First, they performed ‘Metal’ a song that’s been frequently covered by Nine Inch Nails, then came a rendition of Numan’s most famous song, ‘Cars’. Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy joined NIN onstage during the band’s last two concerts in New York City.
Nine Inch Nails fans got more than they bargained for last night (Aug. 23) at New York’s tiny Webster Hall, as they witnessed the Trent Reznor-led band play its 1994 classic The Downward Spiral in its entirety for the first time ever.
NIN is on a ‘Wave Goodbye’ tour of small venues, and had squeezed in to New York’s 550-capacity Bowery Ballroom the night before. At Webster Hall, the 1,000-strong crowd was drenched in sweat within minutes of the band taking the stage to the punishing rock of ‘Mr. Self Destruct’.
It was soon clear that Reznor and company were plowing through ‘Downward’ in sequence. He later told the audience, “I’ve always wanted to play that whole record, and this seemed like the time to do it.”
The ‘Downward’ sequence of course featured Nine Inch Nails’ iconic single “Closer,” which wasn’t played the night before, and finished with the hushed ‘Hurt’, which became known to an entirely different audience thanks to Johnny Cash’s memorable 2002 cover version.
Once ‘Downward’ was completed, NIN proceeded to play 10 more songs without an encore, including ‘Suck’ ‘The Hand That Feeds’ and its breakthrough 1989 hit, ‘Head Like a Hole’.
The NIN farewell tour continues tomorrow and Wednesday at New York’ Terminal 5, and wraps Sept. 6 at Los Angeles’ Echoplex. The band had originally planned to bow out of live performances after a summer tour with Jane’s Addiction, but Reznor said that since “we had to rush through sets due to a limited allotted set length and many shows were in daylight, it just didn’t feel right to end NIN that way.”
Even after all these years, still my fave video of all time. Brilliant visuals abound and continue to impress. The Joel Peter Witkin influence is rampant.
Easily one of my fave Nine Inch Nails tracks from the epic ‘Fragile’ opus ‘The Day The World Went Away’ features in the amazing looking Terminator Salvation trailer. Check it out!
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.
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.
Far be it for this humble blog to ever take a political bent, but I have been watching the current US election procedure closely over the past couple of years. Having said that, although I am in no position to, I’d really love to see Bush and his cronies removed from power. Sure its another face now in McCain and his douchebag sidekick Palin, but its the same old Christian-Right rhetoric which has to and must be eliminated from power and the world stage.
I found the following post by Trent Reznor to be really interesting. It is no secret where Reznor’s political ideals lie and as much as he doesn’t tell you who to vote for, he is certainly encouraging votes for the Democrats and Barack Obama. See below…
“…Oh, and it was quite a surprise to get back home, turn on the television and discover we’ve apparently won the war in Iraq! Yeah, some woman from Alaska said so – apparently that troop surge was all we needed! That’s good news, because I was starting to think all the shame and embarrassment I’ve felt as an American citizen traveling abroad the last few years wasn’t going to pay off in the end. Now I can rest easy knowing we’ve successfully spread FREEDOM – AND we’ve stopped evildoers in their tracks.
US citizens: Nobody wants anyone preaching their opinions at them – particularly a musician – but PLEASE get involved and pay attention to what’s happening during this election and try to see through the clutter to the substance of what is or isn’t being said.
Wouldn’t it be great to feel proud of this country for a change? Seems like it’s within reach.
OK – I got it out of my system. Thanks for reading…” – Trent Reznor
So for all you USA Dogmatic droogs, do take on board what Uncle Trent has to say. I certainly can’t vote or make up your mind for you, but as an outsider looking in, your country is in a world of shit. Its up to you to change that.
