Let’s not waste anyone’s time here, tonight’s Nine Inch Nails gig at Melbourne’s Festival Hall… was a bona fide classic performance! I have seen NIN live close to six times now in various line-ups and guises – none of these could hold a candle to the stripped back, lean-mean-fighting machine that is the 2009 (and probably final line-up for a while) consisting of main-man Trent Reznor, bassist Justin Meldel-Johnson, guitarist Robin Finck and drummer Ilan Rubin.
Drummer Rubin has had massive shoes to fill. Previous sticksman, Josh Freese is considered one of the best in the business (and he is) but this new kid is either a robot or he’s been born with 4 arms. His playing was phenomenal. Such an amazing back-beat that was rhythmic, concise, mechanical and faultless all round. I see via his Twitter updates, that he cut his hand early in the show and had a left-hand that was bleeding for most of the night, but (and pardon the pun) – he didn’t miss a freaking beat!
Simply put, the band were on fire tonight and for the first time since I have seen them, Reznor was in good spirits – interacting with the crowd on a more regular basis and even coming across as jovial.
And with a very welcome return to the fold, Robin Finck is just the perfect guitarist for NIN. It really never was the same without him to Reznor’s left. His stage presence and blistering guitars are the perfect foil for the dangerous Reznor.
NIN: Burn Live from on stage, Melbourne 2.25.09 [HD] from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.
(View in HD here)
Highlights of the night for me was hearing tracks like ‘The Downward Spiral’ and the all-out insanity and intensity of ‘March of the Pigs’, ‘Wish’ and ‘Gave Up’. Seriously, I challenge any of today’s supposed ‘heavy’ bands to even try and outdo the sonic power of Nine Inch Nails. No contest whatsoever as this was a setlist that was both dynamic and overtly powerful at the same time and coulda blown any other band you care to mention – to hell and back.
The stage featured an amazing apocalyptic light-show. Not quite as impressive as what they had throughout the USA last year, but still brilliantly lit and reflective of the coming-of-the-apocalypse-soundtrack that was delivered. I was bitterly disappointed I couldn’t get a photo-pass for this show after trying so many avenues to score one ‘cos I think there could have been some classic shots captured tonight.
A classic gig. I’m taking this one to the grave and if this is to be the final NIN show I see for a while, so be it. I’m left with memories of an electrified performance of a band that has been such a huge part of my adult life.
Thanks Trent!
Setlist:
1,000,000
Letting You
Discipline
March Of The Pigs
The Frail
The Wretched
Head Down
Burn
Survivalism
Gave Up
La Mer
The Fragile
Non Entity
The Good Soldier
Wish
Suck
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like A Hole
Reptile
The Downward Spiral
The Beginning Of The End
Dead Souls
Hurt
I also have seen NIN live a few times and this one was brilliant!!! Dead Souls made my day … not often do you hear that one live. As always Trent was on fire … top show. Soundwave last night was different .. featuring more of the classics than usual … such a pleasure to have then back in Aust again, even if it may be for the last time.
My mate dragged me along after trying so hard to get me into NIN for ages… I gotta say, I’m now a fan! I’m into more raw rock and the tracks I’d previously heard are very industrial. Hearing them live, however, really gave me a chance to hear and appreciate how awesome their music is. Now I have to go and buy the albums from the setlists… I’m sure there are heaps, so my wallet is going to be empty… Thanks Jimmy for showing me the light and thanks NIN for the awesome night!