Nine Inch Nails on stage

Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction are on tour together for, most likely, the first time in two decades. Back in 1989, when Pretty Hate Machine was released, nobody could have imagined the wild success that Nine Inch Nails would have had. Today Trent Reznor’s project is hailed as one of the most influential musical visions of our time.

According to Trent, this year marks the twentieth anniversary of Pretty Hate Machine and this inspired him to contact Jane’s Addiction about pulling together a tour. This appears the be the source of the NIN/JA tour. After this announcement, Tom Morello’s new project Street Sweeper Social Club was recruited and they hit the road.

Street Sweeper Social Club w/ Trent Reznor

The opening act for all NIN/JA specific shows is Street Sweeper Social Club unless noted otherwise on the various tour sites.  If you are a fan of Rage Against the Machine, you will enjoy SSSC.  They are fronted by rapper Boots Riley of The Coup and music is inspired by Tom Morello’s unique sound.  The highlight of the SSSC show, for all Nine Inch Nails fans, is certainly when Trent hits the stage for their closing song.  Though Street Sweeper Social Club is encouraging social awareness, which is positive, the sound and stage show are little more than a Rage Against the Machine retread.

Nine Inch Nails on stage

Nine Inch Nails is second on stage.  Though Trent stated that the set order was to ensure that he could watch one of his favorite bands play, it is most likely the order is historic since Nine Inch Nails was asked to open for Jane’s Addiction when they toured together originally.

Nine Inch Nails - Ripe with Decay

Order aside, Nine Inch Nail’s stage show is exciting and high energy. The lights blend with the stage antics well. Emotional songs are met with dim lights and waterfall effects while light set the stage ablaze during louder songs.  The transition in sound and feel from loud and grating to soft and emotional is solid and the light show is evocative.  Nine Inch Nails clearly deserves their reputation as a strong live act.

Trent Reznor walking across the stage

Trent doesn’t make any mention during the show, but the Nine Inch Nails portion of the tour is called “Wave Goodbye.”  This may be in reference to a post that Trent made on NIN.com stating that he is looking to “take a break.”  Nine Inch Nails fans should probably take note and buy tickets to catch this show as there is no promise that Trent and Co. will be making the rounds again any time soon.

Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro

Jane’s Addiction hits the stage last and, in San Diego, CA, they opened with their psychedelic opus Three Days from the album Ritual De Lo Habitual, setting the tone for the rest of the set.  Though they played several of their radio hits, Jane’s Addiction focused more on a psychedelic mix of long guitar solos and lasers against the fog.  More of the show seemed to focus on the light show than any stage performance from the band.  Perry performed in his typical, self-important manner, acting as if the crowd knew or cared about the band’s catalogue of obscure b-side tracks.  After a great lead up by Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction felt more like a letdown than an explosive close.

Jane's Addition Light Show

All photographs taken by Chris Stead.