The industrial rock band will be mixing it up over a series of six shows at the L. A. venue with The Jesus and Mary Chain.<\/b>
\nNine Inch Nails was pure fire during the band\u2019s first of six sold-out shows at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles Friday night. The industrial rock group, fearlessly led by consummate performer Trent Reznor, was mighty from start to finish, coming out on time (9:45 p.m.) and straight away with thick fog, intense strobe lighting and rapid fire blasts of music that transitioned into \u201cMr. Self Destruct.\u201d
For a man who was so dark, mysterious and who didn\u2019t at all expect to live through 1994\u2019s appropriately titled \u201cThe Downward Spiral,\u201d Reznor, now 53, has gone on to be one of the most dynamic frontmen in rock music. He\u2019s unafraid of experimentation and ferociously goes straight for the jugular with both the music and lyrical content. The band typically plays arenas or outdoor amphitheaters when it comes to town, however it opted to play the cozy into the 5,000-capacity Palladium for the series of six more intimate experiences while out on its Cold and Black and Infinite Tour in support of its latest six-song release, \u201cBad Witch.\u201d
The smaller setting must have been of comfort to Reznor, who talked more from the stage than ever before. He played saxophone during NIN\u2019s latest single, \u201cGod Break Down the Door\u201d and though he\u2019s notoriously a very stoic figure, the crowd caught quite a few glimpses of Reznor\u2019s wide smile during the 21-song set.
Though NIN packed itself onto a tinier stage, the band brought a good amount of production. The lighting was insane. The signs were posted on the venue doors with warnings about the use of strobe and laser lights and they were not joking around as each light setup paired well with the vibe and intensity of each and every song.
Of course the band delivered on the classics \u2014 \u201cHead Like a Hole,\u201d \u201cThe Hand That Feeds\u201d and \u201cCloser\u201d \u2014 but the L. A. crowd was treated to a trio of songs mid-set courtesy of Reznor\u2019s side project How to Destroy Angels, which includes Reznor\u2019s wife and fellow L. A.-area vocalist Mariqueen Maandig. As if NIN wasn\u2019t moody enough, the trio of HTDA songs \u2014 \u201cParasite,\u201d \u201cWelcome to Oblivion\u201d and \u201cA Drowning\u201d \u2014 just drenched the venue with musical heaviness.
Reznor seemed to be relishing every second of the set as he bounced back and forth between instruments and getting a death grip on the mic stand as he passionately belted out his songs. \u201cReptile\u201d was a highlight with all of its trudging heaviness and \u201cCopy of A\u201d was set to some cool stop motion-like shadow projections on the simple stage backdrop.
\u201cAll of these shows, we don\u2019t take for granted,\u201d Reznor said to the crowd during the three-song encore. \u201cIn the past, we couldn\u2019t wait for it to be over\u2026 but that\u2019s now how it is anymore. That feels good, man, thank you for sticking around. I really appreciate it.\u201d
NIN closed the evening with \u201cHome\u201d from 2005\u2019s \u201cWith Teeth,\u201d 2002\u2019s album title track \u201cAnd All That Could Have Been\u201d and helped the audience calm themselves after a pumped up set by ending with a somber sing-along of \u201cHurt.\u201d
For this particular jaunt, Reznor chose the reunited The Jesus and Mary Chain as his opening act. Fans definitely witnessed something special with The Jesus and Mary Chain as the group sounded great and put on a spectacular show with a set that included \u201cJust Like Honey,\u201d \u201cHead On,\u201d \u201cAmputation\u201d and the dizzily distorted \u201cIn a Hole.\u201d Ahead of the crushing delivery of \u201cReverence,\u201d vocalist Jim Reid took a moment to thank the crowd and NIN for the hospitality, and to pay a quick tribute to Buzzcocks vocalist Pete Shelley, who died earlier this week at the age of 63.
Death in Vegas opened the show on Dec. 7 and will also perform on Dec. 8. HMLTD will open the shows on Dec. 11-12 and Soft Moon will open Dec. 14 and 15.
With: The Jesus and Mary Chain and Death in Vegas
When: Friday, Dec. 7
Where: Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles
Also: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, Tuesday, Dec. 11, Wednesday, Dec. 12, Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 at Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets are sold out, however they can be found via secondary sellers starting at $95 at StubHub.com and $103 at VividSeats.com .<\/p>\n