Nine Inch Nails show, Nov 3 2005 at Madison Square Garden

So I fulfilled a decade long dream last night by finally seeing Trent Reznor perform live in Nine Inch Nails. I discovered and fell in love with his music about 11 years ago and remember how awestruck I was watching Trent perform at Woodstock 94, let alone in his videos. This man is the pure physical embodiment of testosterone with an artistic and intelligent mind.

First of all- I love NIN so much because I think Reznor's music is perfect. Perfect perfect perfect. I am most impressed by the composition. The way that the sounds are arranged and the keys, the way that notes are paired. He is so manipulative with sound. He masterfully rips sounds out of the air and moves them around. It reminds me of Johnny Depp's acting a little bit- both exercise such control over their medium. And his lyrics are totally from the gut and heart. It's just a total package- the sound is completely unique as Reznor is always experimenting with different instruments and electronics, and it's just so touching, moving, on both basic and complex levels. His music offers me everything I want in a song. Even the albums, artwork and videos, are all carefully and tastefully executed.


Calculated animalism- that's how I'd characterize Trent's vocals. He is so intense. There is no way a performance like his can be chocked up to simple showmanship. The man has so much heart and such raw guts on stage. His voice sounds as flawless as it does on the albums. It's powerful and it permeates the entire stadium.

And the man himself- Trent Reznor is 40 years old! And yet he is such a freakin rockstar. You just look at his life and career and it's amazing. This man is an icon of a time of guitar bashing and that whole alternative/industrial movement in the early 90s. He's embraced kink, sexuality, fetish, disturbing imagery- and now you see him here as this adult. He is older now with a more ordinary look- shaved head, black tshirt. But he's still got some rockstar leather pants on and this incredible body. I don't know if I've ever seen such powerful arms. He moves on stage with so much energy- jumping and writhing about to each song. I am grateful that he gives so much to a show.

(a pre-haircut picture, but I believe it demonstrates the body)

I greatly appreciated what he said. He did very little talking aside from "Thank you. A few years ago I thought I could never do this again." The fact that he enjoys being there and doing what he does just made me feel all happy watching him.

I just wonder where did this come from- how did he find this in him so young? Pretty Hate Machine is such a beautiful album, and for a band's debut album, the songs are so powerful and modern.
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As far as a rundown on the actual happenings of the show- well- we had the best seats in the house! Aside from this front stage mosh pit which seemed to have people with backstage passes and stuff in it, our seats were as close as you could get. Our actual seats were further back but we just saw this chaotic area in the front and these 2 seats where no one was sitting so we just kinda sat there and crossed our fingers. Nobody bothered us! I felt so special and excited to be right on the floor of Madison Square Garden- I've gone to many events there- all in nosebleed. Attending events like this brings back all kinds of childish joy.

He played all sorts of songs- the most famous accept he didn't play We're in This Together Now, which I really wanted to hear. He played stuff from PHM, Downward Spiral etc. Of course he played Closer, and in no way was his performance tired. Ugh so sexy! And so intense when he played softer songs like Hurt and Something I Can Never Have. It was so awesome seeing him sing my most favorite songs that have been my favorites for such a long time.

And the most eventful thing of the show that I saw was this girl who must have been ODing on some drugs or just really crazy, but all of the sudden she was screaming- before the show started- and was writhing all over the place and punching the guards. They had 5 men trying to hold her down and she kept struggling, they pulled her to the hallway by her legs cause she was clawing and punching and stuff. I have never seen anything like it. They tried to pin her down and she just wouldn't stop or give up for like 15 minutes. They each took an arm and a leg and carried her into some back room. Pretty crazy stuff.


Opener Queens of the Stone Age was totally boring. I like the songs they have on the radio a lot, but their performance was so dull and uninspired. Not impressed at all. Accept for the fact that the lead singer is really hot and has this gorgeous tall torso, sexy posture, and perfect shoulders. Yum. I guess that's important.


And last night I walked past this church. I am glad Capuchin monkeys finally have a place of worship. I mean hey they let the Catholics worship after all.