Share
Lights in the Sky over: Houston - 8/16/08
17 Aug 2008, 18:58
Sat 16 Aug – Nine Inch Nails, A Place to Bury Strangers
Nine Inch Nails in Houston - 8/16/08
I've been to dozens of concerts in my life, but after missing Nine Inch Nails in Houston a few times, I HAD to attend this one. I mean I was more of a "casual" fan when they stopped by in 05, and looking back then, I regret it dearly not going. I became more "obsessed" in mid-05 with the Nails, listening to their discography from past to present. From Pretty Hate Machine to With Teeth (at the time in 05). Then came along Year Zero in 07, and I literally played the crap out of that on my itunes when it leaked, and then bought it when it came out. And then everyone knows Ghosts and The Slip followed shortly after that. I might not be considered a "long time NIN fan" but I know for the past 3+ years, I have followed them and listened to them pretty obsessively. When I saw they were playing Houston on the 16th of August a few months ago, I literally had tears of happiness. A day before my birthday they would play Houston, and that is where I begin with this review.
A Place To Bury Strangers
A Place to Bury Strangers opened it for NIN. I got their self titled album a couple months ago knowing they would be opening for Trent and company. I can't stand not knowing what song a band is playing. So I knew pretty much every song APTBS played which was a plus. I thought they would be a tad bit louder, since they are tagged being really "loud". I honestly didn't know what to expect with this band live, even after listening to their album several times. They impressed me slightly. I really digged the whole flashing strobe lights toward the end of the set and Oliver taking the strings out of his guitar (It looked like was what he was doing. I may be wrong.) All in all, I enjoyed their set. They brought an extra "sound" not heard on the album. Bands able to mix it up a little live, really get bonus points from me. They have gotten some HORRIBLE reviews from other people opening for the Nails on the web. People need to listen to their self titled album a few times before "hating" them. Oliver is a beast with pulling cords out of a guitar btw ha. The constant strobe light made it look more impressive.
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails followed around 25 minutes later with opener 999,999 into 1,000,000 as exactly on the first two songs of The Slip album. I had to re-focus my eyes to see I was actually at a Nine Inch Nail concert, or I was just dreaming because I was so fucking happy lol. They followed that up with "Letting You", a song I would probably classify as one of the weaker songs off The Slip, but it was decent live. Trent's voice made the song fun live. March of the Pigs was shortly after (I don't remember if it was 4th or 5th, I can't find an official Set List yet for the show) which made me jump with glee xD. Not as much fire as previous years performances I've seen the band have with MOTP, but still fun.
Discipline was also played around here. Head Down as well which I loved. Probably my favorite song off The Slip. Trent playing the piano at the end was classic with the tilting and then throwing it after the song finished. Loved it. And then the Year Zero songs played were incredible with the visuals. "Vessel" was great with the orange behind Robin, Trent and Justin. and my HIGHLIGHT of the NIGHT was "The Greater Good". I smiled and thought to myself..."Trent Reznor is the best fucking thing to ever happen to the innovation of music/technology". Just insane. I did not expect this song to be the highlight but wow.
The Ghost bit was also great with the visuals. It's head scratching to wonder how they put all of it together with the layers and the lights. I did recognize "6 Ghosts I" and "31 Ghosts IV" played in the set list. I've heard the album in full several times, but the other ones have eluded me as I type this. I really like the Ghost album even more now, seeing how it turned out live. The band did a tremendous job setting the set up for the Ghost bit. They did a great job with the whole setlist, but Ghosts really came out perfect in my opinion.
Moving on to the latter part before the encores..."Survivalism" was fun. They had six "live" screens in the background. I really liked Survivalism live way better then on the Year Zero record. I felt like the band could of use a few different songs as singles off that album then Survivalism, but still a decent song.
Head Like a Hole wrapped up the show before the encores. The atmosphere was GREAT for this song. Nine Inch Nails played a few songs off "Pretty Hate Machine" which was great. Trent has not lost his step after all these years. After the song, one of the screens came out and a big red NIN logo flashed on it for almost a few minutes. I knew their be an encore, but I did not expect a long one.
Encore
Encore time! And boy were there several encores heh. Took me by a little surprised. This was the longest encore I've seen at a concert personally. Which just adds to how stellar this concert was. Echoplex was first. The on screen Echoplex tuner was great. Totally did not expect that one. That made me chuckle a bit in a good-surprised way =D. "Reptile" was next if I recall right. Sounded great live. The crowd was into it especially. "Hurt" was also an encore. Great atmosphere. I thought it might have been the last song, but thus then came "In This Twilight" to wrap up the night. Great show. Nails played for almost 2 and a half hours.
Wish, Only, Terrible Lie, Down In It, Gave Up, The Big Come Down and Piggy were also played. I know I'm probably missing a few, but I gave the gist. This was probably the first concert I've been to where the opening band or the headliner basically said NOTHING between songs. Trent said "Thank you" a few times and "you've been a good crowd" once, but that's about it. Not complaing though, I love Trent more then a average person should. Anyways the concert definitely left me wanting to see NIN again. I would travel to another city in a heartbeat to see a performance like tonights.
Edit-- I found the setlist:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Head Down
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Closer
10. Gave Up
11. The Warning
12. Vessel
13. Ghosts 5
14. Ghosts 21
15. Ghosts 19
16. Ghosts Piggy
17. The Greater Good
18. Pinion
19. Wish
20. Terrible Lie
21. Survivalism
22. The Big Come Down
23. Only
24 Head Like a Hole
Encore:
25. Echoplex
26. Reptile
27. God Given
28. Hurt
29. In This Twilight
Nine Inch Nails in Houston - 8/16/08
I've been to dozens of concerts in my life, but after missing Nine Inch Nails in Houston a few times, I HAD to attend this one. I mean I was more of a "casual" fan when they stopped by in 05, and looking back then, I regret it dearly not going. I became more "obsessed" in mid-05 with the Nails, listening to their discography from past to present. From Pretty Hate Machine to With Teeth (at the time in 05). Then came along Year Zero in 07, and I literally played the crap out of that on my itunes when it leaked, and then bought it when it came out. And then everyone knows Ghosts and The Slip followed shortly after that. I might not be considered a "long time NIN fan" but I know for the past 3+ years, I have followed them and listened to them pretty obsessively. When I saw they were playing Houston on the 16th of August a few months ago, I literally had tears of happiness. A day before my birthday they would play Houston, and that is where I begin with this review.
A Place To Bury Strangers
A Place to Bury Strangers opened it for NIN. I got their self titled album a couple months ago knowing they would be opening for Trent and company. I can't stand not knowing what song a band is playing. So I knew pretty much every song APTBS played which was a plus. I thought they would be a tad bit louder, since they are tagged being really "loud". I honestly didn't know what to expect with this band live, even after listening to their album several times. They impressed me slightly. I really digged the whole flashing strobe lights toward the end of the set and Oliver taking the strings out of his guitar (It looked like was what he was doing. I may be wrong.) All in all, I enjoyed their set. They brought an extra "sound" not heard on the album. Bands able to mix it up a little live, really get bonus points from me. They have gotten some HORRIBLE reviews from other people opening for the Nails on the web. People need to listen to their self titled album a few times before "hating" them. Oliver is a beast with pulling cords out of a guitar btw ha. The constant strobe light made it look more impressive.
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails followed around 25 minutes later with opener 999,999 into 1,000,000 as exactly on the first two songs of The Slip album. I had to re-focus my eyes to see I was actually at a Nine Inch Nail concert, or I was just dreaming because I was so fucking happy lol. They followed that up with "Letting You", a song I would probably classify as one of the weaker songs off The Slip, but it was decent live. Trent's voice made the song fun live. March of the Pigs was shortly after (I don't remember if it was 4th or 5th, I can't find an official Set List yet for the show) which made me jump with glee xD. Not as much fire as previous years performances I've seen the band have with MOTP, but still fun.
Discipline was also played around here. Head Down as well which I loved. Probably my favorite song off The Slip. Trent playing the piano at the end was classic with the tilting and then throwing it after the song finished. Loved it. And then the Year Zero songs played were incredible with the visuals. "Vessel" was great with the orange behind Robin, Trent and Justin. and my HIGHLIGHT of the NIGHT was "The Greater Good". I smiled and thought to myself..."Trent Reznor is the best fucking thing to ever happen to the innovation of music/technology". Just insane. I did not expect this song to be the highlight but wow.
The Ghost bit was also great with the visuals. It's head scratching to wonder how they put all of it together with the layers and the lights. I did recognize "6 Ghosts I" and "31 Ghosts IV" played in the set list. I've heard the album in full several times, but the other ones have eluded me as I type this. I really like the Ghost album even more now, seeing how it turned out live. The band did a tremendous job setting the set up for the Ghost bit. They did a great job with the whole setlist, but Ghosts really came out perfect in my opinion.
Moving on to the latter part before the encores..."Survivalism" was fun. They had six "live" screens in the background. I really liked Survivalism live way better then on the Year Zero record. I felt like the band could of use a few different songs as singles off that album then Survivalism, but still a decent song.
Head Like a Hole wrapped up the show before the encores. The atmosphere was GREAT for this song. Nine Inch Nails played a few songs off "Pretty Hate Machine" which was great. Trent has not lost his step after all these years. After the song, one of the screens came out and a big red NIN logo flashed on it for almost a few minutes. I knew their be an encore, but I did not expect a long one.
Encore
Encore time! And boy were there several encores heh. Took me by a little surprised. This was the longest encore I've seen at a concert personally. Which just adds to how stellar this concert was. Echoplex was first. The on screen Echoplex tuner was great. Totally did not expect that one. That made me chuckle a bit in a good-surprised way =D. "Reptile" was next if I recall right. Sounded great live. The crowd was into it especially. "Hurt" was also an encore. Great atmosphere. I thought it might have been the last song, but thus then came "In This Twilight" to wrap up the night. Great show. Nails played for almost 2 and a half hours.
Wish, Only, Terrible Lie, Down In It, Gave Up, The Big Come Down and Piggy were also played. I know I'm probably missing a few, but I gave the gist. This was probably the first concert I've been to where the opening band or the headliner basically said NOTHING between songs. Trent said "Thank you" a few times and "you've been a good crowd" once, but that's about it. Not complaing though, I love Trent more then a average person should. Anyways the concert definitely left me wanting to see NIN again. I would travel to another city in a heartbeat to see a performance like tonights.
Edit-- I found the setlist:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Head Down
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Closer
10. Gave Up
11. The Warning
12. Vessel
13. Ghosts 5
14. Ghosts 21
15. Ghosts 19
16. Ghosts Piggy
17. The Greater Good
18. Pinion
19. Wish
20. Terrible Lie
21. Survivalism
22. The Big Come Down
23. Only
24 Head Like a Hole
Encore:
25. Echoplex
26. Reptile
27. God Given
28. Hurt
29. In This Twilight
Comments
-
ddsquires wrote:
Thanks for writing a great review!
I was up there an arms length from the stagefront barrier towards the center. Pure madness! There was a period of time where I actually could not unsquish my arms enough to extend my arm take pictures! It was my first time having the opportunity to see NIN, and it met and exceeded my high expectations. I was very impressed by the fact that the audience didn't need any "warm up" time, but launched into chaos (at least in the pit) as soon as Trent opened his mouth the first time. The pit was a little insane, I came home bruised and smelling like the sweat of many people, but it definitely added to the experience. I'm soooooo glad I wasn't confined to a seat!
The light show was super impressive. I've never seen the likes of such a stage set used as much as it was to add to the performance. Trent put on an excellent show, gave his all, and I'm sure made every one there love him at least a little bit more, as impossible as that may seem to some hardcore fans out there. He blew my mind that's for sure.
Thanks again for the set review. -
io_morrison wrote:
I saw NIN live when I was about 13, back in 2000. It was The Fragile Tour. I was crazy obsessed with them in high school. One bright point (similar to your review) of my life was when And All That Could Have Been/Still (plus Live DVD) came out on my 15th birthday. Sadly, that was the last album I bought from Nine Inch Nails. I'm not sure what happened because I have all the Halos up until the Deluxe And All That Could Have Been. By the time The Hand That Feeds came out I really lost interest in keeping up with Trent. I really wish I would have kept it up though because now nin is like the new Cure, lol. Is the newer NIN that much different from his older stuff? I mean, if I really only dug the older material, is there a chance I might get into the four albums that followed?
