i'm gonna burn atlanta down....

gothgate (gothgate05@aol.com):

Well, Blakharte and I went to Atlanta on Sunday, September 8, for the Night of Nothing. Here's my little review....

We arrived early to check in with our friends at the Masquerade, find out some stuff, etc. As in New Orleans, we were lucky enough to be able to sit in for sound check. I think I like seeing soundchecks almost better than shows. I was hoping to photo this show, but that didn't work out -- despite getting the okay from the man himself, his PR and security people didn't concur. And with the madhouse the Masquerade became, that was indeed for the best. If I had gotten permission, I'm sure I'd've wound up with a broken lens or two. So I wasn't too unhappy with the situation; I'd shot a whole bunch in Nola and was happy with that. Besides, I kinda like seeing one NIN show where I'm "working" and then one where I can just sit back and enjoy the show.

Anyway, soundcheck was more difficult and longer at the Masquerade than at Jimmy's. There were equipment problems -- a persistent buzzing in Trent's monitor, problems with Kevin's mic, etc. etc. etc. -- so when the band started, they did a longer check set. "Wish," "Sanctified," "Dead Souls," "Animal" (Prick), "Tough" (Prick), "Suck," "R.S.V.P." (PWEI), "Wise Up, Sucker" (PWEI), and a reprise of "wish." During "Suck," Trent joked that just for fun, maybe they should do it without the tape. The nervous laughter from the rest of the band was funny.

The show started late after the crowd was subjected to one of the worst small local bands I've ever had the misfortune to hear. "17 Years" was their name. Wannabe Ramones/Green Day crap of the worst type. Avoid it at all costs.

The setlist for the show was much the same as in Nola. "Terrible Lie," "Sanctified," "Suck," "Wish," "Down In It," "Animal," "Tough," "R.S.V.P.," "Wise Up, Sucker," "Head Like A Hole," "Something I Can Never Have," and "Dead Souls."

Contrary to rumors and other posts I've heard or read, the lineup was this: Trent (vox, guitar), Danny (bass, guitars, keys on SICNH), Charlie (keys), Chris (drums), Kevin McMahon (guitar, backing vocals, lead on the two Prick songs), and Clint (singing the two PWEI songs and joining in on HLAH with Trent and Kevin). Robin Finck did not play (I've heard that rumor elsewhere), and neither did Richard Patrick (he did play in New York, though).

"Sanctified" had a much different sound then I've ever heard live before. Danny and Chris had this kinda voodoo groove drum/bass thing going underneath the sound that gave it a wicked feel. This was more noticable in sound check, without the other craziness of the show going on, but even at the show, it still gave it a nifty difference.

Unlike in Nola and NY (according to friends who were there), Trent did remember all the lyrics to all his songs this time [g].

The whole feel of the show in Atlanta was so different from the one in Nola. In Nola, Trent was Angsty-Boy extraordinaire. He fell on the floor, he crawled around, he screamed, he basically was out for destruction it seemed, and his shirt saying "Hate Me" on the back was, to me, a perfect metaphor for the entire show. In Atlanta, however, Trent was smiling, singing more often than screaming (although that could be because Trent told us earlier that his voice was giving him problems), not rolling around on the floor or trying to demolish Chris' drum kit as often, etc.

One other change between the two shows was the addition of "Dead Souls" to the encore. This is a favorite of mine, so I was happy about the addition. Heck, any additional NIN song would've been great to me. [g]

After the show was over, I watched a bunch of NINnies make asses out of themselves, scrambling around fighting over who caught the drumsticks thrown out into a clump of them by the stage techs. Jesus. Makes me embarassed to consider myself a NIN fan. I mean, this one guy and one girl had hold of opposite ends of a stick, dragging each other across the floor. These weren't teenyboppers either, but supposedly adults. Sheesh.

During the show, Trent did stop a couple of times to say things to the audience. One thing he said was that "Robin says hi." (Ah, my hope springs eternal that the Freak will someday be back with NIN! But I have no idea if he will...that's just my wishful thinking.) Later Trent said (about the three Nothing shows he'd done) that he was just getting together with some of his friends after having finished up the new Manson album, that the new Manson album kicked ass, that he was working on two projects right now: an album for Tapeworm, and the new NIN album. Then Trent invited the audience to return Monday night to see Meat Beat Manifesto. I'd've loved to stay, but Blakharte had to be back at work early Tuesday morning, so there was no way. Anyway, we'll be seeing MBM on Saturday here in Nola.

For those who've asked: As far as I know from talking to people, there are no more "Night of Nothing" shows planned, nor any kind of NIN mini-tour or anything like that.

\ So...that was my little adventure in Atlanta. I always say, any excuse for a road trip!... I just was happy to have such a good excuse this time.

annie (amf.bennett@worldnet.att.net):

It RULED! Trent put on such a good show. I even got a really good close-up picture of him. Most people didn't recognize him in the picture. He looks kinda different...wearing a Meat Beat Manifesto T-shirt. Anyway...rock on, Trent! Hope to see NIN back in Atlanta this year.

jason k. gibson (jgibson@westga.edu):

ANNIE! I was there, too, and folks, that concert rocked. Trent invited 1,200 of his closest friends to one helluva concert. (Okay, so we had to wait in line to buy tickets, and we really weren't "officially" invited....)

The Masquerade is a cool club, and Trent plays there every now and then. Don't know about Annie, but we waited in line for about five hours to get tickets, and each person could only buy two.

Trent did a few songs with Prick, and played the faves: "Head Like A Hole"... "Wish"... "Terrible Lie... "Down In It"... "That's What I Get"... "Dead Souls"... and a few others that I can't remember. Any of us could have hit him with a bottle -- he was that close, and very, very cool....

Just thought I would share that with everyone...any news out there on the new album? Trent talked about it about three times that night, it seems like...but no info or songs.

the once and future wolver (wolver@mindspring.com):

Well, I am at work with very little sleep after "A Night of Nothing." All in all it was a great experience. And for those who are interested, let me tell you about it.

First was the ticket line on Friday. Five-hour wait for tickets. It really kind of sucked. I waited alone for the most part -- Holly waited with me for about two hours but had to get back to work. She was waiting for tickets for Robin, but she was missing too much work for an hourly employee. The voucher system is good for limiting scalping, I think, but it takes forever to hand out the vouchers. There has to be a better way, I was thinking -- a photocopy machine or something could speed the process. Anyway I waited with a very preppy couple laughing at all the people in line, and a very quiet girl behind me (more on her later). Anyway, it took much longer than I expected, and I missed a lot of work, which came back to bite me later -- but what can you do, it's Nine Inch Nails.

Okay, so Saturday we were like, "We're going to see Nine Inch Nails, we're going to see Nine Inch Nails." Like kids about to get a audience with Barney or something. Then Sunday. The day sucks -- an idiot at the complex hit a water hydrant on Thursday and they kept turning off the water. You never know how much you use water till you lose it. Well, after a spring-water (read freezing) sponge bath, we got ready and left. We stopped for some food at the Varsity (the world's first fast food and still the largest drive-in in the world (tm)) and headed to the show. There was a line of about 50 or 60 people at 6:30, and the doors open at 8:30. Not bad -- we get in line. Remember that quiet girl from the ticket line? She was there -- no longer quiet, dressed to kill, and selling her extra ticket, $50 bucks the final price. I saw tickets being sold for $100 a pop. Not bad.

We had packed drinks and snacks in the car, so I went back to get some. And isn't it always the way, you leave to go to the car and run into Trent on the way back. No shit. I'm walking back and there is a small crowd of people surrounding something or someone. So I head over to check it out, and see this small guy wearing fatigue shorts and a black T for some band I never heard of. Hmmm, so I move to the front of the group and lo and behold, Trent Reznor. He had come out the back door to say hi to some of the fans. I stood there, kind of dumbfounded and pictures and autographs were being signed and then a light goes off in the head! Hey, would I like an autograph? Well, I was too slow, 'cause about the time I had gotten my voucher out of my pocket for him to sign, he was leaving and saying goodbye. Then I realize why...the 80 people now in line are running straight for us. There was one security guard, and I am sure they would have mauled him and Trent.

So I head back to my place in line, which Holly was keeping warm, and tell her my story. "Yeah, sure," she says. "No, really!" "Trent out back, just standing there." "Yep." "Is that what all the people were running for? I thought someone was just being silly and baiting all these people. Damn."

Robin shows up and takes me through the line. She had been there since about 3 p.m. using baked goods to get on the list. Tripp Cox was there -- not lost to the void as some have thought, but with a very cute girl and in strange leather pants. It was good to see him again. I was wearing my heater shirt and Robin wanted to show some of the people she was waiting in line with, so I modeled the shirt around.

I return to our place in line and hang out. Finally, the doors open and the line starts moving. We were in about 8:50, so we do a shooter and get a beer and stake a claim -- about 20 feet from the stage against the wall, a bit too close to the speakers but close to the stage and pretty safe from flying bodies and the like. About 9:30 a local Atlanta band came on -- 17 Years. Eh...kind of an '80s punk sound, not bad, not great. People were bitching and they said, "You have a choice -- listen to nothing (don't know if pun was intended) or listen to us till the real bands come on." That shut people up.

Well, 17 Years left about 10:10, it went dark about 10:20, and Nine Inch Nails à la Prick went on about 10:30. First song, "Terrible Lie." Then "March Of The Pigs," "Sanctified." The lighting was very cool for "Sanctified." The club was now full to capacity -- about 1,500 people. Then "Wish." Then Trent said, "Robin says hi." They did "Animal" and some other Prick song. Then came the lead singer of PWEI. See a trend here? They did "R.S.V.P." and "Love Me." "R.S.V.P." rocked. It was incredible. Trent sang backup and play guitar for Prick and PWEI. Wow. I really think "R.S.V.P." was my favorite song of the night. Then they all did "Head Like A Hole." That rocked hard also. All three singers belting it out. Amazing.

The stage went black for a little bit, then Trent came back and did "Something I Can Never Have." It was kind of a downer to end the show on. But he welcomed us all back to Meat Beat Manfesto tonight. He said they would all be there. So I have to be there, on the off chance of seeing Trent again. And MBM is not bad -- I have a CD, can't complain. Trent ended it with, "This is one of the strangest shows. Thanks for coming, good night." And that was it. I fought my way over to the T-shirt table and bought another black NIN shirt to add to my collection. Then home. Robin crashed with us -- hope she made it home, she bailed before I got up in the morning.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat. If you get a chance, do it.

Oh, and a hello to the a.m.n lurkers I saw that night.