My Third Nine Inch Nails concert experiance...(I apologize for the format)
This was quite the emotional rollercoaster of an experiance really looking back. So me, Matt, and Micah
are rollin down the highway, and we get off the exit right past the actual Map Quest exit
because our friend Lori tries to hook us up with a shortcut. Naturally, with me and Matt
not really knowing the layout of this particular area of Atlanta(if it was closer to
the actual city like Philips it woulda been simple but noooo), so we end up getting lost(right after we pass a road that a black cat passes us in mind you, coincidence?)
near Hapevile and eventually end up on a road literally named S(south) Central, cue
obligatory "were in Compton!" jokes. After getting lost and for awhile, we pull over to
gas station, ask for directions, and eventually end up at Lakewood
Ampitheater around like 7:15ish,
basically missing the opening set of the first band Street Sweeper by the time we get
in line. Now here's where the story gets REALLY interesting, and by interesting I mean
a fucked up disaster. This "line" were waiting in is essentially the will call line for
people who purchased pre-sale tickets, many owners of pit tickets(including us) and front row sections
So after about 5 or 10 minutes of standing in a huge line with about 300 or so people, I
decide to walk up to the box office and just figure out what the hell exactly is going on.
There are people crowded around the box office just screaming at the staff inside, everyone
is incredibly disgruntled, so you've got a bunch of hardcore NIN fans standing around
getting no tickets that they paid hard earned money for because of a venue's stupid
incompatant staff.
It was so bad you would hear them call out a name to pick up the ticket I'd
say every 5 or so minutes. And there were people who had been waiting in line for hours. Now get this...this is where shit really hit the fan and I
seriously thought a riot was about to take place. It's 7:45. The opening band's set ended
at around 7:30. You suddenly hear drums in the background, and you hear Trent Reznor's voice
start to sing the opening verse of the song "1,000,000". There are still 300 something people
standing around waiting for their tickets. Before you know it, one of the most popular
and essential NIN songs out there "Wish" begins to play, the second song on the set. My buddy Matt
just missed his favorite fucking song. Can you imagine the disappointment of everyone at this point?
Me and Micah attempt to go through the gate, telling the staff there about our situation,
showing them our receipts, but we basically are told that we cannot go through the gate
without a ticket with a barcode attached to it. I am seething with anger at this point.
I'm about ready to lose it, as is the other 300 of us. FINALLY, after even a US Marshall officer arrived at the scene
and essentially did nothing about the situation for a good while, some people show up to the side with
will call pit tickets and start passing them out to everyone with pit tickets including me Matt and Micah.
So we end up missing the first 5 songs of the NIN set, which is a good quarter of the show.
Other people might not have been so lucky for all we know. So we arrive, NIN is finishing Something I can Never Have
by the time we show up. Luckily, the next song they play, the first that we actually get to experiance after going through such bullshit
is Metal, a song that just debuted live a few days ago. NIN goes onto play an incredible set featuring stuff like
The Becoming, Physical, Mr. Self Destruct, Gone, Still, Home, Down In It, a pretty diverse and kickass show.
Even with all the shortcomings, I was still having the time of my life of course, and then finally, a great moment
happened that was sort of a redemption. Towards the end of Survivalism, another one of my
favorite musicians Saul Williams comes out of NOWHERE and briefly joins NIN! This is already
one of my all-time favorite concert moments, and then Trent and Saul perform a duet of Banged and Blown Through, a song
off of Saul's album Niggy Tardust! This was pretty much the definition of epic, and I was screaming and singing along
like crazy all throughout this performance.
Jane's Addiction takes the stage later after this set, and I was pleasantly surprised how
cool they were live. I'd say a good 20-30% of the pit left after NIN though. I must say,
the pit/fanbase was much cooler and friendly during the NIN set though, just sayin >_>
Perry and Dave Navarro kicked a lot of ass though, very distinct stage presence and just an overall
damn charasmatic performance from all of them. Exceeded my expectations without a doubt. Been Caught Stealing, Stop!, and Mountain song were some highlights. Afterwards me Micah Matt and Lori
just chilled and got some Waffle House and what not which was cool.
Even so, the early-on occurance left a bitter taste. I really hope Trent and the rest of the NIN crew
finds out about all of this. They wouldn't leave something like this unanswered, least I'd hope not.
I'm definitely gonna be calling the people at Lakewood and the people behind the nin.com
presales about this one.
Overall, a pretty great night though.
I got a picture.
