ETS Tour Journal

-setlist-
Hyperpower!
The beginning of the end
Last
Survivalism
March of the pigs (Aaron dive into the crowd!)
Piggy
Capital G
Burn
Gave up
Help me I am in hell
Me,I'm not
Eraser
La mer
Into the void
The good soldier
Wish
No,you don't
Only
Suck
Hurt
The hand that feeds
Head like a hole

It was good show! But Trent's voice was not so well...
I'm anxious about his voice.

Before "Hurt" We sung "Happybirthday!"
Trent "Thank you! (I'm?) twenty-nine" hahaha!

First of all, let me say I heard a rumour that Japanese audiences are tame. Well, let that rumour be dispelled tonight. What an intense show. The audience was just as crazy as any other I've seen in Europe and the U.S. With the exception of less crowd surfers. How refreshing. There was however an absolute silence before La Mer and Hurt. I swear you could hear a pin drop. Apparently, the silence was too much for one person who screamed Happy Birthday Trent, which led to the entire audience singing Happy Birthday. All of this before 'Hurt' too. Trent promptly thanked the audience and then said, 'Now, let me get back into character.' A lot of Year Zero stuff played tonight including but not limited to; Hyperpower, The Beginning of The End, Survivalism, The Good Soldier, Capital G, and....holy FUCKING SHIT...Me I'm Not is so awesome live. Seriously, I still have a little chubby going on right now in my pants. And last but not least, they did a meet and greet and a soundcheck which I missed because I was too busy being a tourist. Oh well, there's always tomorrow or the next day.

Thanks, masaaki, for the setlist. I can't remember that well as I was among the crazy audience. They didn't play Sin and Heresy, which I think they will play on Saturday or on Sunday. And I completely agree with schmeckle. Me I'm Not is just so AWESOME live. Hurt... I could hear a pin drop, and the song live with the complete silence made me literally cry. So beautiful.

@schmeckle:
Yokoso! (Welcome!) Hope you have a great time in Tokyo. (^^)

Glad you guys had a good time too. It was like a 90-min non-stop dance party.

I was on the 1st floor balcony near the sound booth, so could see the entire stage well. Jeordie was very into the music, hopping, head-banging, leading handclappings. It was nice to see him energetic and having fun. Aaron was quite a mixed bag as a guitarist. La Mer was a bit hard to listen to especially because Trent's piano was just so good. Alessandro showed his versatility throughout the show, and played guitar in Last. I was my first time to see Josh in NIN (have seen in APC), and still can't get to used to his style in many songs. His climax in Wish was amazing though.

So exactly what were Trent, Jeordie and Aaron doing in Me, I'm Not? Did Aaron and Jeordie play slide guitars or something?

EDIT: Okay, it wasn't Jeordie. It was actually Alessandro. The stage was kinda dark, and Alessandro's hair is longer now, so I couldn't tell from the balcony. I have no idea where Jeordie was.

If I remember correctly, Trent said (replying to "happy birthday") "Thank you. Twenty-nine. I'm trying to stay in the character, you know." Could anyone confirm that?

I'd never seen NIN in such a small venue and with simple stage-sets. I like this way much better because it's much more intimate. Much better than BYIT.

I thought of taking pics with my cell phone but didn't/couldn't because I saw no one doing it. It surprised me because many people were taking pics at the Tool shows in Club Chitta and Zepp Tokyo last February. Does Studio Coast have a more restrict policy? I had never been in the venue before.

So, did anyone take pics or videos?

As for Trent's voice, I noticed that he changed the melody in the chorus of THTF to avoid high notes. Besides, he sounded great to me, especially in Hurt. And he fucked up the lyrics of the first chorus of Capital G, but it was very small so I don't think many people noticed it.

EDIT: There were two message between mine. What happened to them???

mikeko wrote:EDIT: There were two message between mine. What happened to them???

I dunno...

dude its so crazy hes not playing closer anymore...how sick would the way out is through, even deeper, the perfect drug, or im looking forward to joining you, finally be? how awesome would that be? replace hurt with tdtwwa or i do not want this, and weve got some shit! how about some damn please, or replacing into the void with slipping away. fucking replace thtf with get down make love. why no were in this together? and closing with 10 miles high wouldnt goddamn hurt. i know his voice is hurting but one of these tunes would be cool. piggy was cool tho. i want to hear where is everybody live. yes. leaving hope with projection screen on the real.
north could never play like finck, keep dreaming bitches.

yo fuck post fragile.

betarbiat wrote:dude its so crazy hes not playing closer anymore...how sick would the way out is through, even deeper, the perfect drug, or im looking forward to joining you, finally be? how awesome would that be? replace hurt with tdtwwa or i do not want this, and weve got some shit! how about some damn please, or replacing into the void with slipping away. fucking replace thtf with get down make love. why no were in this together? and closing with 10 miles high wouldnt goddamn hurt. i know his voice is hurting but one of these tunes would be cool. piggy was cool tho. i want to hear where is everybody live. yes. leaving hope with projection screen on the real.
north could never play like finck, keep dreaming bitches.

yo fuck post fragile.

Yeah, so anyway............

Ｔｈｉｓ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｋｅｙｂｏａｒｄ　ｉｓ　ｆｕｃｋｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｃａｎ’ｔ　ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｉｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｔｏｐ．　　Ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｍａｙ　ｂｅ　ｍｙ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｃｈａｎｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｐｏｓｔ　ｓｏ　Ｉ’ｍ　ｄｏｉｎｇ　ｉｔ　ａｎｙｗａｙ．

Ｍｙ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｍｉｓｓｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｏｕｎｄｃｈｅｃｋ　ｂｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　３　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ．　　Ｉｔ　ｓｕｃｋｅｄ　ｍａｊｏｒｌｙ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｒｕｎｎｉｎｇ　ａｓ　ｆａｓｔ　ａｓ　ｗｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ａｎｄ　ｔｒｙｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｔｒａｉｎｓ　ｔｏ　ｔａｋｅ，　ｅｔｃ．　　Ｂｕｔ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｍｉｎｅ　ｗｈｏ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｐｌａｉｎｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｂａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｃａｍｅ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　Ｕ．Ｓ．　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ　ａｗａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｕｌｄｎ’ｔ　ｇｅｔ　ｉｎ．　　Ｓｈｅ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ｉｆ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｓｉｇｎ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｕｓ，　ｓｏ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｅａｃｈ　ｓｉｇｎｅｄ　ａ　ｐｉｅｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｐａｐｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｗｒｏｔｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｎａｍｅｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｏｐ　－　”Ｔｏ　Ｐｅｒｋｕｌｅｓ”．．．　　Ｍｙ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄ　ｔｏｌｄ　Ａｌｌｅｓｓａｎｄｒｏ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ａ　ｂｕｎｃｈ　ｏｆ　ｓｈｏｗｓ　ｉｎ　Ｅｕｒｏｐｅ，　ｓｏ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｈｅ　ｓｉｇｎｅｄ　ｈｉｓ　ｎａｍｅ　ｈｅ　ｗｒｏｔｅ　”Ｐ．Ｓ．　－　Ｗｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ｙｏｕ？？？”　　Ｈｏｗ　ｓｗｅｅｔ　ｉｓ　ｔｈａｔ？　　Ｓｏ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｍｏｓｔ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｉｓｓｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍｅｅｔ　ａｎｄ　Ｇｒｅｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｈａｔ．　　Ａｌｍｏｓｔ．

Ｔｈｉｓ　ｋｅｙｂｏａｒｄ　ｉｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ａｎｎｏｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｉｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ．　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｎｏ　ｉｄｅａ　ｗｈａｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｐｏｓｔ　ｉｓ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｌｉｋｅ．

Ｉ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｏｕｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　４　ｒｏｗｓ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎ　ｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　Ｔｒｅｎｔ．　　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ’ｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｃｌｏｓｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｒｏｎｔ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｗｈｅｒｅ ａｌｌ　ｍｙ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｗｅｒｅ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｒａｚｉｅｓｔ　ｐｉｔ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｅｖｅｒ　ｓｅｅｎ！　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓｎ’ｔ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｍｏｓｈｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｂｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｉｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｅａｃｈ ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｉｎ　Ｂｅｒｌｉｎ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｒｕｓｈ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｕｓｈｉｎｇ　ｗere　ｃｒａｚｙ．　　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｐｕｌｌ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｍｍｅｄｉａｔｅｌｙ．　　Ｉ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ　ｍａｙｂｅ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　Ｉ　ｈａｄｎ’ｔ　ｈａｄ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ ｅａｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｍａｎｙ　ｈｏｕｒｓ，　ｂｕｔ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｒｏｗｄ　ｗａｓ　ａｐｅｓｈｉｔ．　　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｂａｃｋ　ｒａｉｌｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｃｒｕｓｈｅｄ．　Ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｆｕｃｋｉｎｇ　ｈｏｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅｒｅ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｒｏｗｄ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｌｅｔ　ｕｐ　ａｌｌ　ｎｉｇｈｔ．　　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅｌｙ　ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｇ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｃｒａｚｙ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｃｏｕｌｄｎ’ｔ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂａｎｄ　ａｔ　ａｌｌ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｓｏｕｎｄｅｄ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ．　　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ’ｔ　ｎｏｔｉｃｅ　ａｎｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｂａｄ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｔｒｅｎｔ’ｓ　ｖｏｉｃｅ．

Ｈｅ　ｄｉｄ　ｓａｙ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｉｓ　ｈｉｓ　ｆａｖｏｒｉｔｅ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｉｎ．　　Ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｉｔ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｂｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｗｈｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｏ　ａｒｅ　ｐｏｌｉｔｅ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｏ　ｄｒｅｓｓ　ｎｉｃｅ　．．．．．．”ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｉｔ”．　

Ｔｈｉｓ　ｋｅｙｂｏａｒｄ　ｋｅｅｐｓ　ｄｅｌｅｔｉｎｇ　ｗｈａｔ　Ｉ’ｍ　ｗｒｉｔｉｎｇ　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ａｌｌ　ｙｏｕ　ｇｅｔ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｏｗ．　　ｍｏｔｈｅｒｆｕｃｋｅｒ．　　Ａｎｄ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｈｒｅａｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　１９ｔｈ　ｓｈｏｗ？　Quite　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｓｈｏｗ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｅｖｅｒ　ｓｅｅｎ．　　Ｗｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｕｃｋ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｋｅｙｂｏａｒｄ．　　Ｇｏｏｄ　ｎｉｇｈｔ．

wtf happened to 5/19 show?
setlists people!

I dont think they speak english in japan

I was just in the middle of the post, hit the wrong button and suddenly was typing in Japanese. I couldn't figure out how to switch it back, so I had to restart the computer. So I'm starting over.

I have no idea why there is no 5/19 thread, so I'll just start posting here.

The setlist seemed super-long tonight, though when I looked at my watch at the end, it was only about 6 minutes longer. Everyone was saying that just when you expected to hear the closing songs, you'd get something even more awesome. I'm sure the people in the pit thought this was the neverending setlist. Quite possibly the greatest setlist ever. Hearing The Big Comedown would have made it perfect.

Songs played (definitely not in order) include, but are not limited to:

Somewhat Damaged (opener)
March of the Pigs
Ruiner
Reptile
Wish
Something I Can Never Have
Sin
Gave Up
Suck
Help Me I Am In Hell
Me, I'm Not
Beginning of the End
Survivalism
The Good Soldier
Capital G
The Frail
Only
Burn
Dead Souls
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like a Hole

Oh,no.
no one post 5/19 show reviews...
I'll make new topic.

Goddammit with the typing in Japanese and computer restarting. I fucking restarted again, typed a whole fucking post detailing the entire show and then hit the wrong button and lost the whole fucking thing. And I'm entirely too pissed off right now to type it again.

Son of a bitch. Sorry everybody.

Sorry,I can't make new topic...
I have no time to rogin.

5/19 setlist.
Somewhat damaged
You know what you are?
Sin
March of the pigs
Something I can never have
The beginning of the end
Survivalism
Ruiner
Burn
Gave up
Help me I am in hell
Me,I'm not
Reptile
The frail (not La mer)
The good soldier
Wish
Only
Capital G
Suck
Dead souls
The hand that feeds
Head like a hole (Aaron dive into crowd!)

Trent's voice became good than yesterday.
No Hurt and Closer...but Dead souls!!!

OK, I will try to be fucking Zen about this and retype my fucking review of the 19th. Forgive my typos. I'm not reviewing it lest I lose it all again.

As I was fucking trying to say, Trent commented that the first time they played in Japan, there was dead silence after the first song and he thought "Holy shit, they hate us here." But then he realized that people are different over here. Then he said that "something has changed." (No shit. He should try being in the pit. I don't care how tough he thinks he is.)

I had a great view from the balcony on Aaron's side. The entire crowd was so into the show. Every arm was in the air and everybody was jumping. Not like in the U.S. where only the first few rows are into it and everyone else just stands there. The entire place was crazy and it was so easy to get lost in the show. This is quite possibly my favorite show ever, and tonight was my 25th. You could tell that Trent was really into it too, by the way he would change up the way he would sing things and just kind of extend things. The whole band was so full of energy. It was motherfucking hot in there. My jacket was wet and I wasn't even wearing it - it was on the rail in front of me.

During the intro to Burn, Trent kept whispering "Nothing can stop me now" since they just finished Ruiner. Jeordie led the crowd in a whole lot of hand clapping and fist pumping. Aaron jumped in the crowd at the end of HLAH and was still trying to get out of the crowd when the rest of the band was leaving the stage. Capital G was awesome, with the whole crowd chanting "G" and pumping their fists in the air. At least that's what it sounded like, unless it was "Hey". Someone needs to help me, because there is just too much goodness to remember.

It was great hanging out with Gayo and Deconstructor these last couple of days. Thanks for dinner after the show. The whale bacon was excellent. It was also great meeting The Me That You Know (Ryan). Thank God you finally made it! I sure do seem to meet a lot of people with that screen name.

I can't wait for tonight. I better start getting ready!

Thanks, masaaki, for the setlist (again)!

Perkules wrote:As I was fucking trying to say, Trent commented that the first time they played in Japan, there was dead silence after the first song and he thought "Holy shit, they hate us here." But then he realized that people are different over here. Then he said that "something has changed." (No shit. He should try being in the pit. I don't care how tough he thinks he is.)

Until last night, I believed it was an urban myth that he actually had said "they hate us here" back in 2000, even though I know as a fact that the Fragility tour in Japan was less attended because I was there (in Tokyo). I was afraid that NIN would never come back to Japan, so Summer Sonic 2005 was a huge surprise to me. And this tour. I don't know what has changed, but something has changed.

He likes Japan now, and we can hope to see them in a relatively short time. Sweet. How sweet.

@Perkules:
I'm glad you like the izakaya (居酒屋) dinner. Let me say in public that I'm a half vegetarian (I don't eat meat) and I have no responsibility whatsoever for the fact that our nation has the whale bacon.

Let's hope they play Closer tonight.

Have you seen these?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZZ2fot4woc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY0hTr1ssmM

(this is for the 18th show)
How energetic the show was has already been mentioned by others here, and I don't have much to add to them.
So I'm just going to write about the sound-check and M&G. You know, the mee-haa stuff. Well, maybe a bit about the show,too

My sister and I got in line for the spiral entrance around 3pm and there were already about 20 people before us.
At about 4, I don't know how many members there were, but Spiral let us all in for the sound-check and meet&greet.

For the sound-check, they played The Beginning of the End, Survivalism, Capital G, and The Good Soldier.
Since the last time I saw NIN's show was at a baseball stadium for Summer Sonic '05, looking at the band play right in front of my eye without being pushed or kicked by people around me was just great and so overwhelming.

After the sound-check, they all came down to greet us. Jeordie->Aaron->Alessandro->Josh->Trent.
They all seemed to be in a good mood and were very friendly.
I talked a bit with everybody except Jeordie. Aaron was so cute. He greeted every single person saying 'Hi, I'm Aaron, what's your name? Nice to meet you' I said to him 'you are so polite' and he said giggling 'well, I'm in a polite country with polite people. So, I wanna be polite, too'.
Alessandoro was like that, too. He was drinking Coke zero(can) which I had never seen in Japan. He told me his people smuggled it into Japan. Josh told me he is going to Disney Sea. I asked Trent if he is joining Josh, and he laughed and said 'Disney Sea? Josh would go, yeah, he would go, but I'm not going'
He was so down to earth it's hard to believe that it's the same man who gives such a charismatic performance on stage.

I got everyone's autograph on my passport. They all said I might get into trouble as they signed on it.
(Trent said 'mmm...Having my name on your passport might not be such a good idea')

About the show itself, I enjoyed this one the least of three shows, not because NIN gave a bad performance, but because I missed about 3 songs in the middle of it, and when I came back I had to stay at the very back of the venue where I couldn't see much.

Originally, I was in the very first row in front of Jeordie side of the stage. As soon as the opening act finished their gig, the crowed started to move toward the front, and they kept pushing and pushing. I seriously felt like 1000 people were pushing me.
When Hyperpower started, the crowd went CRAZY and my feet were no longer touching the floor(i was being pressed to the bar in front of me). Jeordie was right in front of me agitating the crowd. Trent was energetic and so focused. They made me forget about the pain my body was feeling, and I was screaming and jumping. Then as I seemed to have exhaled all my breath I had in my lungs by Gave Up, I started to feel sick during Help me I'm in Hell(for real!). Then in the middle of Me, I'm Not, I could no longer breath and had to get out the pit. It took two security guys and a big Caucasian guy behind me to pull me out(and I'm not that big). The floor was sooooo chaotic. It took me 10 minutes to get out the hall cos the place was packed and dark. It was like trying to walk through a super crowded train of Saikyo line.

When I went back in, they were playing Good Soldier.
In the back of the venue where I stayed til the end, I saw many office worker type of people in suits. They weren't as wild as people on the floor, but they were singing along and jumping up and down as well. Looking at them enjoy like that somehow made me smile.
There were also some intoxicated guys in the back, and I was worried that they might make stupid noise during Hurt, but they didn't. Well, actually a little, but people around them(including myself)hushed them, and I thought that version was the most memorable one I've ever heard until the day 3.
Overall, the band's performance was AWESOME.

mikeko wrote:If I remember correctly, Trent said (replying to "happy birthday") "Thank you. Twenty-nine. I'm trying to stay in the character, you know." Could anyone confirm that?

I think that's what he said,too. He chuckled and seemed very happy, didn't you think?

As gayo says, there were many people in business suits on Friday. They, in their 30s, must be loyal/die-hard fans like me myself, who also had been to the notorious Japan tour in 2000, which made Trent believe that we "hated" him here in Japan. I hope all of us die-hard Japanese NIN fans got to hear what Trent said on 19th (see Perkules's post above, @ Sat May 19, 2007 8:26 pm).

I was spoken to by one of the "salary-man NIN fans" at the lobby while the front act were on stage. He told me how he was surprised to see so many young people. He was tired after work, and felt slightly dizzy to see the crowd. He might have wanted to get to the front row but it didn't looked possible for him. Poor guy.

gayo wrote:It was like trying to walk through a super crowded train of Saikyo line.

How apt!

If you don't have a clue what we are talking about, well, I know of a superb picture of another notorious morning train in Tokyo - it's called Yamanote line (the silver one). It's a platform, not the train itself, but I hope you all can have an idea.
http://www.jfindia.org.in/nihongo456/BA ... L-2055.jpg

And gayo, too bad you were pushed really really hard. I don't like being pushed and pushing and shoving even though I sort of like being in a moshing crowd when it is done properly.

On the 18th, I at first stayed at the back of the front half of the main floor, on the right-hand side. But I was pushed forward the moment the lights went down and Hyperpower! started. I found myself in the fifth or sixth row in front of Aaron. I stayed there until Last (the third song), but yeah, "this isn't meant to last" was the case because I simply couldn't breathe, and I had to get back to the tenth of fifteenth row. Then it was getting calmer during Piggy, and many people didn't seem to know what to do with Capital G (probably they haven't listened to Year Zero?). During the calm moments, I went a few rows forward so as to get a bit sharper sound, and enjoyed myself in the relatively stable condition during Burn's first half. Then the push 'n' shove craze took to the floor again and I was thrown in the push 'n' shove zone... Boys, moshing doesn't mean pushing other people into the moshpit!!

I gave up during the Gave Up (for real!), making my way backwards. When the band played calmer tunes like Me, I'm Not, Eraser and La Mer, several agressive ones again pushed and shoved their ways back, pretty violently. Then, when the band began Wish, somebody standing right at my back literally threw me into the push 'n' shove pit again. I wanted to stay at the place where I was!! I don't think he or she in person went into the chaos. It even seems to me as if to these people agressive tunes mean they can push other people forward, and they can stay as they are and watch the chaos... And this really pisses me off. So after surviving the chaos, I found my place among tall and not-so-agressive guys where it seemed pretty "safe", and indeed it was. But I couldn't see the stage at all.

Slightly off-topic, but let me keep on... Honestly if it were a hardcore punk gig with hard-core hardcore-punk fans in Japan, it would be more orderly (a strange word for hardcore punk, I know) because everybody knows how to "mosh" and how not to be aggressive/violent. I remember I slipped on the wet floor and fell down at a Sick Of It All gig in Tokyo in 1995 or so and everybody helped me to stand up again. One guy, completely covered with tatoos, even asked me "Are you all right, miss?" But during the same period (1990 - 1995) at a junk/grunge band gig (possibly Mudhoney, but not so sure), a girl in front of me was pushed and fell down, and nobody even tried to help her. I bent down and grabbed her by the arm, and then, I was kicked from the back and fell. I was invisible for the people looking only at the stage. Then, somebody stepped on my hand and AUCH!

This is what you would get in a supposedly "polite" country of sushi and Hello Kitty. Aaron should have been surprised if he had been on the floor all the time.

In fact, we have our own Altamont in the 1980s. During a punk gig at Hibiya Park in 1987, there was a shoving match among the audience, which resulted in three deaths and more than twenty injuries. I'll never forget about the tragedy and want everybody not to be pushed and/or kicked. Moshing and crowd surfing are basically okay if done properly by the people who knows how to do it safely, but sadly enough, the fact is that many people don't care anything about others. I now feel we are to blame because we've failed to talk about 1987 Hibiya incident. (I was a student at the time and was deeply shocked.)

Back to the topic, even the most agressive boys were nailed to the floor during Hurt. The performance was just so awesome. They may have never heard the song, but quite clearly they were deeply impressed, which is lovely.

So overall, I really enjoyed the show on the 18th. The performance was far more than I expected. I liked the setlist, with Last at last after 15 years.

Thank you for your greatest show!
I hope you will join to Fuji Rock FESTIVAL!
I love you! I will forrow you forever!

5/18
soundcheck:
1,The frail
2,The beginning of the end
3,Survivalism
4,The good soldier
5,Capital"G"

Amazing! Beyond description! NIN was greater than the greatest! This was the most exciting and fascinating show I've ever experienced. I am lucky that I'm living in this world now where NIN exist. Seriously hope to have you again here in Japan very soon!

I totally agree with gayo and deconstructer.The mosh pit at the night of May 18 was not so friendly.People kept pushing from the back.I tried to stay there but I felt as if the oxygen was almost out ,and I couldn't see anything,just the pressure of the crowd.After few songs I choose to escape from it and ran to the back area,to somewhere with a complete view of the stage,and with cool air.The performance itself was absolutely great.I would wish the crowd to be a bit tender with a bit more respect for others,or it would probably be dangerous for everyone to easily get hurt there.