I was fortunate enough to secure FREE box seats for the show from my employer and was thrilled as I own everything from Pretty Hate Machine to The Slip. The tour is advertised as “Nine Inch Nails WITH Jane’s Addiction and special guest Street Sweeper Social Club.” These center stage seats also came with VIP parking passes. The passes were emblazoned with a shiny picture of NIN (only) and also contained the above phrase. This indicates that NIN is headlining.  But maybe that’s just me.

Even though I’m not really a Jane’s Addiction fan, I figured it would be interesting to see them live as Perry Ferrell is a complete nutbag and was sure to provide a few RUFKM moments.

So, it was quite shocking to be in the pisser at 7:50PM and hear, through the echoes of the bathroom, what sounded like NIN.

Yes, kids. NIN was playing first……. in the daylight.

There were several problems with this situation:

1. Trent is part vampire
2. The amphitheatre was not even half full  as people expected NIN to play at 9PM
3. They were playing some extremely obscure shit
4. They had a minimal light show, no backdrop or effects

First, here’s how I can describe the light show. I’ve seen NIN several times, the light show is always great.  Not this time.  You know when bands have that huge pupil melting light that bands put on the crowd and say “Let’s see your hands!” or “I wanna see you off your seats?” Well, imagine 100 of those same white lights flashing on and off FOREVER. I hope nobody there had epilepsy.

Did I mention that they were playing in the daylight?

But wait, maybe they would play a great show to make up for these shenanigans! Plus, Trent announced that this would be NIN’s last tour! Um…no.

Over the course of the meandering (read: boring) 90 minute set, the following songs were not played:

1.  The Perfect Drug

2. Besides “Head Like a Hole” nothing from Pretty Hate Machine

3.  Newer solid songs/singles like “Only” or “Discipline”

4. Hurt

5. Closer

No, Trent does not want to fuck you like an animal. I am a huge fan of varied set lists but to not include “Hurt” or at least “Closer” is completely absurd. These are his biggest songs.  He should’ve also ended the set by taking a huge Cleveland steamer on stage and then threw chunks of his feces at the audience.  It would’ve had the same effect.  He favored to instead play that awful David Bowie song “I’m afraid of Americans,” and obscure, monotonous tracks like crap from Ghosts I-XXXIIMLK.  I have been to countless concerts and have never seen a more disappointed crowd due to the setlist, showmanship, and false advertising.  

Then Jane’s Addiction came on.  As I stated before, not a big fan.  

They rocked.  The music sounded great, the light show was impressive, the backdrop included 2 naked chicks, a movie screen dropped down during several songs, my wife was happy that Dave Navarro doesn’t own a shirt, and Perry pranced around in a sequined bull fighter outfit looking gayer than a three dollar bill.

 I knew he would provide an RUFKM moment, in a good way.  

They worked the crowd, played all their hits, were energetic and Navarro killed it on guitar.  I was very impressed, especially since I know only their popular songs.  They made up for Trent and his cronies falling flat on their face.  

Oh, and that weirdly titled opening act “Street Sweeper Social Club?”  This is a new band from Tom Morello, guitarist from  Rage Against The Machine.  They played a 7 song tight set and I will be buying their new album when it comes out next month.  It was their first show EVER and it sounded like they had been playing for years.  I would say it sounds like Rage with less rage and more funk.  

Oh and Mr. Reznor?  Stay out the South Florida area for quite awhile.  There are 20,000 people who want your head on a platter.  If I had actually paid for my ticket, I’d issue the hit myself.

More Concerts, Clubs Chaos:  HERE

13 Stupid Questions with Anthrax, Tesla:  HERE