Latest news with #RightWhereItBelongs
San Francisco Chronicle
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Nine Inch Nails brings beauty, brutality and a leaky baptism to Oakland Arena
As Nine Inch Nails coursed through 1989's 'Sin' — with its religious overtones and lyrics about pain, suffering and consequences — Trent Reznor received an unexpected baptism from a higher source: a leaky fog machine, strapped to a lighting rig above the group, that briefly doused him with water like a divine prank. 'I'm trying to play it cool up here,' the NIN frontman quipped in front of 13,500 fans gathered at Oakland Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 6. 'It's the first time that's happened in my life, so thank you for sharing that with me.' More Information Oakland Arena setlist Right Where It Belongs Ruiner Piggy Wish March of the Pigs Reptile Heresy Copy of A Gave Up Vessel As Alive As You Need Me To Be Sin Came Back Haunted Somewhat Damaged Less Than Closer The Perfect Drug The Hand That Feeds Head Like a Hole Hurt Reznor is evolving. Back in the '90s, the mercurial alt-rock icon regularly curbstomped keyboards and guitars that didn't cooperate. Now at 60 years old with a family and trophy shelf full of Oscars and Grammys for his soundtrack work with fellow NIN member Atticus Ross, this was a kinder, gentler Reznor on display. That said, the rage and vulnerability that fuels decades of NIN anthems ('Closer,' 'Head Like a Hole,' 'The Hand That Feeds') is channeled in a more productive way. The band's 90-minute concert was divided into four acts, each with a different framing and presentation. The members got their steps in, moving from the main stage to a mini-stage in the center of the arena and back again. The overall feeling was that of a museum installation that artfully flowed through moments of intimacy, detachment and reconciliation. It was also very loud, and very Nine Inch Nails. Oakland was the first U.S. stop of the band's global Peel It Back Tour, their first in three years. At 8 p.m., German techno DJ Boys Noize set the tone with a pulsing hourlong set that stretched from Djedjotronic's 'Are Friends Electric' remix to Curses' 'Fortify' to a track by his tour bosses Reznor and Ross, 'I Know,' from the 2024 ' Challengers ' soundtrack. Then the show quickly shifted gears. At exactly 9 p.m., a curtain dropped, revealing Reznor sitting solo at a keyboard in the middle of the arena, opening with a tempered 'Right Where It Belongs.' At its conclusion, bassist Alessandro Cortini, guitarist Robin Finck and keyboardist Ross joined Reznor for two deconstructed B-sides, 'Ruiner' and 'Piggy,' confirming this part of the show was for longtime supporters, many sporting vintage NIN shirts and leather jackets. The band then moved from the mini-stage to the main stage to reunite with 2005-2009 NIN drummer Josh Freese, who rejoined the band after his split with the Foo Fighters. In his first show back, Freese kept pace with minimal movement powered by muscle memory. 'This f—er rehearsed with us for one day,' Reznor remarked about Freese. 'It took the rest of us months to learn this sh—.' The main stage was encased in translucent fabric. Camera and spotlight operators scurried around the stage capturing raw hand-held footage that was projected onto this scrim, giving an eerie 3-D effect. 'Copy of A' benefitted from this treatment, as jittery images of Reznor played off the song's search for identity. During this six-song set, NIN faithfully recreated their trademark buzzsaw sound. Reznor's voice was in fine form, able to summon anguish and loss with both force and nuance. 'Wish' and 'March of the Pigs' formed a lethal one-two punch that leaned into hardcore. 'Gave Up' was another adrenaline spike with Finck adding vocals and Freese coolly keeping double-time. To reset the vibe, Boys Noize joined Ross and Reznor back at the mini-stage for a four-song set of remixes including 'As Alive As You Need Me To Be' and 'Came Back Haunted.' The trio fed off each other in what was the most futuristic and spontaneous part of the night. During 'Vessel,' Reznor switched between standard mic and vocoder to straddle man and machine personas. Then the translucent fabrics came down for a roaring seven-song main stage closer that highlighted NIN fan favorites like the naughty stripper anthem 'Closer' and caustic anti-authoritanian screed 'Head Like a Hole.' Freed from the artful window dressing, NIN pummeled the crowd with waves of archaic sound as a small circle pit opened up and a couple people crowdsurfed like it was their Gen X heyday. Loud moments like these made the quiet ones stand out. NIN's fragile lament on addiction in 'Hurt' closed the show on a solemn note. Single spotlights illuminated the band as Reznor summoned visceral pain and regret, emptying his soul on the line, 'Everyone I know goes away in the end.' Those words still possess power decades later.
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Nine Inch Nails at London's O2 Arena: start time, tickets, potential setlist and what you need to know
Nine Inch Nails are one of the planet's top live acts. Trent Reznor has been unmissable on stage for over 30 years, and since Atticus Ross joined the project in the 2010s NIN have become even more of a spectacle. Needless to say, when your town is getting a Nine Inch Nails show you do not want to miss it. And that's exactly what is arriving in London this week. Reznor and Ross are at Greenwich's O2 Arena as part of their current Peel It Back tour, which marks their first live shows since 2022. Heading down to southwest London to see Nine Inch Nails live? Here's everything you need to know, from timings and potential setlists to any remaining ticket availability. When are Nine Inch Nails playing at London's O2? Reznor and Ross are in town on Wednesday June 18 2025. What are the timings? Doors open at 6.30pm, though doors to the O2 (with all its bars and restaurants) open earlier. Nine Inch Nails are set to come on stage at 8pm, according to the O2's website. What's the setlist? At the first night of the Peel It Back tour in Dublin last Sunday (June 15), Reznor and Ross whipped out tracks unheard by NIN for over a decade – 'Right Where It Belongs', 'Ruiner' and 'Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)' all made an appearance. For an idea of what Nine Inch Nails could play in London, here's that Dublin setlist in full (according to Right Where It Belongs Ruiner Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) Wish March of the Pigs The Frail The Wretched Reptile Copy of A Gave Up Vessel Parasite (How to Destroy Angels cover) Came Back Haunted Self Destruct Heresy Closer I'm Afraid of Americans The Hand That Feeds Head Like a Hole Hurt Who is supporting? Berlin-based DJ and producer Boyz Noize (real name Alexander Ridha) is on support, and he's on at 7.30pm. Ridha joined NIN onstage for several tracks in Dublin. Can you still get tickets for Nine Inch Nails at London's O2? Last time we checked, there were still some tickets up for sale for Nine Inch Nails in London. Ticketmaster here had some starting from £87.40, while AXS here had some from as low as £40.
