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!
Continue reading ‘Nine Inch Nails Live @ Festival Hall, Melbourne’
