Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy

Nine Inch Nails were kicking ass as a band when I was 2 years old. They're STILL blowing out my eardrums and making my eyes bleed from all the awesome that is their concerts.

Trent Reznor is a god, period. His goal, other than making you have all of these feels (whether that's rage, or tears, or joy that comes out in headbanging or shaking your booty or just screaming the lyrics uncontrollably at the top of your lungs, is to make sure that no one is doing anything else other than being present at the show. The light show, of various degrees, over the various tours I've seen (Lights in the Sky,NIN JA, Wave Goodbye, Tension) is the BEST I've ever witnessed, hands down, by anyone.

Even if you're not a NIN fan, get a cheap ticket in the back somewhen, and go for the lights show. It's the most beautiful legal high, and the way that Trent has orchestrated the music to flow with the lights and the screens and all of the pretty, is mindblowing. I still really don't have a clue how it's done, but it doesn't matter, it's just beautiful.

NIN gigs are about 25 songs each, 2 and half hours or so of complete going crazy rocking out. Wear comfy shoes, it's a stadium tour, if you're on the floor, you're going to be standing for a long time in a mosh pit that is usually pretty insane (just dance harder than the people who are moshing, and you won't get pushed around;)

What can I say about NIN's music? I don't have enough adjectives to describe how varied, and just how freaking cool the songs are. Going to a show, you're taken on this whole epic journey of sound and light, and every musician in NIN as a touring band is so unbelievably talented. Most of NIN's biggest hits are considered "angry" music, but the songs I love best live are the ones where it's just such a performance of control.

One of my favorite concert moments ever, of any artist, is from one of the NINJA dates in Europe, where, for all of the lights and silhouettes, shadows and imagery of the blistering sound for most of the set, it was complete blackness, with Trent just stalking around the stage with a flashlight on himself, hissing "In This Twilight" into the mic. Spare, and lovely. Seeing NIN from the front row at London's O2, when Gary Numan came out and did Metal and Cars was pretty kickass.

And the latest Tension tour, the new songs from Hesitation Marks, like "All Time Low", which I can only describe as "funky", with female backup singers, and a range of instruments, and all of the dancing ever. So. Much. Awesome. Hours feel like minutes when you're having that much fun.

One of the few artists I can consistently say that whenever I go see them, I never want it to end. Go see a NIN gig. GO!

Skinny Puppy is one of the most exhilarating bands to see live both musically and visually. They have been associated as being one of the founders of the electro-industrial genre and have incorporated many unconventional tactics into their performance and music. The band’s sound is often very dark, eerie, and heavy. They have very metallic sounding drum beats that are harsh and hit you like a ton of bricks. Their synthesizers also sound very aggressive and staccato conveying their industrial sound. The guitar is presented in a very rhythmic manner with short blasts of crunchy, distortion. The lead singer, Nivek Ogre, runs his vocals through distorted effects for a more intense and abrasive sound. Skinny Puppy’s sound is very unique and their influence can clearly be seen through such artists as Nine Inch Nails. The darkness of Skinny Puppy’s music is also nicely complimented with the lyrical themes that are attached to the songs. Their lyrics cover such controversial topics as politics, animal rights, drug abuse, and religion. If Skinny Puppy’s music isn’t intense enough, their stage theatrics will be sure to put their audience in complete awe. They approach their concerts as a type of performance art. Ogre has dressed up in animal masks, performed with mud covered all over him, and has participated in mock executions on stage. The stage is often dimly lit with bright strobe lights flashing all over and films projected in the background. To say the least their performance is nothing less than in your face and completely engrossing.
Skinny Puppy is sure to never deliver a dull moment musically or visually while performing, and if ever granted an opportunity to see these legends of industrial music live, you should immediately jump on the opportunity.