I have always been a fan of Nine Inch Nails even though it’s not really my genre of music. I’ve always found Trent Reznor to be somebody who is very interesting. Not only in the way he approaches his songwriting but the whole vibe of the band and what he created.
What really captured my imagination as a music fan was their performance at Woodstock 99. Coming out covered in mud and literally punching the audience in the face with a musical attack that will never be forgotten. That made me a fan instantly! The last time I saw them performed live was on tour in the early 90s with Marilyn Manson and Hole. I literally have not seen them since and was very much looking forward to the show.
Last night’s show at Xcel Energy Center did not disappoint. I find them to be very interesting because they’re so unique as a band. The show is made-up of two stages, a smaller one in the center of the arena which is where the concert starts. Trent Reznor sat down and did a solo performance on the piano of the song “Right Where It Belongs” and for dramatic effect close the night out with one of their biggest hits ”Hurt”. It proved to be a perfect dramatic bookend for the performance. In between those two songs the audience was treated to chaos.
I was very entertained through the entire 90-minute set. I could have lived without the opening act which was a DJ. Maybe I’m just old but it sounded like noise. I would much rather have had a young starving band play in that slot. But other than that, it was a great performance and a highly recommend you go out and check out the tour if you get the chance. I was in the pit which was general admission. It’s a little rough there at times because of the mashing. But you can easily walk between the two stages and get the very best view of the entire show.
The main stage was very interesting because it had a huge white sheet that was almost a see through in nature around three sides of it. They were projecting images of the live performance in black and white as a backdrop behind the band. I’d never seen anything quite like that before and it really made a statement. I can’t imagine any other band pulling it off but for NIN, it was perfect.
The arena was packed with fans of all ages. Everybody seemed to really enjoy themselves and got what they came for. If you are a fan of this band, I think you’ll be very happy with the product they are presenting.
GALLERY
