix)
12) Closer (with BoyzNoize- Remix)
13) Parasite (How To Destroy Angels Cover- with BoyzNoize- Remix)
14) As Alive As You Need Me To Be (with BoyzNoize- Remix)
15) Mr. Self Destruct
16) Less Than
17) The Perfect Drug
18) I’m Afraid Of Americans (David Bowie Cover)
19) The Hand That Feeds
20) Head Like A Hole
21) Hurt

LIVE REVIEW: NINE INCH NAILS AT THE FORUM

I’ve spent the past week trying to put into words about how truly amazing and stunning the two nights of Nine Inch Nails were at The Forum. Those two nights were beyond magical and therapeutic for me as well as being the 20th and 21st times I’ve seen my all time favorite band. It’s astounding to me that songs written over 30 years ago can sound so fresh and invigorating. Almost to the point of taking on a whole new meaning. What Trent Reznor has been able to do with constantly being able to captivate an audience and make a show an entire experience is otherworldly.

The stage set up for this whole tour was something else too. Staring out on a small stage in the middle of the floor, Trent appears alone, at a piano, and begins playing the most absolutely beautiful stripped down version of “Right Where It Belongs.” This is one of those songs in the Nine Inch Nails catalog that will make tears start flowing and choke you up. Just when you thought it was over though, Trent pulls out my another stripped down song in “Somewhat Damaged.” Now this is my all time favorite Nine Inch Nails song and when I say this was emotional, I truly mean it. So much so that in the first 5 minutes of the show both nights, the tears were definitely filling up my eyes. From there another stripped down song in “Ruiner,” followed by the “Nothing Can Stop Me Now” remix of “Piggy” which can be found don the Further Down The Spiral remix album. I always love when Trent pulls out these versions live. It adds so much more of an extra dimension to the songs and live show.

At this point, the crowd was in the palm of Trent’s hands and then a full on onslaught of heaviness in the form of “Wish,” “March Of The Pigs,” “Reptile,” Heresy,” “Copy Of A” and “Gave Up.” It doesn’t matter how many times in my life I’ve heard those songs be it on album or live, I always seem to go apeshit. And at these 2 shows, oh did I. The way this part started with “Wish” and ended with “Gave Up” put it this way, if you still had a voice after these songs, you weren’t loud enough. By the end of “Reptile” on night one and by the end of “Wish” on night two, my voice was gone!

Then after that part of the set, Trent and Atticus moved back to the middle stage where they were joined by Boyz Noize for a set of songs that were remixed in a very awesome way. The highlight of this part was when they played “Vessel” from the very underrated and unsung masterpiece that is Year Zero. This had the crowd in a dancing frenzy. The crowd of course went nuts for “Closer” but the audience pop during the new song “As Alive As I Need You To Be” was something else. Closing out that portion was a really great remix version of “Came Back Haunted.” If you haven’t ever really given Hesitation Marks a listen, you should.

As the band headed back to the main stage after that awesome remix set, Trent and company unleashed more awesomeness with even more intensity as the band blasted “Mr. Self Destruct,” “Less Than, and “The Perfect Drug” into the stratosphere. Having Josh Freese back on the drums in Nine Inch Nails is like having him back home. Josh’s ferocious performance of “The Perfect Drug” is one of those that should be studied and watched a zillion times. It’s that good. Rounding out the set was the always fun “I’m Afraid Of American’s” which is quite the relevant song in the days we live in. As well as the staples of “The Hand That Feeds,” “Head Like A Hole,” and “Hurt.”

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the production of the tour. The lights, visuals, performances, and energy of the whole thing was unlike anything I’ve been to all year. You could tell that this tour was meaningful in a myriad of different ways. Trent even said, he wasn’t going to do a tour unless it was something that was substantial. And oh boy was it. As I mentioned these were my 20th and 21st times seeing Nine Inch Nails and I can honestly say this tour is in my top five NIN shows of all time! Thank you Trent, Atticus, Robin, Josh and Alessandro for two nights of absolute gold! I can’t wait till the next time!

Overall Rating: A

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Set List (Same For Both Nights):
01) Right Where It Belongs (with Somewhat Damaged)
02) Ruiner
03) Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now Remix)
04) Wish
05) March Of The Pigs
06) Reptile
07) Heresy
08) Copy Of A
09) Gave Up
10) Vessel (Remix)
11) Closer (Remix)
12) As Alive As You Need Me To Be
13) Came Back Haunted (Remix)
14) Mr. Self Destruct
15) Less Than
16) The Perfect Drug
17) I’m Afraid Of Americans (David Bowie Cover)
18) The Hand That Feeds
19) Head Like A Hole
20) Hurt

Photos: