Cold and Black and Infinite North America 2018 - Nine Inch Nails @ Radio City Music Hall [Night 1]

The looks on the faces of every single person who was there expecting a typical Nine Inch Nails show…*

Oh goodness but the delight was just as creamy and sumptuous as a decadent creme brûlée...the puzzlement and consternation as the band drifted into “This Isn’t The Place”, one of the most fragile and gorgeous tracks to come from Nine Inch Nails in recent years, the shocked delight as the first pulsing guitars from “The Perfect Drug”** came skittering off the stage, the stunned silence that fell over the crowd as “Over and Out” began.
Yes, yes, they still played “Wish”. “March of the Pigs”, “The Hand That Feeds”, “Head Like A Hole”, and “Hurt”, but aside from those tracks, the night was replete with surprises for true fans of Nine Inch Nails. Reznor tossed a few scraps to the casual fan then turned his back on them for the rest of the evening, embracing his chosen, those that have been with him from the beginning, those that do not need to hear “Closer” again, those that have always supported his music and will continue to do so, especially after this outpouring of gratitude and love for his fans.

Sadly, a good portion of the energy was offset by the lackluster sound balance. Perhaps the World Famous Radio City Music Hall wasn’t meant for such punishing noise, but whatever the case was, fifteen seconds into the opener (“Mr. Self Destruct”) it was evident that the bass was in the wrong place and that the volume was pegged at a six when they should have been ten times that. Despite the less-than-perfect acoustics, Nine Inch Nails delivered a singular experience, one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.

Photo/video gallery

* Whatever that means.

** THEY FUCKING PLAYED THE PERFECT FUCKING DRUG!!!!!!!