Nine Inch Nails: Live at the Hayden Homes Amphiteater in Bend, Oregon - Sept. 9, 2022

After missing out on their 2017/2018 shows due to having no shows close to the Vancouver area and me being unable to travel to see them due to personal issues along with the global pandemic (by the way, remember when Year Zero came out in 2007 and predicted that the world would implode by 2022?), I finally saw NIN again for the first time in 8 years (my last show being in August of 2014). And boy did I really need it. And of all days Sept.9 (9/9), coincidentally 9 + 9 = 18, and this was my 18th NIN show. Furthermore adding the numbers of the date 09/09/22 = 40, and I'm 40 years old. #ILLUMINATI

Had to make the trek from Vancouver to Seattle via 3 hour bus ride, then Seattle to Portland via 3 hour train ride, then Portland to Bend via 3 hour car ride. 3 + 3 + 3 = 9. #ILLUMINATI. The long commutes were worth it though, despite a nearby fire making the skies all hazy and spoiling the beautiful views in Bend and surrounding areas. The smoke didn't effect the outdoor venue, although if anything it would've added to the ambiance of the show as anyone who's ever seen NIN live knows their extensive use of fog machines. It may be recency bias but open air, no seats Hayden Homes Amphitheater may be the best venue I've seen NIN in yet.

Setlist (with comments):

1. March of the Pigs - The first time they've ever opened with this song. I can't lie though, it had me a little worried. This is a song that is played at nearly every NIN show, but never first, but usually in the 3rd or 4th or 5th slot. I had expected NIN to start around 8pm, and when they started at 8:15pm with this, I was worried they had to skip a few songs. Fortunately, this was not the case and nothing was skipped.

2. Letting You - love the outro where Ilan just goes ham on the drums

3. Something I Can Never Have - haven't heard this one in a while

4. Sanctified - A personal favourite

5. The Lovers - always a treat to hear a song you've never heard live before

6. Discipline

7. The Becoming - man, this song is so killer live

8. Me, I'm Not - another personal favourite

9. Wish - yet another personal favourite, maybe it would be easier to just say which songs aren't personal favourites?

10. Every Day Is Exactly The Same - another live debut for me, an anthem for the pandemic

11. Closer - thanks to the sign language interpreter I now know how to say "I want to fuck you like an animal" in sign language (click to learn for yourself!). It's gotta come in handy some day

12. Heresy - holy f was this amazing, you haven't truly lived until you've heard this live

13. The Frail

14. The Wretched

15. Copy of A

16. Survivalism

17. The Perfect Drug - The holy grail of NIN songs never played live. As a long time NIN fan, I never thought I would ever have the pleasure of hearing it played live in person. The song was first released in 1996 and first played live in 2017, which is probably the longest time it took for a NIN song to make its live debut. Again, Ilan's drum solo is <chef's kiss>

18. Gave Up

19. Head Like a Hole

Encore:

20. Somewhat Damaged

21. The Day the World Went Away

22. Hurt - the typical set closer, made even more fitting that a falling star/meteor appeared during it (click for video proof!)

 

The venue before the show

Me before the show (face still intact before getting it rocked off by NIN)

One of the more unique setlists of the tour (and proof nothing was skipped)

 Deer like to rest just outside the place I was staying at in Bend

 

Bend is home to the last remaining Blockbuster on the planet

My Favorite Films of 2021

The Top Ten:

1. tick, tick...BOOM!

2. The Sparks Brothers

3. Come from Away

4. Last Night in Soho

5. The Last Duel

6. CODA

7. Dune

8. The Power of the Dog

9. Spider-Man: No Way Home

10. Being the Ricardos

 

Hoorable Mentions:

Luca

A Quiet Place Part II

Skater Girl 

Judas and the Black Messiah

Pig

Riders of Justice

Cruella

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Val

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Spencer

Candyman

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

Cyrano

Jockey

TV Shows I enjoyed that aired new episodes in 2021 (in no particular order):

Loki

Hawkeye

Rick and Morty

Invincible

M.O.D.O.K.

Never Have I Ever

Betty

Master of None

Heels

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Young Justice

Squid Game

Only Murders in the Building

Dexter: New Blood

Saved by the Bell

How To with John Wilson

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Ghosts

My Favorite Films of 2020

My ten favorite films that were made widely available in 2020, followed by honorable mentions:

 

1. The Father

2. Minari

3. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

4. First Cow

5. Soul

6. Promising Young Woman

7. Sound of Metal 

8. Hamilton

9. The King of Staten Island

10. Driveways

 

Palm Springs

Da 5 Bloods

The Way Back

Small Axe

Nomadland

Greyhound

News of the World

The Invisible Man

Mank

The Devil All The Time

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Enola Holmes

The Assistant

Yes, God, Yes

Host

The Half of It

Bad Education

Tigertail

The Climb

Television shows I enjoyed that aired new episodes in 2020:

 

Better Call Saul

The Mandalorian

The Boys

Doom Patrol

Rick and Morty

What We Do In The Shadows

The Vow

Lovecraft Country

Euphoria

Star Trek: Picard / Discovery / Lower Decks

Never Have I Ever

Betty

Harley Quinn

My Favorite Films of 2019

1. Parasite
2. Marriage Story
3. Uncut Gems
4. Jojo Rabbit
5. Waves
6. Knives Out
7. The Farewell
8. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
   
9. Ford v Ferrari
10. Avengers: Endgame
    

Some more good movies:

Toy Story 4

Dolemite is My Name

Little Women

John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum

Us
The Art of Self-Defense
1917
Wild Rose
The Kid Who Would Be King
Booksmart
Fighting With My Family
Support the Girls
The Irishman
Good Boys
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Late Night
The Mustang
The Peanut Butter Falcon
I Lost My Body
Judy
Klaus

Some good TV shows:

Fleabag
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 
Watchmen
Cobra Kai
The Mandalorian
Barry
The Good Place
Stranger Things
The Boys
Rick and Morty
GLOW
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Documentary Now!
Harley Quinn

What We Do In The Shadows

Doom Patrol

Undone

My Favorite Films of 2018

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
2. Eighth Grade
3. If Beale Street Could Talk
4. Shoplifters
5. The Favourite
6. Love, Simon
7. Mission: Impossible: Fallout
8. The Breadwinner
9. Green Book
10. Hereditary

But wait, there's more!

Anna and the Apocalypse
Blindspotting
BlacKkKlansman
First Reformed
Leave No Trace
Avengers: Infinity War
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
A Quiet Place
Incredibles 2
First Man
Columbus
Borg vs. McEnroe
The Hate U Give
Searching
Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Skate Kitchen
They Shall Not Grow Old

My Favorite Films of 2017 aka The Year Cinema Ruined Fruit For Me

1. Blade Runner 2049
2. Coco
3. Wind River
4. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
5. Logan
6. The Florida Project
7. Dunkirk
8. The Shape of Water
9. Baby Driver
10. The Big Sick 

Some more films I also really enjoyed:

Mudbound

Darkest Hour

Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis

Good Time

Wonder

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Thor: Ragnarok

Beauty and the Beast

War for the Planet of the Apes

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2

Wonder Woman

Maudie

Detroit

Ladybird

Call Me By Your Name

I, Tonya

Okja

Phantom Thread

My Favorite Films of 2016

It was a pretty great year for film:

1. La La Land
2. The Handmaiden
3. Moonlight
4. Manchester by the Sea
5. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
6. Sing Street
7. Arrival
8. My Life as a Zucchini
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. Nocturnal Animals

Even more films from that were almost/just as good:

Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
The Nice Guys
The Lobster
Finding Dory
10 Cloverfield Lane
Before the Flood
The Little Prince
Loving
Queen of Katwe
Doctor Strange
Captain America: Civil War
The Jungle Book
Train to Busan
Captain Fantastic
Paterson
Lion
Hidden Figures

My Favorite Films of 2015

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Inside Out
3. The Look of Silence
4. The Hateful Eight
5. The Martian
6. Room
7. Dope
8. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
9. Ex Machina
10. The Walk

Other films I really enjoyed:

Sicario
Love & Mercy
Cinderella
Creed
The Big Short
Brooklyn
The Good Dinosaur
Crimson Peak
The Revenant
It Follows

My Ten Favorite Films of 2014

1. Interstellar
2. The Wind Rises
3. The Raid 2
4. Song of the Sea
5. Gone Girl
6. Boyhood
7. Whiplash
8. Guardians of the Galaxy / Captain America: The Winter Soldier
9. Birdman
10. Edge of Tomorrow

Nine Inch Nails Waves Goodbye (Again)

August 29 from the Sleep Country Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA.

The 2nd to last night of Nine Inch Nails 2014 summer tour, and the 2nd to last show for some time. Trent has said this will be it for a while, and the last time he said that NIN went away for about 4 years. Because of that I knew I had to see at least one of these final shows. Sadly, their choice of venues for the summer tour (outdoor amphitheaters) meant no Vancouver show, so I would have to make the sojourn down to Portland, Oregon once again. Co-headlining with Soundgarden and also another opening band meant a shorter set, but any NIN is better than no NIN.

You can debate the setlist, the length, the venue, and all the other intangibles, but you really can't judge a show unless you've been there. I was there and it was awesome. The new four-piece configuration halves the number of live musicians in half from the eight-piece that represented NIN last fall. The result is a leaner and meaner NIN. This was quite possibly the best sounding Nine Inch Nails show I have ever been to. Of the 17 shows I have seen, this is definitely near the top of my favorites. It's hard to rank, almost like ranking your children, but this is up there with night 1 of the Osaka show I saw in 2007 among my favorite NIN shows that I've seen live. The visuals were not as complex as Tension 2013, but they were no slouch either. With the different band and different production, it was a completely new experience than what I experienced less than a year ago and that's one of the things that makes NIN such a great band to see live.

Cold Cave was the opener followed by co-headliners Soundgarden before Nine Inch Nails took the stage to close out the night.

Setlist:

1. Copy of A - their standard opener, in a different arrangement. Trent starts out alone on stage with the house lights still on and the rest of the band joins in one by one until finally the song climaxes and the house lights go out and the band is shown as large shadows on the stage's backdrop
2. Sanctified - as I've said before, the new arrangement of this song since last year is simply outstanding. Might be my favorite song of the night
3. Came Back Haunted - the driving bass line and tempo of this song really kicks ass
4. 1,000,000
5. March of the Pigs
6. Reptile - not often played, and because of that, always a pleasant surprise
7. Terrible Lie
8. Closer
9. Gave Up
10. Disappointed - as with Tension 2013, Trent decided this song should have the coolest visuals of the night. The youtube videos do NOT do this song justice. It must be seen live and in person for maximum impact
11. Find My Way
12. The Great Destroyer
13. Eraser - my favorite song from The Downward Spiral makes it's live return. Fantastic as always
14. Wish
15. The Hand That Feeds
16. Head Like A Hole
17. Hurt

My Ten Favorite Films of 2013

1. Rush
2. The Spectacular Now
3. Her
4. 12 Years a Slave
5. Short Term 12
6. Blue is the Warmest Color
7. The Way, Way Back
8. Prisoners
9. Gravity
10. The Wolf of Wall Street

Until next year...

Nine Inch Nails: Tension 2013 with Special Guests: Explosions in the Sky aka My Flight with Nine Inch Nails

With NIN seemingly being retired in 2009, I was happy that I was able to enjoy those last shows but sad that my favorite band would stop touring. Not too long ago, Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor announced that he had been working on a couple of songs for a greatest hits record, and it grew from there. Seemingly out of nowhere, those songs led to an all new album "Hesitation Marks", which then led to a full-on tour to support said album. And here we are, after a short festival tour with dates in Asia, Europe and the United States, we have NIN's first full-on tour of North America in 4 years.

An unexpected surprise was Trent's announcement that Godspeed! Your Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky would be supporting him for this tour. Explosions in the Sky would probably rank in my top 5 bands of all-time ever since I was first introduced to their music thanks to their contribution to the soundtrack for the film, Friday Night Lights (which was also later developed into an excellent television show). Seeing Nine Inch Nails live is usually enough for me to get excited, but having another one of my favorite bands open for my favorite band of all-time? Sploosh.

Overall, the experience was amazing, with NIN bringing out their most elaborate production yet. The band was expanded to an eight-piece with the noteworthy additions of legendary bassist Pino Palladino and backup singers Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson. The backup singers in particular at first seemed like they may be out of place, but after seeing them live, it's a wonder how NIN ever existed without them. They belong up there and added significantly to the live NIN experience. The cool thing about NIN live is that Trent always changes it up and adds new members almost every tour. While there have been fan favorite members that may have left the band before, the new members always add a new twist that makes something old sound new again.

Nov. 15 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Out of all the venues I've seen live music in, I have to say this place ranks with the Zepp in Osaka among the best. 4,000 capacity with two balconies, no low ceiling and staggered floor make this a great venue for sightlines and sound. The downside to the smaller venue is that the entire tour production for NIN's Tension 2013 show could not fit in the venue and we missed out on some of the cooler visuals.

Explosions in the Sky:

1. The Catastrophe and the Cure
2. The Birth and Death of the Day
3. Yasmin the Light - one of my all-time favorite songs (not just by this band, either)
4. Let Me Back In
5. The Only Moment We Were Alone

Nine Inch Nails:

1. Copy of A - fantastic opener, when the song really gets going, all the noise, the flashing lights, it's amazing!
2. 1,000,000
3. Terrible Lie - drummer Ilan Rubin's fills during this and many of the other songs are an absolute joy. The longer he drums for NIN, the better he gets
4. March of the Pigs
5. Piggy
6. All Time Low
7. Disappointed - about the only time you'll hear someone use the word "Disappointed" with Nine Inch Nails is when they play this song
8. Came Back Haunted - so much more powerful with live drums
9. Find My Way - fantastic song, this is Hesitation Marks' equivalent of Hurt
10. Various Methods of Escape
11. The Frail
12. The Wretched - nice to have this 1-2 punch back regularly. I think from 07-09, we would sometimes get The Frail without The Wretched, and it was just wrong
13. Sanctified - absolutely amazing new live arrangement that sounds completely different from the original album version. Also heard a little bit of Sunspots in the end that I've never heard before
14. The Big Come Down - hands down one of my absolute favorite songs live, it never disappoints
15. Survivalism
16. Wish
17. I'm Afraid of Americans - loved hearing this David Bowie cover
18. Burn
19. The Hand That Feeds
20. Head Like a Hole
21. All the Love in the World - a pleasant surprise as they had only started playing this song from 2005's With Teeth recently on this tour
22. Even Deeper - Lisa Fischer really shines here
23. While I'm Still Here - a great melancholy song to help close out the night
24. Black Noise - this outro to While I'm Still Here really showcases Ilan and the backup singers, and there's saxophone! Can't go wrong with that
25. Hurt - beautiful, as always

Nov. 16 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
As you can see from the ticket, it has been autographed by NIN members Robin Finck, Josh Eustis and Alessandro Cortini. I happened to be on the same flight from Vegas to Portland as them and several other NIN members and associates. It was really quite surreal to sitting so close to them and I was quite starstruck. I didn't bother them at all until after the flight to ask for their autographs and I didn't take any pictures as I didn't want to be a creeper. Sadly, Trent wasn't there, if he was I would've squealed like a fangirl!

Explosions in the Sky:

1. The Only Moment We Were Alone
2. Catastrophe and the Cure
3. Greet Death
4. Let Me Back In
5. The Birth and Death of the Day

Nine Inch Nails:

1. All Time Low
2. Sanctified
3. Disappointed
4. Came Back Haunted
5. Copy of A - I was a little disappointed that they wouldn't play this because it's usually opener or bust, but so glad it was included!
6. Reptile - another oldie, but goodie
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched - the backup singers wailing at the end of this song is just incredible!
9. Echoplex - very awesome live, haven't heard it since 08
10. Satellite - one of my favorite tracks from Hesitation Marks, it always makes me wanna dance. I can honestly say I don't feel that way about any other songs about the loss of privacy and the government spying on you
11. Running - one of my least favorite tracks from Hesitation Marks, but it's growing on me
12. I Would For You - another favorite from HM
13. The Big Come Down
14. Survivalism
15. In Two - probably my favorite song off HM and it doesn't disappoint
16. A Warm Place - I remember listening to this live during their wave goodbye tour and loving it so much I wished they played it every night, well now I finally get my wish!
17. Somewhat Damaged - so glad this is part of the regular set every night. This use to be the opening song or bust, but now it's in the middle of the set and it always makes me wanna me bang my head
18. Wish 
19. The Hand That Feeds
20. Head Like a Hole
21. Even Deeper
22. In This Twilight - My favorite version of my favorite song off Year Zero. The backup singers take this song to a whole new level. Before the song, Trent took some time out to facetime a fan, Andrew Youssef, suffering from terminal cancer who was suppose to be in the audience but was too ill to attend. You can read about his story here. It is sad, but also very inspirational. This is one of the many reasons why Trent Reznor is one of the greatest people ever.
23. While I'm Still Here
24. Black Noise
25. Hurt

Nov. 18 - Moda Center, Portland, OR

Explosions in the Sky:

1. The Only Moment We Were Alone
2. Catastrophe and the Cure
3. Greet Death
4. Let Me Back In
5. The Birth and Death of the Day

Nine Inch Nails:

1. Copy of A
2. 1,000,000
3. Terrible Lie
4. March of the Pigs
5. Piggy
6. All Time Low
7. Disappointed - the visuals for this are particularly amazing, with the band appearing as if they are inside of a 3-dimensional cube
8. Came Back Haunted
9. Find My Way
10. Various Methods of Escape
11. The Frail
12. The Wretched
13. Survivalism
14. Running
15. A Warm Place
16. Somewhat Damaged
17. Wish
18. The Hand That Feeds
19. Head Like a Hole
20. The Day the World Went Away - another classic from The Fragile, probably the best version I've heard live
21. Even Deeper
22. While I'm Still Here
23. Black Noise
24. Hurt

Nov. 21 - Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
I absolutely love these custom printed tickets, they make a great memento, and they help fight those pesky ticket scalpers. I wasn't able to get one for the Vegas shows because the presale sold out almost immediately, and the presale for Portland was over by the time I decided to attend it. Also thanks to this presale (which are 100% free to anybody) I managed to score fantastic seats, row 5, directly to the left of the stage, the closest I've ever been to the stage and the band. I usually prefer being in the hot, sweaty and rowdy pit, but it's nice not having to compete with other people for your spot. It was also probably a good idea seeing as how rowdy the crowd was, definitely the rowdiest of the 4 shows I attended. Kudos to the floor personnel for safely catching the crowdsurfers and even squirting water at the people in the front who probably needed the hydration, they've most likely been there in the exact same spots since 6:15pm when the doors were first opened to presale ticker holders (NIN came on a little before 9pm, and played until about 11pm)

Explosions in the Sky:

1. The Catastrophe and the Cure
2. The Birth and Death of the Day
3. Yasmin the Light
4. Let Me Back In
5. The Only Moment We Were Alone

Nine Inch Nails:

1. Copy of A
2. 1,000,000
3. Terrible Lie
4. March of the Pigs
5. Piggy
6. All Time Low
7. Disappointed
8. Came Back Haunted
9. Find My Way
10. Various Methods of Escape
11. Sanctified
12. The Frail
13. The Wretched
14. The Big Come Down
15. Survivalism
16. Running
17. A Warm Place
18. Somewhat Damaged
19. Wish
20. The Hand That Feeds
21. Head Like a Hole
22. All the Love in the World
23. Even Deeper
24. While I'm Still Here
25. Black Noise
26. Hurt 

Some pictures from the Vancouver, BC show in Rogers Arena to close this out:

Before the show

Terrible Lie

Disappointed

The Big Come Down

The Big Come Down

Survivalism

Somewhat Damaged

Head Like a Hole

Head Like a Hole

Head Like a Hole

Head Like a Hole

The Iconic Logo

Hurt