It's occurred to me that I haven't written much about books here. So let me make up for that.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon - one of the best books I've ever read. The story follows two jewish kids who create comics and spans several decades from the Depression era all the way through the Second World War. The writing is just top-notch, with the setting pitch perfect and all the characters feel real. While this is a work of fiction, many real-life incidents are reproduced that give it that extra sense of realism.
I was interested in this book because I'm a comic book fan, but this book is by no means only for that group. It's won some deserved awards such as the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. So take that for what it's worth. Interestingly enough, a real comic book has been created based on the comic that Kavalier and Clay create in the book. Even better is that it's a pretty good read too! There have been rumblings of a movie, but I have no idea how a 2 or even 3 hour movie could do this book justice. It seems the wheels started spinning but have completely stalled, and that's probably for the best. Although the rumoured casting of Natalie Portman as one of the leads would be absolutely perfect.
Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling - having grown up as a big wrestling fan, my favorite wrestler in the world was Bret Hart. He seemed to be the perfect package, great on the mic, great in the ring, and he was Canadian.
This is an absorbing book which drew me in and broke my heart. Surely you've all heard of all the deaths of so many wrestlers in the past couple of decades. Hart is frank and reveals everything, the funny side, the bad side, the egos, the politics, and everything in between. He is brutally honest about himself, his many infidelities and the behind the scenes workings of the wrestling business. Unlike the many other wrestler biographies, this isn't being published by the WWE, and doesn't have the filter and ass-kissing attitude that the other books sometime have, because let's face it, those wrestlers need money and WWE is pretty much the only game in town now, and they don't want to go around badmouthing their boss.
This is one of those reads that is of most interest to wrestling fans, but would be a good read for anyone.
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk - fans of Fight Club (the movie or the book) will love this. It's by the same author, so it has the same twisted, dark sense of humour that is Palahniuk's trademark. This book was such a scintillating read I found myself reading it loud because the dialogue was so rich.
There was a recent movie made of this book that more or less remains faithful to the book, but it just isn't on the level of the Fight Club adaptation. While it has it's own merits, it just lacks that spark the book has. Stick with the book here.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Nine Inch Nails: Wave Goodbye 2009 in Los Angeles
20 years after exploding onto the scene my favorite band in the entire universe has played their final live show. I've been a fan of NIN since 1997 when I first heard The Perfect Drug, I slowly got all their albums and they've been my favorite band ever since. It's hard to believe so much time has passed since then. Having missed out on the NINJA tour, which by all accounts was awesome, I told myself I had to try and get tickets for the final section of the Wave Goodbye 2009 tour. After seeing the Ninternet almost fall apart for the New York and Chicago presales, I didn't want to get my hopes up, as NIN decided to play the small venues Hollywood Palladium (4,000), Wiltern Theater (2,000), Henry Fonda Theater (863) and Echoplex (500). (Approximately capacities in parentheses.) With these small venues, the number of people wanting tickets is most definitely greater than the number of tickets available so not everyone is gonna get a ticket. Surprisingly enough the presale process for me was absolutely painless and I managed to get 1 ticket for each of the venues fairly quickly, the only hiccup being that Henry Fonda floor tickets were sold out and I had to "settle" for balcony (this would turn out to be a big blessing). Expecting nothing, I ended up with a ticket to each show!
The original plan had NIN playing Sept. 2, 3, 5 and 6. But after the Sept. 2 show, Trent was too sick and had to cancel and reshuffle the dates from 3 and 5 to 8 and 10. This presented a dilemma as I was originally scheduled to fly home on the 7th, but because of this I had to extend the trip to the 11th. It cost me more than $500 to change my flight, extend my hotel stay, car rental and medical insurance, bringing the cost for the whole trip to well over 2 grand. It was more than worth it though. If I had left as originally planned on the 7th and missed the last 2 shows, I would end up regretting it for the rest of my life.
To all those that waited overnight, and endured the scorching heat to get the best place in the floor and be one of the few to get those venue and show specific shirts, cherish them, because you deserve them! You are as hardcore as hardcore gets, and I bow down to you. To everyone looking for tickets outside the venue, I hope you were able to get in, and sorry I couldn't help. To everyone who couldn't attend, I'm sorry you missed it because it was pretty amazing. Words and video and audio recordings will never do justice to experiencing NIN live. On these very special nights, Nine Inch Nails delivered an experience I will never ever forget. I'm happy that I got to attend these very special shows, but also saddened that I'll probably never see them live again. But as Trent said, Nine Inch Nails has just stopped touring, not making music, so I shouldn't be too sad.
Here are some pics of all the swag I got, followed by each night's setlist and some recollections:
Personalized Tickets and Wristbands (in a nice touch, each featured a different NIN logo from over the years) along with a Pin for the Palladium show that you could only get if you picked up your ticket early:
Posters:
T-Shirts, the top 2 both have the standard NIN Logo on the front, while the bottom 2 show the front and back of the same shirt (1 of em purchased for a friend):
Night 1 - Sept. 2, 2009 - Hollywood Palladium
The first night started out with a bang literally with Mr. Self Destruct. As the rest of The Downward Spiral album was played in order, we knew we were in for a treat as this was only the 2nd (and also the last) time the album in its entirety had been played.
Setlist: (with my own personal comments and observations)
1. Mr. Self Destruct
2. Piggy
3. Heresy - been wanting to hear this live and it does not disappoint!
4. March of the Pigs
5. Closer
6. Ruiner
7. The Becoming - love this song even more after hearing it live
8. I Do Not Want This - so many songs I haven't heard live before, it was heaven
9. Big Man With A Gun
10. A Warm Place - this is so cool to hear live I wish it was in the setlist every night!
11. Eraser
12. Reptile
13. The Downward Spiral
14. Hurt - man, people just wouldn't shut the hell up during this song. We're lucky Trent said he couldn't hear because he probably would have walked off during this and I wouldn't have blamed him
15. 1,000,000
16. Terrible Lie - I love how this song is probably the most popular NIN song that's never been a single. It always get a good reaction and never disappoints
17. Lights in the Sky
18. Burn
19. Gave Up
20. Suck
21. Metal (with Gary Numan) - what a great surprise! It must be so amazing for Trent to be able perform on stage with so many of his childhood heroes, first David Bowie and now Gary Numan (Imagine if Freddie Mercury were still alive!). It's also amazing that those that Trent looked up to when he was younger now look up to him musically. And I don't know how old Gary Numan is, but he can still sing!
22. Cars (with Gary Numan)
23. The Hand That Feeds
24. Head Like A Hole
No encore, but that was most likely because Trent was very sick, although if he didn't say so you wouldn't have known it.
Night 2 - Sept. 6, 2009 - Echoplex
Originally this was supposed to be the last show, but I'm glad it wasn't because it's not exactly the ideal venue for NIN. With a tiny capacity of about 500, you might think it would make the show more intimate, but the way the venue is laid out was just awkward. The venue was asymmetrical, had a low ceiling, columns in the way and the soundboard area took up a huge chunk of desirable floor space. Might be a cool venue to see some small band with a couple hundred other people, but for NIN at full capacity it wasn't to my liking. With that said, the band and crowd were excellent. The band was almost at full capacity as Trent said, and there weren't any screamers during Hurt (that's gotta be the barometer of how good a NIN audience is).
Setlist:
1. Somewhat Damaged
2. The Beginning of the End
3. The Collector - first time live, much more aggressive live, no piano at all, just more guitar
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched - during the last couple of years NIN would sometimes play The Frail but not The Wretched, but I'm glad that we got them both for 2 nights!
9. Terrible Lie
10. Ruiner - just awesome live
11. Head Down
12. Burn
13. Gave Up
14. La Mer
15. Non-Entity
16. Gone, Still
17. The Big Come Down - my favorite live NIN song. The energy of this song is just incredible and never ceases to get my heart pumping
18. The Way Out Is Through - first time hearing this live, definitely a pleasure
19. Wish - What else is there to say? This just blew the roof off the place especially at the end with all the guitar and the double bass-pedal from Ilan
20. Survivalism
21. Down In It
22. Metal (with Gary Numan)
23. I Die: You Die (with Gary Numan) - a pleasant surprise, it was nice to know that even near the end Trent and Co. still wanted to break out some new songs to surprise the audience
24. Physical - another live first for me
25. The Hand That Feeds - have heard this at every show except my very first in 2000 and love it, but now it makes me a little sad because when this plays, I know we're getting close to the end
26. Head Like A Hole - after all these years, this is still THE quintessential high energy NIN song and gets the crowd riled up like nothing else
Encore:
27. Dead Souls - before they did this, it sounded like they were going to do Atmosphere and started it twice but screwed it up both times and just went into Dead Souls
28. Hurt - in contrast to Head Like A Hole, this is the quintessential quiet NIN song. Always more enjoyable when there are no screaming idiots in the crowd like on this night
Night 3 - Sept. 8, 2009 - Henry Fonda Theater (Rescheduled from Sept. 3, 2009)
As I said earlier, I could only get a balcony ticket to this show, but it worked out for the better in the end. Normally I like having a floor ticket because the experience of being in a hot, sweaty mosh pit with a bunch of other rabid fans just adds to excitement of enjoying a live show. If you can handle it, I recommend you do it at least once in your life. The downside of course is that you are surrounded by hot and sweaty fans and you are on your feet for hours on end and that gets really tiring. Not only is your body taking a pounding, but your view is constantly obstructed by others. And I'm 6 feet tall which is taller than most, if I'm having trouble seeing, I can't imagine how bad it is for those shorter than me.
That being said, the balcony tickets were a godsend because it allowed me to enjoy the entire show with a clear view of the whole stage. I was already a big fan of Ilan's short stint with NIN, but this night made me respect him even more. I was mostly watching him play most of the night because the other 3 nights I couldn't quite see him clearly; he's kind of tucked away in the back, hidden behind the drums on a riser barely half a foot high.
With this being a rescheduled night and with the promise of making these last nights special, NIN delivered, and the theme of this night (and the next) was special guests galore! Joining NIN on stage were Mike Garson (pianist who's worked with David Bowie and NIN on The Fragile), Gary Numan, Jane's Addiction Bassist Eric Avery, opening act HEALTH, Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato, and former NIN member Danny Lohner.
Setlist:
1. Head Like A Hole - usually saved for last, they instead open with it
2. Terrible Lie - after the first 2 songs, and having The Downward Spiral in its entirety days before, was this going to be Pretty Hate Machine in its entirety?
3. Sin - alas, it was not to be
4. March of the Pigs
5. Piggy
6. Echoplex
7. Reptile
8. I'm Afraid of Americans
9. Survivalism
10. Head Down
11. 1,000,000
12. Letting You
13. Burn
14. Gave Up
15. Eraser
16. Just Like You Imagined (with Mike Garson) - at my first NIN show in 2000, they were supposed to play this, but because of a technical fuckup they skipped the song. I've been wanting to hear it live ever since and finally 9 years later it happened in a rendition that exceeded all my expectations
17. The Becoming (with Mike Garson) - Mike Garson adds so much to these songs that I wish he was a full time member. There's a sound in the studio version of this song at the end that is guitar, but live is Ilan playing double-bass pedals, and I love it!
18. I Do Not Want This (with Mike Garson)
19. Down In The Park (Piano Version)(Mike Garson Solo) - it shows you the kind of person Trent Reznor is that even on the final NIN shows, he'll take a step back and showcase his fellow musicians
20. Down In The Park (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
21. Metal (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
22. Cars (with Mike Garson, Gary Numan and Eric Avery) - every time the lights went out between the songs and went on again, it seemed like there was someone new up on stage!
23. Anthrax (with Gary Numan, Eric Avery and HEALTH) - I think there must have been 10 people on stage all jamming on this cover of the Gang of Four song!
Encore:
24. Heresy (with Danny Lohner) - so nice to see Danny up there as he was such a big part of NIN
25. Get Down, Make Love (with Danny Lohner) - according to NINTourHistory.com, the last time they played this song live was on May 23, 2007 in Osaka, another show I was at! (NINTourHistory.com is a fantastic site for all you NIN fans out there)
26. Mr. Self Destruct (with Danny Lohner and Greg Puciato) - Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato joins NIN onstage to provide vocals for this and Wish
27. Wish (with Danny Lohner and Greg Puciato)
28. The Hand That Feeds
Encore 2:
29. Atmosphere - Thankfully they didn't screw it up this time. However, Trent screwed up the lyrics near the end and his voice was definitely suffering at this point in the show
30. Dead Souls - more Joy Division goodness
31. The Day The World Went Away
32. Hurt
Night 4 - Sept. 10, 2009 - Wiltern Theater (Rescheduled from Sept. 5, 2009)
Despite being sick of Los Angeles by now, it was actually nice to have a day in between shows to recover, especially with the Henry Fonda show going nearly 3 hours. With the reshuffling and rescheduling of the dates, this became the last show and has already reached legendary status in Nine Inch Nails lore. An epic set of 38 songs lasting nearly 3 and a half hours. I was slightly sick (caught the Ninfluenza at the Fonda show I think), I was on my feet for a good 5 hours straight, but I was never tired and I didn't want it to end.
Setlist:
1. Home - another first for me. A subdued opening to a grand night. This was kind of like an Overture you'd see in some classic movies. When it comes on, it lets you know that the show is about to start
2. Somewhat Damaged - and after the Overture, the show kicks into high gear with this
3. The Collector
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Ruiner
10. Head Down
11. Burn
12. Just Like You Imagined (with Mike Garson)
13. La Mer (with Mike Garson)
14. Eraser (with Mike Garson)
15. The Becoming (with Mike Garson)
16. Down in the Park (Piano Version)(Mike Garson Solo)
17. Down in the Park (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
18. Metal (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
19. I Die: You Die (with Gary Numan)
20. 1,000,000
21. Letting You
22. Survivalism
23. Suck
24. Down In It - "Here we go...all the way back to the beginning"
25. The Hand That Feeds
26. Head Like A Hole
Encore:
27. Me, I'm Not (with Atticus Ross) - nice to see Atticus up there as he's been one of the unsung heroes in the NIN camp, he's been Trent's self-professed "right-hand man" in the studio and had a major part in the production of all NIN albums from With Teeth onwards. Very cool to see this song live again, one of my favorites from the Year Zero album, I just love the distorted sounds in this
28. The Warning (with Atticus Ross and Dave Navarro) - great to hear these Year Zero songs again one last time
29. Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) (with Atticus Ross and Dave Navarro) - Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction joins in with some guitar for a few songs
30. Gave Up (with Dave Navarro)
Encore 2:
31. Mr. Self Destruct (with Dillinger Escape Plan) - everybody was clapping to the opening beat of this song as it slowly sped up until pandemonium hit! 2.5 hours in and the crowd was still full of energy. None of us wanted to leave
32. Wish (with Dillinger Escape Plan) - with Dillinger Escape Plan it was 2 bands and twice the carnage. Just absolute and utter destruction at the finish of these 2 songs. Instruments were thrown into bodies, and bodies were launched into instruments. Somebody launched himself full speed into Ilan's drum set. That had to hurt! After Trent came back for the final encore, he apologized for taking so long because they had to make sure they weren't missing any teeth!
Encore 3:
33. Atmosphere - a beautiful cover of my favorite Joy Division song. The original always had this melancholy feeling, but this live rendition by NIN gives it a little kick of energy. And third time's the charm apparently as this was their best performance of it yet!
34. Dead Souls - I was starting to get sad here, I thought it would be this, then Hurt, then the end
35. The Good Soldier - fortunately I was wrong, and NIN really sent us out with a great encore
36. The Day The World Went Away - these last 3 songs were appropriately sad and melancholy
37. Hurt - Johnny Cash may have popularized this song some years ago, but to me, this is and always will be Trent's song. With the right crowd, this song always brings a tear to my eye. What else is there to say? "Everyone I know goes away in the end"
38. In This Twilight - I remember when this song was first leaked before Year Zero came out. It was a sad song with lyrics that haunted me, and I couldn't stop listening to it. I must have looped it for at least an hour. To me this song was about the end of the world, not literally, but in the sense that when you lose something you love, like someone close to you, that can feel like the end of the world. Well tonight, with the end of NIN touring, it was the end of the world for many of us in that crowd and across the world.
"And the longing that you feel
you know none of this is real
we will find a better place
in this twilight"
The original plan had NIN playing Sept. 2, 3, 5 and 6. But after the Sept. 2 show, Trent was too sick and had to cancel and reshuffle the dates from 3 and 5 to 8 and 10. This presented a dilemma as I was originally scheduled to fly home on the 7th, but because of this I had to extend the trip to the 11th. It cost me more than $500 to change my flight, extend my hotel stay, car rental and medical insurance, bringing the cost for the whole trip to well over 2 grand. It was more than worth it though. If I had left as originally planned on the 7th and missed the last 2 shows, I would end up regretting it for the rest of my life.
To all those that waited overnight, and endured the scorching heat to get the best place in the floor and be one of the few to get those venue and show specific shirts, cherish them, because you deserve them! You are as hardcore as hardcore gets, and I bow down to you. To everyone looking for tickets outside the venue, I hope you were able to get in, and sorry I couldn't help. To everyone who couldn't attend, I'm sorry you missed it because it was pretty amazing. Words and video and audio recordings will never do justice to experiencing NIN live. On these very special nights, Nine Inch Nails delivered an experience I will never ever forget. I'm happy that I got to attend these very special shows, but also saddened that I'll probably never see them live again. But as Trent said, Nine Inch Nails has just stopped touring, not making music, so I shouldn't be too sad.
Here are some pics of all the swag I got, followed by each night's setlist and some recollections:
Posters:
T-Shirts, the top 2 both have the standard NIN Logo on the front, while the bottom 2 show the front and back of the same shirt (1 of em purchased for a friend):
Night 1 - Sept. 2, 2009 - Hollywood Palladium
The first night started out with a bang literally with Mr. Self Destruct. As the rest of The Downward Spiral album was played in order, we knew we were in for a treat as this was only the 2nd (and also the last) time the album in its entirety had been played.
Setlist: (with my own personal comments and observations)
1. Mr. Self Destruct
2. Piggy
3. Heresy - been wanting to hear this live and it does not disappoint!
4. March of the Pigs
5. Closer
6. Ruiner
7. The Becoming - love this song even more after hearing it live
8. I Do Not Want This - so many songs I haven't heard live before, it was heaven
9. Big Man With A Gun
10. A Warm Place - this is so cool to hear live I wish it was in the setlist every night!
11. Eraser
12. Reptile
13. The Downward Spiral
14. Hurt - man, people just wouldn't shut the hell up during this song. We're lucky Trent said he couldn't hear because he probably would have walked off during this and I wouldn't have blamed him
15. 1,000,000
16. Terrible Lie - I love how this song is probably the most popular NIN song that's never been a single. It always get a good reaction and never disappoints
17. Lights in the Sky
18. Burn
19. Gave Up
20. Suck
21. Metal (with Gary Numan) - what a great surprise! It must be so amazing for Trent to be able perform on stage with so many of his childhood heroes, first David Bowie and now Gary Numan (Imagine if Freddie Mercury were still alive!). It's also amazing that those that Trent looked up to when he was younger now look up to him musically. And I don't know how old Gary Numan is, but he can still sing!
22. Cars (with Gary Numan)
23. The Hand That Feeds
24. Head Like A Hole
No encore, but that was most likely because Trent was very sick, although if he didn't say so you wouldn't have known it.
Night 2 - Sept. 6, 2009 - Echoplex
Originally this was supposed to be the last show, but I'm glad it wasn't because it's not exactly the ideal venue for NIN. With a tiny capacity of about 500, you might think it would make the show more intimate, but the way the venue is laid out was just awkward. The venue was asymmetrical, had a low ceiling, columns in the way and the soundboard area took up a huge chunk of desirable floor space. Might be a cool venue to see some small band with a couple hundred other people, but for NIN at full capacity it wasn't to my liking. With that said, the band and crowd were excellent. The band was almost at full capacity as Trent said, and there weren't any screamers during Hurt (that's gotta be the barometer of how good a NIN audience is).
Setlist:
1. Somewhat Damaged
2. The Beginning of the End
3. The Collector - first time live, much more aggressive live, no piano at all, just more guitar
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched - during the last couple of years NIN would sometimes play The Frail but not The Wretched, but I'm glad that we got them both for 2 nights!
9. Terrible Lie
10. Ruiner - just awesome live
11. Head Down
12. Burn
13. Gave Up
14. La Mer
15. Non-Entity
16. Gone, Still
17. The Big Come Down - my favorite live NIN song. The energy of this song is just incredible and never ceases to get my heart pumping
18. The Way Out Is Through - first time hearing this live, definitely a pleasure
19. Wish - What else is there to say? This just blew the roof off the place especially at the end with all the guitar and the double bass-pedal from Ilan
20. Survivalism
21. Down In It
22. Metal (with Gary Numan)
23. I Die: You Die (with Gary Numan) - a pleasant surprise, it was nice to know that even near the end Trent and Co. still wanted to break out some new songs to surprise the audience
24. Physical - another live first for me
25. The Hand That Feeds - have heard this at every show except my very first in 2000 and love it, but now it makes me a little sad because when this plays, I know we're getting close to the end
26. Head Like A Hole - after all these years, this is still THE quintessential high energy NIN song and gets the crowd riled up like nothing else
Encore:
27. Dead Souls - before they did this, it sounded like they were going to do Atmosphere and started it twice but screwed it up both times and just went into Dead Souls
28. Hurt - in contrast to Head Like A Hole, this is the quintessential quiet NIN song. Always more enjoyable when there are no screaming idiots in the crowd like on this night
Night 3 - Sept. 8, 2009 - Henry Fonda Theater (Rescheduled from Sept. 3, 2009)
As I said earlier, I could only get a balcony ticket to this show, but it worked out for the better in the end. Normally I like having a floor ticket because the experience of being in a hot, sweaty mosh pit with a bunch of other rabid fans just adds to excitement of enjoying a live show. If you can handle it, I recommend you do it at least once in your life. The downside of course is that you are surrounded by hot and sweaty fans and you are on your feet for hours on end and that gets really tiring. Not only is your body taking a pounding, but your view is constantly obstructed by others. And I'm 6 feet tall which is taller than most, if I'm having trouble seeing, I can't imagine how bad it is for those shorter than me.
That being said, the balcony tickets were a godsend because it allowed me to enjoy the entire show with a clear view of the whole stage. I was already a big fan of Ilan's short stint with NIN, but this night made me respect him even more. I was mostly watching him play most of the night because the other 3 nights I couldn't quite see him clearly; he's kind of tucked away in the back, hidden behind the drums on a riser barely half a foot high.
With this being a rescheduled night and with the promise of making these last nights special, NIN delivered, and the theme of this night (and the next) was special guests galore! Joining NIN on stage were Mike Garson (pianist who's worked with David Bowie and NIN on The Fragile), Gary Numan, Jane's Addiction Bassist Eric Avery, opening act HEALTH, Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato, and former NIN member Danny Lohner.
Setlist:
1. Head Like A Hole - usually saved for last, they instead open with it
2. Terrible Lie - after the first 2 songs, and having The Downward Spiral in its entirety days before, was this going to be Pretty Hate Machine in its entirety?
3. Sin - alas, it was not to be
4. March of the Pigs
5. Piggy
6. Echoplex
7. Reptile
8. I'm Afraid of Americans
9. Survivalism
10. Head Down
11. 1,000,000
12. Letting You
13. Burn
14. Gave Up
15. Eraser
16. Just Like You Imagined (with Mike Garson) - at my first NIN show in 2000, they were supposed to play this, but because of a technical fuckup they skipped the song. I've been wanting to hear it live ever since and finally 9 years later it happened in a rendition that exceeded all my expectations
17. The Becoming (with Mike Garson) - Mike Garson adds so much to these songs that I wish he was a full time member. There's a sound in the studio version of this song at the end that is guitar, but live is Ilan playing double-bass pedals, and I love it!
18. I Do Not Want This (with Mike Garson)
19. Down In The Park (Piano Version)(Mike Garson Solo) - it shows you the kind of person Trent Reznor is that even on the final NIN shows, he'll take a step back and showcase his fellow musicians
20. Down In The Park (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
21. Metal (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
22. Cars (with Mike Garson, Gary Numan and Eric Avery) - every time the lights went out between the songs and went on again, it seemed like there was someone new up on stage!
23. Anthrax (with Gary Numan, Eric Avery and HEALTH) - I think there must have been 10 people on stage all jamming on this cover of the Gang of Four song!
Encore:
24. Heresy (with Danny Lohner) - so nice to see Danny up there as he was such a big part of NIN
25. Get Down, Make Love (with Danny Lohner) - according to NINTourHistory.com, the last time they played this song live was on May 23, 2007 in Osaka, another show I was at! (NINTourHistory.com is a fantastic site for all you NIN fans out there)
26. Mr. Self Destruct (with Danny Lohner and Greg Puciato) - Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato joins NIN onstage to provide vocals for this and Wish
27. Wish (with Danny Lohner and Greg Puciato)
28. The Hand That Feeds
Encore 2:
29. Atmosphere - Thankfully they didn't screw it up this time. However, Trent screwed up the lyrics near the end and his voice was definitely suffering at this point in the show
30. Dead Souls - more Joy Division goodness
31. The Day The World Went Away
32. Hurt
Night 4 - Sept. 10, 2009 - Wiltern Theater (Rescheduled from Sept. 5, 2009)
Despite being sick of Los Angeles by now, it was actually nice to have a day in between shows to recover, especially with the Henry Fonda show going nearly 3 hours. With the reshuffling and rescheduling of the dates, this became the last show and has already reached legendary status in Nine Inch Nails lore. An epic set of 38 songs lasting nearly 3 and a half hours. I was slightly sick (caught the Ninfluenza at the Fonda show I think), I was on my feet for a good 5 hours straight, but I was never tired and I didn't want it to end.
Setlist:
1. Home - another first for me. A subdued opening to a grand night. This was kind of like an Overture you'd see in some classic movies. When it comes on, it lets you know that the show is about to start
2. Somewhat Damaged - and after the Overture, the show kicks into high gear with this
3. The Collector
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Ruiner
10. Head Down
11. Burn
12. Just Like You Imagined (with Mike Garson)
13. La Mer (with Mike Garson)
14. Eraser (with Mike Garson)
15. The Becoming (with Mike Garson)
16. Down in the Park (Piano Version)(Mike Garson Solo)
17. Down in the Park (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
18. Metal (with Mike Garson and Gary Numan)
19. I Die: You Die (with Gary Numan)
20. 1,000,000
21. Letting You
22. Survivalism
23. Suck
24. Down In It - "Here we go...all the way back to the beginning"
25. The Hand That Feeds
26. Head Like A Hole
Encore:
27. Me, I'm Not (with Atticus Ross) - nice to see Atticus up there as he's been one of the unsung heroes in the NIN camp, he's been Trent's self-professed "right-hand man" in the studio and had a major part in the production of all NIN albums from With Teeth onwards. Very cool to see this song live again, one of my favorites from the Year Zero album, I just love the distorted sounds in this
28. The Warning (with Atticus Ross and Dave Navarro) - great to hear these Year Zero songs again one last time
29. Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) (with Atticus Ross and Dave Navarro) - Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction joins in with some guitar for a few songs
30. Gave Up (with Dave Navarro)
Encore 2:
31. Mr. Self Destruct (with Dillinger Escape Plan) - everybody was clapping to the opening beat of this song as it slowly sped up until pandemonium hit! 2.5 hours in and the crowd was still full of energy. None of us wanted to leave
32. Wish (with Dillinger Escape Plan) - with Dillinger Escape Plan it was 2 bands and twice the carnage. Just absolute and utter destruction at the finish of these 2 songs. Instruments were thrown into bodies, and bodies were launched into instruments. Somebody launched himself full speed into Ilan's drum set. That had to hurt! After Trent came back for the final encore, he apologized for taking so long because they had to make sure they weren't missing any teeth!
Encore 3:
33. Atmosphere - a beautiful cover of my favorite Joy Division song. The original always had this melancholy feeling, but this live rendition by NIN gives it a little kick of energy. And third time's the charm apparently as this was their best performance of it yet!
34. Dead Souls - I was starting to get sad here, I thought it would be this, then Hurt, then the end
35. The Good Soldier - fortunately I was wrong, and NIN really sent us out with a great encore
36. The Day The World Went Away - these last 3 songs were appropriately sad and melancholy
37. Hurt - Johnny Cash may have popularized this song some years ago, but to me, this is and always will be Trent's song. With the right crowd, this song always brings a tear to my eye. What else is there to say? "Everyone I know goes away in the end"
38. In This Twilight - I remember when this song was first leaked before Year Zero came out. It was a sad song with lyrics that haunted me, and I couldn't stop listening to it. I must have looped it for at least an hour. To me this song was about the end of the world, not literally, but in the sense that when you lose something you love, like someone close to you, that can feel like the end of the world. Well tonight, with the end of NIN touring, it was the end of the world for many of us in that crowd and across the world.
"And the longing that you feel
you know none of this is real
we will find a better place
in this twilight"
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Quick Hit List
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - this documentary movie was one of the most compelling movies I've seen in recent memory. Dear Zachary is a letter in the form of a movie by Kurt Kuenne, close friend to Zachary's murdered father, Andrew Bagby. The twist: The murderer, Shirley Jane Turner, also gave birth to Zachary after she murdered his father. We follow Kuenne in his journey to document how Andrew affected so many people in a positive way. We also follow how Andrew's parents do everything in their power to gain custody of their grandson. Complicating matters, Turner flees to Canada. The Grandparents follow, but are subjected to legalities of Canadian law, which throw some unfavorable roadblocks in their way. Their fight is long and tough and does not end well.
Be prepared, this movie will absolutely tax you emotionally. After I finished watching it, I just sat in silence trying to soak it all up. While this movie is meant to be upbeat, it is, but it is still heartbreaking after we learn the outcome.
Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate Yourself - the third album from the electronic group Telefon Tel Aviv is their best yet. Having gotten it a few days ago, I've been listening to it nonstop. Surely that's the sign of a great album. Eschewing traditional song-structure, the tracks typically combine electronic beats with usually just a couple lines of lyrics, repeated throughout the song. Strange at first, but catchingly effective. This electronic album has some nice sound manipulation but sometimes has some very dark, brooding and ambient elements.
My favorite tracks: The Birds, Mostly Translucent, You Are The Worst Thing In The World.
The Kills: Midnight Boom - This is another album I've been enjoying a lot lately. This duo have made an album that is an amalgamation of indie rock, electronica with a little bit of punk. It's very danceable with some catchy hooks. I particularly like how "funky" it is; I can't explain that in words, it's just something I feel when I listen to the record.
Favorite Tracks: Getting Down, Last Day of Magic, Black Balloon.
And Remember, you can always see recent stuff I'm enjoying on the sidebar to the right. Scroll down to see it all. I like to reserve full posts for the absolute best stuff.
Be prepared, this movie will absolutely tax you emotionally. After I finished watching it, I just sat in silence trying to soak it all up. While this movie is meant to be upbeat, it is, but it is still heartbreaking after we learn the outcome.
Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate Yourself - the third album from the electronic group Telefon Tel Aviv is their best yet. Having gotten it a few days ago, I've been listening to it nonstop. Surely that's the sign of a great album. Eschewing traditional song-structure, the tracks typically combine electronic beats with usually just a couple lines of lyrics, repeated throughout the song. Strange at first, but catchingly effective. This electronic album has some nice sound manipulation but sometimes has some very dark, brooding and ambient elements.
My favorite tracks: The Birds, Mostly Translucent, You Are The Worst Thing In The World.
The Kills: Midnight Boom - This is another album I've been enjoying a lot lately. This duo have made an album that is an amalgamation of indie rock, electronica with a little bit of punk. It's very danceable with some catchy hooks. I particularly like how "funky" it is; I can't explain that in words, it's just something I feel when I listen to the record.
Favorite Tracks: Getting Down, Last Day of Magic, Black Balloon.
And Remember, you can always see recent stuff I'm enjoying on the sidebar to the right. Scroll down to see it all. I like to reserve full posts for the absolute best stuff.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
2008: Over!
Been a while since I did one of these, so let's revisit some of my favorite things from the year 2008:
Wall-E - the best movie of the year, and nothing else really came close (although keep in mind I haven't seen a lot of recent releases like Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler). Just a masterpiece of storytelling, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Halcyon Days of silent cinemas when masters like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin delivered us dozens of dialogue-less epics. Bravo Pixar, just when I think you've hit the top of the ladder, you manage to find another rung. So many movies are filled with inane banter and dialogue that just exists because the filmmakers don't have the talent to portray it on screen. Here we have a movie where dialogue is kept to a bare minimum and everything is told through visual storytelling. An absolutely beautiful and engrossing movie with some of the most endearing and memorable characters ever put on screen, and they're not even real! Despite that, they way they act seems more real than most "real" people in other movies. This is one of the sweetest and most romantic movies I've ever seen and there's no sex and not even a kiss (in the traditional sense). It's also one of the best movies I've ever seen. This one's for the kids, the adults, the romantics and and everyone else in between.
The Way Home - this Korean movie hit home with me so much that I couldn't stop balling at the end of it. This is the story of a young city boy sent to live with his grandma in the country by his mom who needs some time to sort out some personal issues. I was raised by my grandmother as much if not even more than my parents when I was a kid, and the parallels between the movie and my childhood were uncanny.
One of my favorite scenes is when the boy tries to teach his grandmother to write so that she can let him know when she gets sick. She can't quite get it, so the boy, crying, finally tells her to send him a blank letter so he'll know that she's ill, and come to her right away. If that description made you feel something, then you need to see this movie right away.
A love letter to grandmothers everywhere, this is a movie that I will cherish forever.
Friday Night Lights - who knew high school football in Small Town, USA would make for a great TV show? I just recently got into this, and I am addicted. A wonderfully shot, written and acted TV show, that is as compelling as television can get. We are shown real life issues, and real life situations. Shot in a handheld documentary style, the best compliment I can give this show is that it feels real. This is one of those shows where I'm protective of the characters. When something happens to a character it's like you're brother's being hurt and you want to defend him. This is one of those shows that's always on the cusp of cancellation. For some reason it just doesn't click with the mainstream. Watch it, buy the DVDs, spread the word, and cross your fingers for a fourth season.
Dexter - Like Friday Night Lights, I am a recent devotee of this show also. This is a show about a serial killer who kills serial killers. An interesting concept that is backed up by good writing and superb acting. Not only does it make you question morals and ethics, it's a hell of an entertaining show. Not for the faint of heart (obviously), but those with the stomach will be rewarded.
Torchwood - this is an atypical scifi show (spun off from the also excellent Doctor Who), billed as a sci-fi show for adults. It deals with more mature themes that you wouldn't see in a typical sci-fi show while still managing to include all the stuff most people enjoy about sci-fi shows like action & adventure. From the show's introduction, "Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police; tracking down alien life on Earth, and arming the human race against the future." Seems like any other sci-fi show, but what sets it apart is how it deals with adult themes like death, homosexuality, bisexuality, and existentialism. Definitely not anything you see in any sci-fi show airing on American TV today.
More Later. Soon (Hopefully).
Wall-E - the best movie of the year, and nothing else really came close (although keep in mind I haven't seen a lot of recent releases like Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler). Just a masterpiece of storytelling, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Halcyon Days of silent cinemas when masters like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin delivered us dozens of dialogue-less epics. Bravo Pixar, just when I think you've hit the top of the ladder, you manage to find another rung. So many movies are filled with inane banter and dialogue that just exists because the filmmakers don't have the talent to portray it on screen. Here we have a movie where dialogue is kept to a bare minimum and everything is told through visual storytelling. An absolutely beautiful and engrossing movie with some of the most endearing and memorable characters ever put on screen, and they're not even real! Despite that, they way they act seems more real than most "real" people in other movies. This is one of the sweetest and most romantic movies I've ever seen and there's no sex and not even a kiss (in the traditional sense). It's also one of the best movies I've ever seen. This one's for the kids, the adults, the romantics and and everyone else in between.
The Way Home - this Korean movie hit home with me so much that I couldn't stop balling at the end of it. This is the story of a young city boy sent to live with his grandma in the country by his mom who needs some time to sort out some personal issues. I was raised by my grandmother as much if not even more than my parents when I was a kid, and the parallels between the movie and my childhood were uncanny.
One of my favorite scenes is when the boy tries to teach his grandmother to write so that she can let him know when she gets sick. She can't quite get it, so the boy, crying, finally tells her to send him a blank letter so he'll know that she's ill, and come to her right away. If that description made you feel something, then you need to see this movie right away.
A love letter to grandmothers everywhere, this is a movie that I will cherish forever.
Friday Night Lights - who knew high school football in Small Town, USA would make for a great TV show? I just recently got into this, and I am addicted. A wonderfully shot, written and acted TV show, that is as compelling as television can get. We are shown real life issues, and real life situations. Shot in a handheld documentary style, the best compliment I can give this show is that it feels real. This is one of those shows where I'm protective of the characters. When something happens to a character it's like you're brother's being hurt and you want to defend him. This is one of those shows that's always on the cusp of cancellation. For some reason it just doesn't click with the mainstream. Watch it, buy the DVDs, spread the word, and cross your fingers for a fourth season.
Dexter - Like Friday Night Lights, I am a recent devotee of this show also. This is a show about a serial killer who kills serial killers. An interesting concept that is backed up by good writing and superb acting. Not only does it make you question morals and ethics, it's a hell of an entertaining show. Not for the faint of heart (obviously), but those with the stomach will be rewarded.
Torchwood - this is an atypical scifi show (spun off from the also excellent Doctor Who), billed as a sci-fi show for adults. It deals with more mature themes that you wouldn't see in a typical sci-fi show while still managing to include all the stuff most people enjoy about sci-fi shows like action & adventure. From the show's introduction, "Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police; tracking down alien life on Earth, and arming the human race against the future." Seems like any other sci-fi show, but what sets it apart is how it deals with adult themes like death, homosexuality, bisexuality, and existentialism. Definitely not anything you see in any sci-fi show airing on American TV today.
More Later. Soon (Hopefully).
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Lights in the Sky are Waving Goodbye
Nine Inch Nails live from the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV - Dec. 13, 2008
This marks my 8th NIN show, in 6 different cities in 3 different countries. Variety is the spice of life!
Rather than retype the setlist, I'll just say it was the same as Victoria's, except we lost The Wretched, Vessel, and God Given, but got The Great Destroyer and Reptile. Some quick notes:
- The reason why Josh Freese has earned the moniker of JFF (Josh Fuckin' Freese) from NIN fans
- The Big Come Down is officially the most badass live song that NIN will ever perform. I demand that it be included in every show from now on
- Bombshell of the night was news that not only was this Josh's last show, but Alessandro's as well. We were all prepared for Josh's leaving, but Ally's leaving was a shocker.
- Because of said departures, Trent announced he was gonna deconstruct everything and tour as a 4-piece in 2009
- Trent also said that he wanted to put those screens up in his house to watch porn on, and something about big titties and granny panties. Don't believe me? See the whole speech about it here.
Thanks for all the great memories Josh, of all the drummers NIN has had, you were by far my favorite. And thanks to Alessandro Cortini, it was unfortunate that you were always back there behind the consoles and keyboards, because we could barely see you, but you rocked more than most people realize.
So that concludes the Lights in the Sky over North America 2008 tour. It will be missed. We won't get that fancy 3D theatrical show of it, but hopefully there will be an official DVD (and Blu-Ray) of it, 3D or not. Looking forward to see what that new 4-piece can do. While I hate that Josh and Ally are gone, the new drummer should be able to bring something new to the table that will make the old songs sound new again, I can't wait!
Vegas was fun; as big and fanciful as the hotels look on the outside, they are even grander and glitzier on the inside. The Luxor-pyramid, the Venetian's indoor Venice recreation were just a couple of the landmarks that dazzled me. The blisters on my feet would like to suggest you bring very comfortable walking shoes. And finally, spending 13 hours at the Las Vegas airport is not as fun as it sounds, in fact, it's not fun at all, enough said.
This marks my 8th NIN show, in 6 different cities in 3 different countries. Variety is the spice of life!
Rather than retype the setlist, I'll just say it was the same as Victoria's, except we lost The Wretched, Vessel, and God Given, but got The Great Destroyer and Reptile. Some quick notes:
- The reason why Josh Freese has earned the moniker of JFF (Josh Fuckin' Freese) from NIN fans
- The Big Come Down is officially the most badass live song that NIN will ever perform. I demand that it be included in every show from now on
- Bombshell of the night was news that not only was this Josh's last show, but Alessandro's as well. We were all prepared for Josh's leaving, but Ally's leaving was a shocker.
- Because of said departures, Trent announced he was gonna deconstruct everything and tour as a 4-piece in 2009
- Trent also said that he wanted to put those screens up in his house to watch porn on, and something about big titties and granny panties. Don't believe me? See the whole speech about it here.
Thanks for all the great memories Josh, of all the drummers NIN has had, you were by far my favorite. And thanks to Alessandro Cortini, it was unfortunate that you were always back there behind the consoles and keyboards, because we could barely see you, but you rocked more than most people realize.
So that concludes the Lights in the Sky over North America 2008 tour. It will be missed. We won't get that fancy 3D theatrical show of it, but hopefully there will be an official DVD (and Blu-Ray) of it, 3D or not. Looking forward to see what that new 4-piece can do. While I hate that Josh and Ally are gone, the new drummer should be able to bring something new to the table that will make the old songs sound new again, I can't wait!
Vegas was fun; as big and fanciful as the hotels look on the outside, they are even grander and glitzier on the inside. The Luxor-pyramid, the Venetian's indoor Venice recreation were just a couple of the landmarks that dazzled me. The blisters on my feet would like to suggest you bring very comfortable walking shoes. And finally, spending 13 hours at the Las Vegas airport is not as fun as it sounds, in fact, it's not fun at all, enough said.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Lights in the Sky Over Victoria, BC
Nine Inch Nails live from the Save On Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, BC - Dec. 5, 2008
While the setlist for the most part was the same as the show I went to in Seattle, there were a few additions and different visuals for many of the songs which made it a new and different experience. The crowd as a whole was, for the most part, better than Seattle. Or maybe it just seemed that way because I was getting high off all the marijuana fumes? There are still those random retards that need to shut the hell up during the quiet songs. They played more than enough loud and raucous songs for you to go apeshit to.
This was their longest performance yet, and by the end my entire body was sore. And I wasn't even in the thick of it; as usual I parked myself in the middle of the floor at the outer edge of the mosh pit, but found myself sucked into the bedlam during the high energy songs like Wish and Head Like A Hole. I'll have seats for Vegas, although everyone knows there won't be a single ass in a seat once NIN steps onstage; but at least it'll help to be able to have a seat before NIN starts. Drummer Josh Freese seemed to be adding even more flair to his performances now that he's about to say goodbye. The entire band was fantastic as usual, with the multi-talented performers each tackling multiple instruments for the 2 hour and 15 minute performance. It really has to be said that these guys give it their all and work their asses off to put on a smooth show.
Setlist with some personal observations and notes:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000 - a great intro to the show and to their newest album
3. Letting You - my favorite part is the end when Robin lets loose on guitars and Josh goes crazy on the drums
4. Discipline - boy this with 1,000,000 and Letting You sure would make great DLC for Rock Band 2. Nine Inch Nails Track Pack 03 anyone??? We're waiting for this Harmonix!!
5. March of the Pigs
6. Head Down - the guitar in this song live is just searing, crazy live energy especially from Robin and Josh
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched - missed this last time, so glad to have it back this time. It's amazing how much you crave something when you haven't heard it live in so long
9. Closer (To The Only Time) - new Trent-face-cam on the big screen like they did for The Greater Good. Very cool, made you get into the song even more especially when you see Trent's face on the big screen screaming the song's chorus
10. Gave Up
11. Corona Radiata
12. The Warning - one of my least favorites off Year Zero, but now one of my favorites after hearing it live
13. Vessel - "Oh. My. God. Can it go any faster?" Just awesome! The visuals, the pulsing bass drops, the crazy electronic stuttering; One of my favorites off Year Zero is even better live
14. 21 Ghosts III - just absolutely loved the whole Ghosts section, I said it before and I'll say it again, I would love to see an entire performance in this style!
15. 28 Ghosts IV
16. 19 Ghosts III
17. Piggy
18. The Greater Good
19. Pinion
20. Wish
21. Terrible Lie
22. Survivalism - no girl in the washroom this time, but instead NIN's crazy headbanging tech and a couple guys going at it
23. The Big Come Down - this has become my favorite song to hear live, and it didn't disappoint. Just pure energy personified. You can tell how good a song is not by what's played, but by what's not played. How many times have I read reviews for other shows that go "No Big Come Down :'("
24. 31 Ghosts IV - new visuals at one point made my head spin when it looked like the band was in a blender, very trippy!
25. Only - like Ghosts 31, there was a point here that made my head spin. Has to be seen live, words just don't do it justice
26. The Hand That Feeds
27. Head Like A Hole
Encore:
28. Echoplex - the screen didn't screw up this time, great to hear live
29. The Good Soldier
30. God Given - another new addition, my favorite part of this live is the new bass line which does not exist in the studio version
31. Hurt
32. In This Twilight - my favorite song off Year Zero closes it out again. I especially like the end which has a building crescendo and then finally slowly fades out as each member is spotlighted and given their own separate curtain calls
Click here for attendee-submitted media (pics & vids) from the show on NIN.com.
Ears still ringing, but my ears should heal in time for them to get abused again in Vegas. Last show of the tour, last show for Josh Freese, and the last big production show of this scale. If that means more small venue shows, that is definitely not a bad thing. It should be epic. See you there!
While the setlist for the most part was the same as the show I went to in Seattle, there were a few additions and different visuals for many of the songs which made it a new and different experience. The crowd as a whole was, for the most part, better than Seattle. Or maybe it just seemed that way because I was getting high off all the marijuana fumes? There are still those random retards that need to shut the hell up during the quiet songs. They played more than enough loud and raucous songs for you to go apeshit to.
This was their longest performance yet, and by the end my entire body was sore. And I wasn't even in the thick of it; as usual I parked myself in the middle of the floor at the outer edge of the mosh pit, but found myself sucked into the bedlam during the high energy songs like Wish and Head Like A Hole. I'll have seats for Vegas, although everyone knows there won't be a single ass in a seat once NIN steps onstage; but at least it'll help to be able to have a seat before NIN starts. Drummer Josh Freese seemed to be adding even more flair to his performances now that he's about to say goodbye. The entire band was fantastic as usual, with the multi-talented performers each tackling multiple instruments for the 2 hour and 15 minute performance. It really has to be said that these guys give it their all and work their asses off to put on a smooth show.
Setlist with some personal observations and notes:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000 - a great intro to the show and to their newest album
3. Letting You - my favorite part is the end when Robin lets loose on guitars and Josh goes crazy on the drums
4. Discipline - boy this with 1,000,000 and Letting You sure would make great DLC for Rock Band 2. Nine Inch Nails Track Pack 03 anyone??? We're waiting for this Harmonix!!
5. March of the Pigs
6. Head Down - the guitar in this song live is just searing, crazy live energy especially from Robin and Josh
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched - missed this last time, so glad to have it back this time. It's amazing how much you crave something when you haven't heard it live in so long
9. Closer (To The Only Time) - new Trent-face-cam on the big screen like they did for The Greater Good. Very cool, made you get into the song even more especially when you see Trent's face on the big screen screaming the song's chorus
10. Gave Up
11. Corona Radiata
12. The Warning - one of my least favorites off Year Zero, but now one of my favorites after hearing it live
13. Vessel - "Oh. My. God. Can it go any faster?" Just awesome! The visuals, the pulsing bass drops, the crazy electronic stuttering; One of my favorites off Year Zero is even better live
14. 21 Ghosts III - just absolutely loved the whole Ghosts section, I said it before and I'll say it again, I would love to see an entire performance in this style!
15. 28 Ghosts IV
16. 19 Ghosts III
17. Piggy
18. The Greater Good
19. Pinion
20. Wish
21. Terrible Lie
22. Survivalism - no girl in the washroom this time, but instead NIN's crazy headbanging tech and a couple guys going at it
23. The Big Come Down - this has become my favorite song to hear live, and it didn't disappoint. Just pure energy personified. You can tell how good a song is not by what's played, but by what's not played. How many times have I read reviews for other shows that go "No Big Come Down :'("
24. 31 Ghosts IV - new visuals at one point made my head spin when it looked like the band was in a blender, very trippy!
25. Only - like Ghosts 31, there was a point here that made my head spin. Has to be seen live, words just don't do it justice
26. The Hand That Feeds
27. Head Like A Hole
Encore:
28. Echoplex - the screen didn't screw up this time, great to hear live
29. The Good Soldier
30. God Given - another new addition, my favorite part of this live is the new bass line which does not exist in the studio version
31. Hurt
32. In This Twilight - my favorite song off Year Zero closes it out again. I especially like the end which has a building crescendo and then finally slowly fades out as each member is spotlighted and given their own separate curtain calls
Click here for attendee-submitted media (pics & vids) from the show on NIN.com.
Ears still ringing, but my ears should heal in time for them to get abused again in Vegas. Last show of the tour, last show for Josh Freese, and the last big production show of this scale. If that means more small venue shows, that is definitely not a bad thing. It should be epic. See you there!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
NIN + Vegas = Awesome
Booked my flights and hotel and got my tickets for NIN's last show of the year in Sin City aka Las Vegas! Suggestions for things to do and places to see are very welcome.
It'll also be drummer Josh Freese's last show with NIN. Out of all the drummers NIN has had, he is easily my favorite. There's gonna be some tough shoes to fill for the next drummer.
Trent says he's got some new tricks up his sleeve for this leg of the tour. We know what the stage setup will be, so the only new surprises will come in the form of new songs. Having the oppotunity to also see them in Victoria the week before Vegas can only help my chances of hearing new songs. Here's my wishlist of songs I've yet to hear live (that they have played live before, except for the last song):
- Getting Smaller
- God Given
- Vessel
- We're In This Together
- The Fragile
- The Perfect Drug (The Holy Grail of NIN songs never played live, heads would explode!)
It should be the show to end all shows. And Hopefully I can get Ron drunk enough to marry some random floozy. I just have one word for him: prenup!
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Lights in the Sky Have Finally Arrived...
Nine Inch Nails - Lights in the Sky over North America 2008
Key Arena, Seattle, Washington - Sat. Jul. 26, 2008
This is my 6th NIN concert yet, and every time I walk out of one I'm always saying "That was the best one yet, there's no way they can top that." Yet every single time they manage to do it, and this night was not an exception. I can't wait to see what Trent's got up his sleeve for next time.
Where to start? Let's start with the stage setup, NIN's most elaborate yet. I would wager that it's more complicated than if you combined all of NIN's big stage setups from previous tours together. At the back is a solid wall LED screen. A swinging light grid that is bright as heck (good on you, those few who brought sunglasses!), and two light grids, 1 concave at the back, and 1 convex at the rear. They can be arranged up and down and are sometimes used in tandem to create some really psychedelic effects. It's the next best thing to taking drugs, in fact, it's probably even better!
The great thing about NIN is that the price you pay for your ticket is all up there on the stage. Even cooler, NIN.com did fan presales for absolutely free. You get early access to the best seats in the house, early access to the venue, and with that the possibility of a meet and greet and/or a soundcheck. Plus you get your own personalized NIN ticket, and you don't pay Ticketmaster's ridiculous "convenience" charges. Did I mention it was FREE? And the price you pay, it's all up there on the stage. Usually you feel ripped off paying high prices to go to a live show, but I have never felt more rewarded for going to a concert, ever.
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The Visuals - simply amazing. There are so many elements, that work in tandem to create an unbelievable surreal viewing experience. NIN live is not just about the music, but also about what you see. I loved how the stage setup was introduced in layers, like NIN's music. They start out with just the standard lights, then as the performance continues, add in another element one by one, until finally they're all
The Setlist (with my song specific comments added):
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You - Josh Freese is the most balls to the walls drummer out there.
4. Discipline - a new crowdpleaser. Why isn't this in Rock Band yet???
5. March of the Pigs - We are finally introduced to the swinging light grid here, and boy is it bright. If you stared at it long enough, you would go blind for sure.
6. Head Down - Trent rocks the Tambourine before tossing it the crowd; that's one hell of a souvenir.
7. The Frail - strangely segued into Closer. Was expecting The Wretched. Oh well.
8. Closer (To The Only Time) - again performed with The Only Time breakdown at the end, as has been the case since 2005.
9. Gave Up
10/11. (Corona Radiata) The Warning - first time hearing this live. Along with The Great Destroyer played with the band members silhouetted in front of the convex light grid.
12. The Great Destroyer
13. 1 Ghosts I - this section of the concert changed the setup slightly and had many members playing different setups. It was fantastic and I would love to see an entire performance done in this manner.
14. 25 Ghosts III - I have to admit this is my least favorite song from Ghosts I-IV, and it still is. But I'll be damned if I don't say that this live version kicks ass in a way I thought was not impossible. Trent rocking out to the Xylophone has to be seen to be experienced, words just don't do it justice. Add that to another thing NIN can do that all other rock bands couldn't pull off on their best days (like rocking out with a Tambourine, and having a kickass keyboard solo in the middle of an all-out rock song -- Gave Up)
15. 19 Ghosts III - More Josh Freese drum-ass-kickery and Trent xylophone-awesomeness. 'Nuff said.
16. Piggy - this new "Ghosts" style version of Piggy is my favorite live performance of it yet. As with the previous Ghosts songs, new bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen played the standup bass (a NIN first!).
17. The Greater Good - I still can't get over how cool the visual for this is. I'm not even gonna spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. Don't bother looking it up on Youtube or anything, it just doesn't do it justice. You've gotta see it live.
18. Pinion - weird hearing this in the middle of the concert, because it's always been at the beginning!
19. Wish
20. Terrible Lie - this is one of those old non-single songs that has just become a fan favorite, everybody sings and moshes along like crazy.
21. Survivalism - the backdrop gave us live security cam footage from around the arena a la the music video. There were 8 of em, but honestly I was just watching the one with the chick in the bathroom stall.
22. The Big Come Down - one of my new go-to songs from NIN to absolutely rock out to (just watch the one they do on the BYIT DVD). Visually, there were vertically hanging fluorescent tubes that swung around in a neat way.
23. 31 Ghosts IV - one of the more rocking song from Ghosts, appropriately rocked out to
24. Only - new intro (almost made me think they were gonna play an all-new song until the familiar guitar chord was played), new sound (due to old/new guitarist), and new visuals, the best Only yet! The visuals were again pretty damn amazing.
25. The Hand That Feeds
26. Head Like A Hole - having been to so many NIN shows, like most NIN fans, when HLAH is played, we rock the fuck out not only because the song kick ass, but also because it usually signals the end of NIN's set. We have been trained to expect the end, like Pavlov's Bell. It could've ended here and we would all be satisfied, but that wasn't the end of it.
Encore:
27. Echoplex - the video screen here was cool, with drummer Josh Freese heading out in front of one of the grid screens and manipulating the beat until finally the beat for the song begins. The song kicks much ass live, a very welcome addition to the setlist. Again, why isn't this in Rock Band yet?
28. The Beginning of the End
29. The Good Soldier - More Year Zero goodness.
30. Hurt - done different than the With Teeth tour version, which had mainly Trent singing by himself with a piano. Now the whole band is playing for the most part. Also, everybody just needs to shut the fuck up during this song. Don't scream, don't clap, just shut up and enjoy it or get the fuck out!
31. In This Twilight - did not see this coming at all, but man, what a pleasant surprise! Had a nice little piano outro by Trent before thanked us and left the stage.
Everything was great, but if I had to pick a highlight, I would have to say The Greater Good for it's visuals. Another highlight would be In This Twilight. I didn't expect another song after Hurt, let alone my favorite track off Year Zero. Not a bad way to close the show out at all.
There were some technical difficulties, this being the first official night of the tour and all, but that's to be expected, and none of them took away from the enjoyment of the show. That's one of the bad things about going to one of the early shows. However, the good things far outweigh them. The surprise at the stage setup and setlist aren't ruined, and you don't have to wait weeks or months for them to reach your area, which can seem like an eternity for NIN fans. The moshpit was the most sedate I've been to yet, the Seattle crowd is nowhere near as rabid as Vancouver or Osaka. More assholes than usual, but sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad, and in the end, it was all good.
All in all, this was the longest show I've been to yet, about 2 hours and 5 minutes, 31 songs. Just amazing on all accounts. Visuals, music, performance, energy, everything was top notch. Do yourself a favor and see as many shows as possible. I want this in Blu-ray high-def ultra-realism now. Audio is already available (big thanks to the person who recorded and released it in such a timely manner), so hit me up if you want a copy.
To finish, some pics of two tees I got.
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Key Arena, Seattle, Washington - Sat. Jul. 26, 2008
This is my 6th NIN concert yet, and every time I walk out of one I'm always saying "That was the best one yet, there's no way they can top that." Yet every single time they manage to do it, and this night was not an exception. I can't wait to see what Trent's got up his sleeve for next time.
Where to start? Let's start with the stage setup, NIN's most elaborate yet. I would wager that it's more complicated than if you combined all of NIN's big stage setups from previous tours together. At the back is a solid wall LED screen. A swinging light grid that is bright as heck (good on you, those few who brought sunglasses!), and two light grids, 1 concave at the back, and 1 convex at the rear. They can be arranged up and down and are sometimes used in tandem to create some really psychedelic effects. It's the next best thing to taking drugs, in fact, it's probably even better!
The great thing about NIN is that the price you pay for your ticket is all up there on the stage. Even cooler, NIN.com did fan presales for absolutely free. You get early access to the best seats in the house, early access to the venue, and with that the possibility of a meet and greet and/or a soundcheck. Plus you get your own personalized NIN ticket, and you don't pay Ticketmaster's ridiculous "convenience" charges. Did I mention it was FREE? And the price you pay, it's all up there on the stage. Usually you feel ripped off paying high prices to go to a live show, but I have never felt more rewarded for going to a concert, ever.
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The Visuals - simply amazing. There are so many elements, that work in tandem to create an unbelievable surreal viewing experience. NIN live is not just about the music, but also about what you see. I loved how the stage setup was introduced in layers, like NIN's music. They start out with just the standard lights, then as the performance continues, add in another element one by one, until finally they're all
The Setlist (with my song specific comments added):
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You - Josh Freese is the most balls to the walls drummer out there.
4. Discipline - a new crowdpleaser. Why isn't this in Rock Band yet???
5. March of the Pigs - We are finally introduced to the swinging light grid here, and boy is it bright. If you stared at it long enough, you would go blind for sure.
6. Head Down - Trent rocks the Tambourine before tossing it the crowd; that's one hell of a souvenir.
7. The Frail - strangely segued into Closer. Was expecting The Wretched. Oh well.
8. Closer (To The Only Time) - again performed with The Only Time breakdown at the end, as has been the case since 2005.
9. Gave Up
10/11. (Corona Radiata) The Warning - first time hearing this live. Along with The Great Destroyer played with the band members silhouetted in front of the convex light grid.
12. The Great Destroyer
13. 1 Ghosts I - this section of the concert changed the setup slightly and had many members playing different setups. It was fantastic and I would love to see an entire performance done in this manner.
14. 25 Ghosts III - I have to admit this is my least favorite song from Ghosts I-IV, and it still is. But I'll be damned if I don't say that this live version kicks ass in a way I thought was not impossible. Trent rocking out to the Xylophone has to be seen to be experienced, words just don't do it justice. Add that to another thing NIN can do that all other rock bands couldn't pull off on their best days (like rocking out with a Tambourine, and having a kickass keyboard solo in the middle of an all-out rock song -- Gave Up)
15. 19 Ghosts III - More Josh Freese drum-ass-kickery and Trent xylophone-awesomeness. 'Nuff said.
16. Piggy - this new "Ghosts" style version of Piggy is my favorite live performance of it yet. As with the previous Ghosts songs, new bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen played the standup bass (a NIN first!).
17. The Greater Good - I still can't get over how cool the visual for this is. I'm not even gonna spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. Don't bother looking it up on Youtube or anything, it just doesn't do it justice. You've gotta see it live.
18. Pinion - weird hearing this in the middle of the concert, because it's always been at the beginning!
19. Wish
20. Terrible Lie - this is one of those old non-single songs that has just become a fan favorite, everybody sings and moshes along like crazy.
21. Survivalism - the backdrop gave us live security cam footage from around the arena a la the music video. There were 8 of em, but honestly I was just watching the one with the chick in the bathroom stall.
22. The Big Come Down - one of my new go-to songs from NIN to absolutely rock out to (just watch the one they do on the BYIT DVD). Visually, there were vertically hanging fluorescent tubes that swung around in a neat way.
23. 31 Ghosts IV - one of the more rocking song from Ghosts, appropriately rocked out to
24. Only - new intro (almost made me think they were gonna play an all-new song until the familiar guitar chord was played), new sound (due to old/new guitarist), and new visuals, the best Only yet! The visuals were again pretty damn amazing.
25. The Hand That Feeds
26. Head Like A Hole - having been to so many NIN shows, like most NIN fans, when HLAH is played, we rock the fuck out not only because the song kick ass, but also because it usually signals the end of NIN's set. We have been trained to expect the end, like Pavlov's Bell. It could've ended here and we would all be satisfied, but that wasn't the end of it.
Encore:
27. Echoplex - the video screen here was cool, with drummer Josh Freese heading out in front of one of the grid screens and manipulating the beat until finally the beat for the song begins. The song kicks much ass live, a very welcome addition to the setlist. Again, why isn't this in Rock Band yet?
28. The Beginning of the End
29. The Good Soldier - More Year Zero goodness.
30. Hurt - done different than the With Teeth tour version, which had mainly Trent singing by himself with a piano. Now the whole band is playing for the most part. Also, everybody just needs to shut the fuck up during this song. Don't scream, don't clap, just shut up and enjoy it or get the fuck out!
31. In This Twilight - did not see this coming at all, but man, what a pleasant surprise! Had a nice little piano outro by Trent before thanked us and left the stage.
Everything was great, but if I had to pick a highlight, I would have to say The Greater Good for it's visuals. Another highlight would be In This Twilight. I didn't expect another song after Hurt, let alone my favorite track off Year Zero. Not a bad way to close the show out at all.
There were some technical difficulties, this being the first official night of the tour and all, but that's to be expected, and none of them took away from the enjoyment of the show. That's one of the bad things about going to one of the early shows. However, the good things far outweigh them. The surprise at the stage setup and setlist aren't ruined, and you don't have to wait weeks or months for them to reach your area, which can seem like an eternity for NIN fans. The moshpit was the most sedate I've been to yet, the Seattle crowd is nowhere near as rabid as Vancouver or Osaka. More assholes than usual, but sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad, and in the end, it was all good.
All in all, this was the longest show I've been to yet, about 2 hours and 5 minutes, 31 songs. Just amazing on all accounts. Visuals, music, performance, energy, everything was top notch. Do yourself a favor and see as many shows as possible. I want this in Blu-ray high-def ultra-realism now. Audio is already available (big thanks to the person who recorded and released it in such a timely manner), so hit me up if you want a copy.
To finish, some pics of two tees I got.
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Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Hit List: Making Up For The Last 6 Months, 1 Post at a Time
It's been more than half a year since my last post of this type. I've been busy enjoying all this stuff instead of actually writing about it, but I'll try to post as much as I can.
The Host - This Korean monster movie has the distinction of being the most popular film in Korean cinema history. It's easy to see why when you watch this film. The previews of this film make it seem like some silly monster movie, and part of it is. The aspect of the film that appealed to me the most, which the previews didn't show was how much of a family drama this is.
This movie opens in a U.S. military morgue in Korea where an American military pathologists commands his Korean subordinate to dump bottles of formaldehyde down the drain. This is based on a true incident that occurred in 2000. The rest of the movie, of course, did not. Because all that hazardous formaldehyde was dumped down the drain, a gigantic organism, The Host, becomes mutated from a fish in the river where a Korean family has set up shop. The Host attacks people along the river and eventually takes the family's daughter. She is believed dead, but later calls them by cell phone trapped in a sewer which she can't escape.
The rest of the movie follows the family as they each work separately and together to find their youngest family member. There are many funny and scary moments involving the monster and the family, but like I said earlier, what I liked the most was the drama of the family trying to save a loved one. The directing and the writing along with the actors who play the family, make you really care for them. Highly recommended.
Happy Feet - everyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite things in life is a Pixar movie. If it's a CG movie and it's not Pixar, then I won't bother. But I'm happy to say that Happy Feet is easily the best non-Pixar CG movie, and would fit alongside side any of their movies any day. Obviously influenced by the recent documentary March of the Penguins, Happy Feet follows the life of Mumble, the ugly duckling
What's great about this movie? I love how it integrates music into the lives of penguins. In this movie, all Penguins can sing and have their own song. They sing to each other to find their true loves. Of course, our main character Mumble can't sing. But what he lacks in singing ability, he has in dancing and tapping ability. The story is your typical ugly-duckling/outsider who wins over everyone, but it's done so well. The music is comprised of modern popular music and fits in perfectly. Some of the choices seem odd, but that's the charm. Think Moulin Rouge.
This movie's got it all, great writing, great direction, great music, and a great message to boot about us and the world we live in.
3:10 to Yuma - Easily one of the best movies to come out last year or any year, really. What a pleasure it is to see two of this generation's greatest actors (Russell Crowe & Christian Bale) at the absolute top of their game. Crowe may be one of those controversial figures, but who the hell cares when we get performances like this. Christian Bale on the other hand carries none of the controversy, but has acting ability in spades. He is so good in everything he does that I fear for his health because he is known as such a hardcore method actor and in almost every movie he is in he portrays a character who goes through so many emotional and physical highs and lows.
This movie follows Bale, who plays a family man just barely getting enough finances for his family to get by. Crowe portrays the leader of an outlaw gang who kill and steal to get by in life. Once Crowe is captured, he is to be sent on the 3:10 train to Yuma where he is to be imprisoned. It's not as easy as it sounds, because Crowe's crew are not far behind trying to free him. The subtle nuances and twists that develop, like those between Crowe and Bale, and Bale and his son, are just so note-perfect and play out in such a fashion that makes this movie such a joy to experience.
These two actors alone really do give Oscar-worthy performances (god I hate using Oscar-worthy as an adjective because the Oscars can be such a joke), but what really elevates this movie is a tight script, sure direction, and great supporting performances all-around. Whatever happened to the great Western genre? Well with 3:10 to Yuma, we can safely say it's still around, it was just taking a break. Just go see it.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Ah, video game world records, what have we come to? It may seem like a dumb and useless subject, but this movie is neither. It is compelling and well worth a watch. What makes this documentary so compelling is that it plays out like a well-scripted drama, where we clearly have a good guy and a bad guy. You really can't make this stuff up. Like all great documentaries, it's interesting even if you're not interested in the subject.
And what else can be said about Billy Mitchell, he is quite possibly the biggest douchebag in history, but I'll be damned if he's not one of the great movie villains of all-time. In fact, the central story of the film survives only because the audience wants so bad for his record to be beaten. Without him, the movie would not have been nearly as interesting.
Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360/PS3) - Burnout goes next-gen, giving us a whole new Burnout with a large open world to explore and tons of different events and objectives to complete. While the whole open world thing is new, what remains the same is the great gameplay which remains as solid as ever. I gotta say that Burnout ruins other driving games for me because I'll always try to play them like Burnout. The driving mechanic is just so smooth and simple.
Because of the open world, you have to race in a completely different way than the previous games. You have the entire world and the many many shortcuts you can take to get to the finish the fastest. Crash mode is also different. I don't quite like it as much as the old crash mode, but there is something quite satisfying about being able to go into crash mode any time you want. Yes, anytime, anywhere.
In the end, this is still a very worthwhile game in my favorite racing game series of all-time. I know I'll be playing it for a long time just to find that last secret jump or billboard or smash, not to mention winning all the events, setting records on all the Showtime road rules. There really is a lot to do in this game, and that itself will keep you playing for a very long time.
The Orange Box (Xbox 360/PS3/PC) - based on sheer content alone, this is worth the price. It's 5 games in 1, and not a single part of the package is a stinker. You get the great Half-Life 2, it's 2 expansions, Episodes 1 & 2, along with the team-based multiplayer Team Fortress 2, and the mind-bending Portal, which despite it's short playtime may be worth the price of admission alone. All I can say is buy it, it's more than worth it.
The Host - This Korean monster movie has the distinction of being the most popular film in Korean cinema history. It's easy to see why when you watch this film. The previews of this film make it seem like some silly monster movie, and part of it is. The aspect of the film that appealed to me the most, which the previews didn't show was how much of a family drama this is.
This movie opens in a U.S. military morgue in Korea where an American military pathologists commands his Korean subordinate to dump bottles of formaldehyde down the drain. This is based on a true incident that occurred in 2000. The rest of the movie, of course, did not. Because all that hazardous formaldehyde was dumped down the drain, a gigantic organism, The Host, becomes mutated from a fish in the river where a Korean family has set up shop. The Host attacks people along the river and eventually takes the family's daughter. She is believed dead, but later calls them by cell phone trapped in a sewer which she can't escape.
The rest of the movie follows the family as they each work separately and together to find their youngest family member. There are many funny and scary moments involving the monster and the family, but like I said earlier, what I liked the most was the drama of the family trying to save a loved one. The directing and the writing along with the actors who play the family, make you really care for them. Highly recommended.
Happy Feet - everyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite things in life is a Pixar movie. If it's a CG movie and it's not Pixar, then I won't bother. But I'm happy to say that Happy Feet is easily the best non-Pixar CG movie, and would fit alongside side any of their movies any day. Obviously influenced by the recent documentary March of the Penguins, Happy Feet follows the life of Mumble, the ugly duckling
What's great about this movie? I love how it integrates music into the lives of penguins. In this movie, all Penguins can sing and have their own song. They sing to each other to find their true loves. Of course, our main character Mumble can't sing. But what he lacks in singing ability, he has in dancing and tapping ability. The story is your typical ugly-duckling/outsider who wins over everyone, but it's done so well. The music is comprised of modern popular music and fits in perfectly. Some of the choices seem odd, but that's the charm. Think Moulin Rouge.
This movie's got it all, great writing, great direction, great music, and a great message to boot about us and the world we live in.
3:10 to Yuma - Easily one of the best movies to come out last year or any year, really. What a pleasure it is to see two of this generation's greatest actors (Russell Crowe & Christian Bale) at the absolute top of their game. Crowe may be one of those controversial figures, but who the hell cares when we get performances like this. Christian Bale on the other hand carries none of the controversy, but has acting ability in spades. He is so good in everything he does that I fear for his health because he is known as such a hardcore method actor and in almost every movie he is in he portrays a character who goes through so many emotional and physical highs and lows.
This movie follows Bale, who plays a family man just barely getting enough finances for his family to get by. Crowe portrays the leader of an outlaw gang who kill and steal to get by in life. Once Crowe is captured, he is to be sent on the 3:10 train to Yuma where he is to be imprisoned. It's not as easy as it sounds, because Crowe's crew are not far behind trying to free him. The subtle nuances and twists that develop, like those between Crowe and Bale, and Bale and his son, are just so note-perfect and play out in such a fashion that makes this movie such a joy to experience.
These two actors alone really do give Oscar-worthy performances (god I hate using Oscar-worthy as an adjective because the Oscars can be such a joke), but what really elevates this movie is a tight script, sure direction, and great supporting performances all-around. Whatever happened to the great Western genre? Well with 3:10 to Yuma, we can safely say it's still around, it was just taking a break. Just go see it.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Ah, video game world records, what have we come to? It may seem like a dumb and useless subject, but this movie is neither. It is compelling and well worth a watch. What makes this documentary so compelling is that it plays out like a well-scripted drama, where we clearly have a good guy and a bad guy. You really can't make this stuff up. Like all great documentaries, it's interesting even if you're not interested in the subject.
And what else can be said about Billy Mitchell, he is quite possibly the biggest douchebag in history, but I'll be damned if he's not one of the great movie villains of all-time. In fact, the central story of the film survives only because the audience wants so bad for his record to be beaten. Without him, the movie would not have been nearly as interesting.
Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360/PS3) - Burnout goes next-gen, giving us a whole new Burnout with a large open world to explore and tons of different events and objectives to complete. While the whole open world thing is new, what remains the same is the great gameplay which remains as solid as ever. I gotta say that Burnout ruins other driving games for me because I'll always try to play them like Burnout. The driving mechanic is just so smooth and simple.
Because of the open world, you have to race in a completely different way than the previous games. You have the entire world and the many many shortcuts you can take to get to the finish the fastest. Crash mode is also different. I don't quite like it as much as the old crash mode, but there is something quite satisfying about being able to go into crash mode any time you want. Yes, anytime, anywhere.
In the end, this is still a very worthwhile game in my favorite racing game series of all-time. I know I'll be playing it for a long time just to find that last secret jump or billboard or smash, not to mention winning all the events, setting records on all the Showtime road rules. There really is a lot to do in this game, and that itself will keep you playing for a very long time.
The Orange Box (Xbox 360/PS3/PC) - based on sheer content alone, this is worth the price. It's 5 games in 1, and not a single part of the package is a stinker. You get the great Half-Life 2, it's 2 expansions, Episodes 1 & 2, along with the team-based multiplayer Team Fortress 2, and the mind-bending Portal, which despite it's short playtime may be worth the price of admission alone. All I can say is buy it, it's more than worth it.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
It's A Winter Wonderland!
The only problem is that it's spring!
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This picture was taken last night, not last December.
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This picture was taken last night, not last December.
Monday, April 7, 2008
My Car Got A Big Owie
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So the other day, I was just driving along, minding my own business, just going straight on my own lane, when suddenly some guy in a big truck on a different lane decides he wants into my lane. Problem is, when he tried to go, I was there. So bam, he crunches the side of my car, and the side-view mirror is literally hanging by a thread (as seen in the picture above, it has now been duct taped back on -- Thanks Rae!). Driving without a side-view mirror is not fun.
Thankfully, no one was hurt and double thankfully it was 100% the other driver's fault so all repairs are covered and I won't take a hit on my future insurance premiums.
P.S. - I haven't had a Hit List type post in a while (Nov. 27 to be exact) but there should be a big one soon, so keep checking back.
Monday, February 11, 2008
More on Rock Band
Here's a picture of the band that my friends and I use when we play Rock Band, "Vegetarian Spank Inferno!" Bonus points for anyone who gets that reference.
I really love the look of Rock Band. The graphics and customization options in this game really put Guitar Hero III to shame, I would compare it as going from last-gen to next-gen, like comparing the graphics of Playstation 2 to Playstation 3. Although it's a blast to play, sometimes it's just cool to sit back and watch the game in motion because it's beautiful. The lip-syncing for the singer really matches well. The drummer actually hits the proper drums in his or her drum set. When you get a close up of a guitar getting played, you see the strings vibrate when they're strummed. The camera angles and stage design is varied and superb. Every so often there are cool special effects like the camera going black-and-white or hazy. The lighting on the stage matches the music being played. All-in-all, the game's presentation is excellent.
Everybody's practicing and gearing up for Endless Setlist. If you don't know what it is, you basically play through all 58 songs included on the original game disc back-to-back-to-back without breaks. Apparently it takes about 5-6 hours to do this. Sounds daunting, but we're gonna take an entire day, get as many people as we can together and make a party of it all. This way we can rotate and swap out people when we get tired or if a song is too difficult for someone.
That being said, here are some more reasons that I heart Rock Band:
- Big Rock Endings. I just wish every song had one
- the ability to still be able to get get more Overdrive while you are engaged in Overdrive mode
- your Star rating is displayed prominently so you know how far away from the next level you are. This way if you're near the end of a song, you can play your ass off to get that next star
- tambourine and cowbell playing for the singer. What a great touch, the first time I sang (Don't Fear) The Reaper, I was in love. I had a fever over the Xmas break and more cowbell really was the only prescription
- new downloadable content every week. By year's end, they say there will be over 200 extra tracks available for Rock Band. While not every song is gonna appeal to everyone, I've already downloaded over a dozen extra tracks. I'm already looking forward to mid-March when they release a Nine Inch Nails track pack. Let's hope that it's the first of many to come.
To end, some song requests:
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody, the absolute holy grail of rock. I've been dying to get this song in either a karaoke game or guitar hero, but what better place is there than Rock Band. If made as downloadable content, this is guaranteed to be the best selling song of all-time. Also, any other Queen would be greatly appreciated.
Jimi Hendrix - you always see those tidbits about Jimi during the load screens, but yet there is no Hendrix to play in the game. It's like dangling a carrot and pulling it away at the last moment. The holy grail of Jimi's catalog of course has to be Voodoo Child (Slight Return), and other great fits would be Fire, Purple Haze and his cover of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower.
U2 - I'm not really a fan of their entire catalog as a whole, but I cannot deny the greatness that is their 1987 album, Joshua Tree. Anything from that would be a must buy. They are undoubtedly one of the most popular bands of all-time, but strangely enough, I don't believe that they've been featured in a music/rhythm game to date.
NIN - Anything. Ok, half of NIN's catalog just doesn't translate well to the Rock Band format (See: most of Year Zero). However, there are some absolute gems that would translate masterfully to Rock Band. Some of my favorites would be: Anything from their Broken album, HYPERPOWER!/The Beginning of the End (bundle em together like Boston's Foreplay/Long Time), and Head Like A Hole.
One of the big points that would make the transition difficult is the lyrical content. To remain a T-rated game, some songs featured in Rock Band are censored. Certain songs that would translate well but would have to be heavily censored would be You Know What You Are? and Only; songs which contain 'fuck' in the chorus. Censoring might work for some songs, but for others it would just ruin it. Although for a lot of the censored songs, when we play them, we like to belt them out with the swear words intact.
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