NIN at the Air Canada Center
“What was originally called industrial music was about 20 years ago: Throbbing Gristle and Test Dept. We have very little to do with it other than there is noise in my music and there is noise in theirs. I'm working in the context of a pop song structure whereas those bands didn't. And because someone didn't come up with a new name that separates those two somewhat unrelated genres, it tends to irritate all the old school fans waving their flags of alternativeness and obscurity. So, I'd say I've borrowed from certain styles and bands like that."
Even Reznor himself has said the “industrial” title does not completely define NIN in an interview done for Access Magazine in 1994:
Whatever the genre, NIN is known to a vast number of people across the globe and loved by many. Their sound, with its great diversity, finds fans who normally would not come together, such as metal-heads and electronica buffs.
Such was the experience I discovered when I went to see Nine Inch Nails in Toronto. The show was a sold-out event that filled up the Air Canada Center with people from all walks of life. There were people in there 50’s mixing with people in there 20’s. There were people in suits sitting right next to people dressed in tight leather and lace. But this is only one part of the show. The real show happened when everyone took their seats and the bands started hitting the stage.
The first band to hit the stage was Death From Above 1979, a Toronto-based indie-rock act with Sebastien Grainger on vocals and drums with Jesse F. Keeler performing the bass and synthesizer. They began to play early in the night, and even though much of the audience were there for the main attraction (NIN), this band still managed to pump some life into the people just taking there seats. Death From Above only played a 20 minute set, yet they made those 20 minutes count by playing a very solid set. With only two members in the band, the complex funk-infused rock sound, with the vocalist hammering on the keyboard in addition to the guitar, tired me out just by watching them play. Death From Above were a good opener for the night. It was a pity they could not have played a longer set to really get a full feel for their unique sound.
Queens of the Stone Age, the next band to hit the stage, was a bit better known. This band consists of guitarist Joshua Homme, Mark Lanegan, Troy Van Leeuwen , Joey Castillo, Alain Johannes, and Natasha Shneider. Although they played a solid set for about an hour, they lacked much of the intensity that I would expect from a band on tour with NIN. They played all their major songs and most from their latest record. The live versions of many of their songs were far better then the album ones. Despite these positive notes, they still lacked intensity. Much of their performance seemed too mechanical – like they were playing a predefined set of songs then leaving the stage immediately afterward. This could be due to the fact that the audience was mainly there for NIN and was growing inpatient waiting for the headliner, but this does not excuse the lack of passion displayed by Queens of the Stone Age. However, these are only the opinions of this writer; it may be that my impatience waiting for the headliner may have made them seem less then perfect, but I am still one who loves having the music make me want to get on my feet and move. Queens of the Stone Age did not give me that feeling in this performance.
The last band of the night was, of course, NIN who took the stage with the crowd screaming with fury. Even before they took the stage, while their crew were setting up the band’s equiptment, the crowd erupted in anticipation for Trent’s arrival. The best part about it all was that NIN did not disappoint. They started up hard playing hit after hit to keep the audience moving. Some of the best songs were played with the band hidden behind a screen while music videos were projected onto it. The songs were haunting and filled with emotion and pain. The overall performance was a very intense experience. Lasting for nearly two full hours, NIN played all the fan favorites such as “Head Like a Hole”, “March of the Pigs”, and of course all the latest tracks from their new album, With Teeth. This was a non-stop performance that flew by – the show’s long duration failed to affect me and it’s abrupt end left me wanting more. There was no encore, rather Reznor just played his heart out almost until midnight, then thanked the crowd and walked offstage.
Even though there was no encore I was not disappointed, for it was all I could have hoped for. I highly recommend witnessing Reznor and his crew take the stage. Even if you have no interest in their music, NIN’s live performances may be enough to make a fan out of you yet.
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