NINE INCH NAILS / JANE’S ADDICTION

05/26/09 - Englewood, Colorado

A concert is a performance. Each performance has its own space and time. Does this sound spacey and spiritual? Yes. But, music often leads my thoughts to such terms.

When thinking of performances by contemporary music I remember back to 1973 and my very first concert ever (Foghat with Mountain). I’m happy to be starting another summer concert season again 36 years later.

To kick that off I had the pleasure to attend a combination performance of Nine Inch Nails opening for Jane’s Addiction at what will always be “Fiddler’s Green” to me outside of Denver.
I’d never seen Nine Inch Nails before, although I’m quite familiar with their work. I purchased their first album in 1989 when I was 29 years old. Pretty Hate Machine was a breakthrough album, and I listened to it endlessly at the time. Trent Reznor, the creative mind behind Nine Inch Nails, has a deeply intriguing writing style that I found irresistible.

Over the years, he’s put out many other albums. Frankly, none of them have captured me quite like PHM. I recognize songs, and I like them - but I’ve just never been as captivated as I was then. I’d passed up many opportunities to see NIN ever since. So, I was excited to see them, and particularly as a kick off to this season.

I rarely look at the details of concerts beforehand anymore to see who all will be playing; unless it’s someone I avidly follow and am really dying to see. In this case, I wasn’t aware until the day before that Jane’s Addiction was the “headliner” band, and that NIN was opening that night. I was kind of surprised. But, then it sunk in that I’d be seeing JA again. What a complete joy!

Jane’s Addiction is one of those bands that I love, but I don’t own any of their albums. I’ve bought and sold them several times, but honestly I’ve never repeatedly listened to them. Their “hits” have played endlessly over the years, and from that I know them almost by heart. If you were to ask me about their albums, I’d be woefully ignorant.

But, I’ve seen them live several times now. In fact, since I first heard them in 1985 I’ve seen them about 8 times. Truly, every time I see them I become more enchanted with their performances. I could go on and on about how cool Perry Ferrell is, and how Dave Navarro tears UP a guitar. Yes, I could go on and on about that … so I will.

I’ve seen so many bands over the years, and I know a epic singer when I see one. Perry Ferrell IS an epic singer - and performer. I think his command of the stage comes from his joy of performing. I can tell when a singer is having fun - and when I see that, I see a good show. PF just devours the stage in that regard. His adoration of the crown is evident. I know that some may find it hard to understand how this relates to his musical abilities, but others will know instantly what I’m saying. He was nothing less than stunning.

Dave Navarro eats up a guitar. He’s one of those musicians that makes it look effortless, and that’s the indication of a true artist. I’m hard pressed to name another guitarist that matches him for sheer skill and abilities. Absolutely mesmerizing.

The rest of the band turns JA into a juggernaut of sound. Really one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. I suspect this may be, already, the best show of the year.

NIN was great too, but TR just doesn’t possess a stage like PF does. I’m very pleased to have seen both these bands, and you should go out and buy all their albums today.

~ SamSez

Nine Inch Nails