UPDATE 7/15: Photos & videos from cell added. Watch a clip of Something I Can Never Have.

So last night, my sister & I got our first Nine Inch Nails live experience at Verizon in Noblesville. Following the line of ticket scalpers served as directions, and as we got closer, I looked over to Jenna and said, “I’m nervous” and she agreed. We were in the 20% minority of people not wearing all black or a Tool shirt, but I never felt judged in my high waders and orange polo.

I discovered this awesome panorama photo feature on my phone. I mastered it on the second round but this one with my sis rocks:

The two openers were Peaches and Bauhaus. Peaches was pretty fun in a MSI type way, and really you can’t go wrong starting off a show shouting, “Impeach my bush!” which I later discovered was the name of her album. Bauhaus was decent. There was one song I really liked, but honestly, I felt like I was in a cheesy B movie with some scene of a count beckoning people to join in his communion. It felt like they played forever, probably b/c we were so damn anxious to see Trent.

So NIN finally started at 9:30ish, and I think a part of me went crazy. I mean when you’ve been a fan of someone for sooo long and know every song in their repetoire—to finally see them in person is kind of strange.

The people in the lawn were not very much fun, save for the strange little man in front of us where wicked witch-esque stockings and red clogs. Click here to watch him dance!! (will play in QT) The sister and I completely regretted not splurging for the front spot, but as we left the show, we pledged that if he returned as he said he would we would drop the dough and be right by the stage AND we were definitely joining the legit fan club.

We went through today and tried to remember the set list. It seems he played 3 tracks from every album of his career. It was SO amazing. Every damn person in that place sang along to every single song. Pretty Hate Machine was back in ‘89. He’s like the Aerosmith of our generation.

Visually, I’ve never been to a show that competes. He’s such a gadget boy. I’m hoping for a DVD of the tour, b/c he had this LED cage that folded down in front. Those paired with the LCDs in the background created these 3D visualizations and made it seem at times as if Trent were trapped in a TV. It was hardcore. Some might even call it skooshy, my new word. They had some sort of tracking so that as Trent ran around behind the LEDs, they silhouetted his shape. It was intense!

Highlights: Gave Up - seriously, my body felt like it was going to explode. Had it been a little darker at that point, I would have broken in to a tribal dance. Hurt (quiet) - it was so beautiful and all piano.

Crowd moments:

“Suck! Suck! Suck!”

“After everything I’ve done, I hate myself for what I’ve become”

“Head like a hole, black as your soul. I’d rather die than give you control”

The entirety of Closer. I never dreamed he’d play it.

“too fucked up to care anymore”

Partial setlist:

  • Head Like a Hole
  • Terrible Lie
  • Something I Can Never Have
  • Wish
  • Gave Up
  • Suck
  • March of the Pigs
  • Closer
  • Hurt
  • Somewhat Damaged
  • Into The Void
  • The Frail
  • The Hand that Feeds
  • Only
  • You Know Who You Are?
  • Dead Souls
  • A Violet Fluid OR The Mark Has Been Made (memory sketchy)
  • Some Bauhaus song with Peter Murphy
  • And 2 other songs that were familiar but I can’t name them…

So it was fricken amazing. I’m hoping to find a real set list. He played forever and it was great!! He sounded strange when he spoke. It was just weird—deeper voice than I expected. In fact, watch this clip from a live radio session with Peter Murphy & Trent Reznor. I think this is the Bauhaus song I liked.

Apparently, my sister had the same thought I did while we were at the show—“Will future generations think we were cool for being NIN fans?” Weird to think about. Anyway, great times and he says he’ll be back here the first of next year. He better not be lying, b/c I am so going to be there. Front and center.