NINE INCH NAILS: WITH TEETH 2005-2006
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA [ENTERTAINMENT CENTER]
8.22.05
NINE INCH NAILS STILL SHARP
By missmacbeth
It’s almost 2:30 a.m. and I’m with Jeordie White, the former bass player for Marilyn Manson. This was how my first ever rock concert was wrapping up – a meet and greet with Nine Inch Nails.
It’s been five years since Trent Reznor electrified Australian audiences with his distinctive industrial sound at the 2000 Big Day Out and as part of the With Teeth World Tour Nine Inch Nails finally made their return. I was lucky enough to catch the Brisbane show – the very last of the tour before they headed back to the United States.
Being a fan for more than six years, the countdown to the concert was becoming unbearable. When the 22nd finally rolled around, absolutely nothing could stop me from going to this concert; not even an antique car with toxic smoke venting in through the air conditioning, threatening to break down on the Brisbane highway could do it. I’d walk to there if I had to!
A good start to the night was almost hitting a row of parked police cars at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre which were there for increased security. Expecting a sea of gothic personalities, I was shocked to find most subdued in simple jeans and a black shirt for good measure. I guess it was a Monday night after all and work / school / uni was awaiting everyone the next day.
Before the show I grabbed a nice overpriced shirt to remember the moment and headed on into the theatre to catch some of the support band, The Follow. Their set was an awesome homage to the feature act and true dedication was proven as Azaria (yes, from Popstars) sang with a flu-ridden voice, nursing his poor throat with honey during each guitar solo. ‘It apparently works’ he croaked as he received a rather warm reception from the somewhat small crowd which barely pushed the 1500 mark the entire night.
Once they had finished, there was a twenty minute wait as the roadies set up the stage. By this time the floor crowd had sat down in small groups sharing stories and reserving their energy for some heavy moshing to come. Suddenly, the lights went out and in a simultaneous movement, everyone rose from their huddled groups, rushed to the front of the gates and began cheering uncontrollably. A moment or two passed until a single spotlight was abruptly illuminated on a newly buzz cut, healthier looking Trent Reznor in sync with a bass guitar strum which vibrated amongst the crowd. Reznor’s cool, raw voice echoed across the room and audience members began to scream out his name in admiration. It was truly an amazing moment to see.
Lasting just under two hours, the set list intertwined old and new songs with crowd pleasers including legendary Closer, the infamous Starfuckers, more recent The Hand That Feeds and one of my early favorites, Dead Souls. (There’s nothing quite like dancing in your seat like a complete moron to your favourite song!) Songs such as Hurt prompted audience sing-a-longs and an undulation of mobile phones acted as replacements for the traditional cigarette lighter (though three did make an appearance) The lighting ranged from mellow clusters that changed color to the mood of the music, to these four panels which produced such intense lighting that it was somewhat similar to looking at the sun.
Stage antics began with Aaron North jumping onto the speaker behind him, yet still managing to play the guitar while sprawled over the giant box. Water bottles were thrown into the crowd by Reznor as he took a sip between breaks in songs and a tambourine was lovingly thrown into the heaving mass of NIN fans after its fifteen second requirement for the song, With Teeth. North got too excited at one stage resulting in the drum kit accidentally falling over, causing a panic among roadies who rushed to the fallen equipment. Reznor’s response to the whole scene – ‘whoops’.
To everyone’s delight, Reznor ended the show in true rock spirit by trashing the stage. Reznor and North smashed their guitars and knocked over the giant speakers while Alessandro Cortini poured water onto his keyboards. A little less severe than Big Day Out’s $100,000 damage bill, but it still held the same Reznor essence which had the audience excited.
By sheer fluke, I scored a backstage pass for a meet and greet with the band after the show. Before long, I was being escorted along with fifteen others to a room where free alcohol welcomed us. Here I am - Sitting there thinking I’m about to meet Nine Inch Nails in person and why the fuck didn’t I bring a camera!?
A very shy Jeordie White peered around the door, floated in, sat down and began signing anything we managed to find that could be autographed. One after the other, the rest of the band followed. I was holding out for Trent but unfortunately he didn't make the appearance. My overpriced shirt came in handy and was signed by Jeordie, Aaron, Alessandro and the awesome drummer, Jerome Dillon though it still feels incomplete without Trent’s mark.
At the end of the night I was left feeling ten feet off the ground (without the help of medicinal products) – An emotionally charged concert and a meet with the band have definitely cemented my plans of revisiting Nine Inch Nails in a live atmosphere. Here’s hoping the rumors of a 2006 tour are true...