Photos and a review of Nine Inch Nails in Toronto

[Ross MacDonald was there. I was his silent guest. The official NIN photographer also supplied a few shots from the previous show in Chicago.- AC]

Late summer is the best time to be going out in downtown Toronto. The evenings aren’t as hot and humid as July and everyone seems more upbeat. And Scotiabank Arena was the place to be with the long-awaited return of Nine Inch Nails.

After the doors opened, and as everyone filed into GA or their seats, the arena was bathed in red light and music from one of Trent Reznor’s soundtracks. With futuristic pulsating beats and light keyboard notes over top the mood was being set. Right on cue at exactly 8pm the house lights went down and the music intensified as Boys Noize (Alexander Ridha) took his place behind his mixing board and turntables on a small stage behind the soundboard.

His song ‘Girl Crush’ had a very industrial feeling that fit well opening for Nine Inch Nails. He had many of the fans in GA swaying to his beats. It felt like everyone was transported to a nightclub in Berlin. Boys even spun a remix of ‘Down In It (Singe)’ by NIN. Then ‘Industrial Hope’ by Eva. He ended his set with ’I Know’ by Trent and Atticus Ross.

After shaking the foundations of Scotiabank Arena for 45 minutes, the curtain was pulled up from the small stage in the middle of the floor and Trent Reznor was alone with his piano gently serenading the arena to ‘Right Where It Belongs’; but Trent mashed into ‘Somewhat Damaged’, singing the last half of that song.

Then Trent started ‘Ruiner’ solo on his piano again; however, part way through he was joined first by Alessandro Cortini on keyboards, then Atticus as well. Then Alessandro picked up his bass, and the band picked up intensity (Josh Freese joined in on drums, but unseen behind the curtain on the main stage at the end of the arena). These opening songs with the acoustics of the piano and Trent’s voice were perfectly balanced.

Trent stepped away from his piano and the intensity picked up another notch as Robin Finck joined in at the small middle stage for ‘Piggy’, ending with a drum solo by Josh (how can hands move so fast?).

The band moved over to the main stage as Josh continued to lay down the beats. Fine translucent curtains remained down, but the band could easily be seen behind them. This gave the opportunity for the curtains to also be used as projection screens. It was a unique effect that was especially effective for audience members further away from the stage.

An important note concerning the lighting: do not attend a Nine Inch Nails concert if you are prone to photosensitive disorders. The flashing strobes and lasers complement the intensity of the industrial music perfectly, especially with the sheer stage curtains, it is a surreal effect.

Josh is newly reunited with NIN, he was part of the band from 2005-2008 and seamlessly rejoined earlier this year. He does it all, big heavy hits, then lightning fast hands, and then putting it all together fast and heavy. He is the perfect drummer for Trent and Atticus’s compositions.

The lighting changed throughout the concert. The band was bathed in red light for ‘Hersey’, and again for other songs throughout the evening, sometimes yellow lights, then green, then blue.

In a bit of a change from singing harmonies, Robin sang the choruses for ‘Gave Up’ before Trent and Atticus moved back to the smaller centre stage. There they performed four songs with opener Boys Noize including the upbeat and very catchy ‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be’ off the upcoming album ‘Tron: Ares’.

Trent is renowned not only for his original approaches to his musical compositions, but also his intensity. The entire night was like being clobbered in the chest by Atticus and Alessandro’s heavy beats.

With all that intensity, there was absolutely no surprise that a mosh pit started towards the end during ‘The Perfect Drug’. And once again, Josh’s drum solo at end of the song was bananas.

With minimal discourse with the audience, Trent was definitely communicating through his music. Before performing a cover of David Bowie‘s ‘I’m Afraid of Americans’, Trent introduced the band, ending with a very heartfelt thanks to the crew. And then he highlighted an event that happened early in the day: “Something bad happened today. One of the trucks carrying equipment crashed. Fucked the truck up, but fortunately the driver is ok. Some equipment was left on the side of the highway, but the crew Macgyvered it.”

After that sobering moment, it was back to full intensity. The next two songs were among NIN’s most popular, starting with ‘The Hand That Feeds’. Trent doesn’t simply sing his songs, he puts his entire bodily energy into the delivery. He leans forward while singing into his microphone, holding it tightly with both hands (and sometimes with one arm behind his back). He doesn’t scream, but it is intense and passionate.

The evening’s climax had to be ‘Head Like A Hole’. As Trent raised his arms straight up, everyone raised their arms overhead as well. And then the crowd surfers started. At the end of the song Trent threw his guitar several metres straight up in the air, and it crashed onto the stage in a cacophony.

The final song of the evening was ‘Hurt’ from 1994’s album ‘The Downward Spiral‘. It started quietly, there were blowing wind effects by Atticus which gave an extremely haunting mood. Cell phone lights came on, Trent’s face was projected on the sheer curtains at the back of the stage and Robin let the notes ring out on his guitar. It is amazing how prolific Trent was when he penned these lyrics 31 years ago. Again, the intensity picked up into a powerful ending.

Then the band left the stage as the screens came down and NIN was projected onto the curtains as everyone filed out, emotionally drained, and yet entirely satisfied.

Nine Inch Nails:
Trent Reznor – lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion
Atticus Ross – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals

Touring musicians:
Robin Finck – lead guitar, backing vocals
Alessandro Cortini – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Josh Freese – drums

BONUS: Nathan Jones was down in the GA area by the B-stage. He sent these pictures.