NINE INCH NAILS LIVE - EMOTIONS HIGH AND RAW
Trent Reznor's studio magic turned computer-generated music into an
eloquent document of self destruction in the powerful concept album "The
Downward Spiral." Turning those songs into the full-throttle blitz you'll catch
onstage when his band Nine Inch Nails performs relied on the human
emotions of a talented group of musicians. Reznor has been both acclaimed
and criticized for the extreme emotions born out of songs that question
religion, relationships and sexuality. "The songs are very emotional in what is
being said in Trent's lyrics," says NIN drummer Chris Vrenna, Reznor's
longtime friend." I know what they mean to me and when I'm playing those
songs, I know how they affect me." Vrenna has been Reznor's right-hand
man in the studio since the NIN debut "Pretty Hate Machine," doing
everything from keeping the studio running to sampling sounds. When it was
time to find the NIN road band, Vrenna and Reznor wanted musicians who
could relate on the emotional level. "Coming from the same emotional
background, I feel, is more important than how well you can play your
instrument. That's one reason that makes our shows more intense when we're
up there," Vrenna says. "We found people that understood that. It makes us
stronger." The NIN live show also includes guitarist Robin Finck, keyboardist
James Woolley and multi-instrumentalist Danny Lohner. Close to three
months of intense, around-the-clock rehearsals have led to the frenetic "Self
Destruct '94" tour. On stage, NIN members continually switch instruments,
giving the music new life: A three-guitar barrage will assault you on the
Grammy Award-winning "Wish"; Reznor, Lohner and Woolley triple team on
the keyboards and turn "Closer" into a sensual prayer. The result is a richly
textured concert. The emotions some have found healing at home erupt live.
"It's catharic in a way for all of us, the crowd as well as the band," Vrenna
says. "You get those built up tensions and you just want to lash out a lot. I
think everybody feels that way. I get up there and I just hit things as hard as I
can for as long as I can. When I get done, I just feel good. I feel so calm."
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This article
is provided courtesy Keith Duemling and Tracy Thompson from the collection previously
located at SUS.
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