Nine Inch Nails Concert Review
Nine Inch Nails Concert Review
Written by Funcle Thursday, 14 August 2008 18:46
Nine Inch Nails Concert Review
When one thinks of Nine Inch Nails, they might think of an industrial hardcore blend of evocative and sometimes angry music. In fact, front man Trent Reznor has put together a comprehensive lexicon of sounds that at times transcends any categorical stereotype. With their last two albums being released exclusively online (Ghosts I-IV and The Slip), the Nine Inch Nails have dropped their most recent record label (Interscope Records) for their self owned Null Corporation and released their music under the Creative Commons License.
NIN's estrangement from traditional sources of income for bands did nothing to effect their ability to put on amazing live performances. One recent show at Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Grotton Connecticut was no exception.
The tour name "Lights in the Sky" is appropriate. NIN used a sophisticated array of computers, projectors and screens as well as lighting props to create visual soundscapes that often left the audience wondering if their eyes deceived them. Notably, 3 projection screens at various depths on the stage created a cascading and variable background and indeed foreground that made the band seem like they were playing in rainstorms, on desert dunes or in some surreal virtual space. At one point, a grid of 32 squares appeared. A band member walked up to the grid and as he seemed to touch the screen, one of the squares would become solid. After pressing enough squares, a beat began to materialize. He was using a giant screen as a drum-machine emulater, which became the functional backdrop for the entire song.
Drum Machine Emmulator
It wasn't apparent that there were deaf people in attendance, but the crowd was just what you would expect from a band with such a loyal following of 20 years. The 16 year olds were not in attendance in the droves that one would expect from newer super-bands. Why would a teenager want to go see a show that they considered to be "classic-era" music. As such, the crowd was jammed with people in their late 20's and early 30's who have been riding the NIN wagon since the early 90's. There was beer flowing and very few incidence of underage drinking.
The setlist was comprehensive including such time honored tracks as "Closer, Wish, March of the Pigs, The Hand that Feeds, Piggy, Head Like a Hole and Hurt" as well as a lot of newer tracks such as "1,000,000, Echophlex, Pinion (Wish), God Given, Ghosts I and In this Twilight (Zero Sum)". Intermingled with the heavy-driven beats were periods of reflection through ambient music styling playing out of flutes, a Xylophone and an upright base as well as soft keyboards. Coupled with the sights of the stage, there were times in this show when people could but stand there transfixed in awe. One such period came to an end and then the hard, distorted and driven sounds of "The Great Destroyer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSCyjDebkmA were dropped, instantaneously transforming the transfixed crowd into a bobbing mass of enthralled listeners. With a diverse array of instrumentation, some of which looked like it was on stands from Ikea, NIN created a visceral experience for all in attendance.
Despite Trent Reznor being sick (he cancelled the next nights show), he and the band gave the show 110%, and truly and decisively rocked out (all 27 songs).