The Ford Ampitheatre needs to improve its access situation. That said, where should I begin in telling the tale of my fabulous adventure at NIN|JA? Probably with the fact that we were late to the show. This was not cool, but acceptable. After all, we very willingly cut things close so we could catch a showing of Star Trek XI (to be honest, I don’t know how the hep cats are referring to that movie – Star Trek Reboot? Star Trek 09? I’m old school and I like Roman numerals in my Star Trek! Or, as my mom used to say, Star Tracks). It was my second time seeing it, but Gretchen and I had this huge in-jokey Star Trek thing in middle school and I had to see the film with her. The Westshore Plaza 14 put me over a barrel for ticket prices, but I’ll concede that the shopping center was pretty swanky and I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. I barely had time to ruminate for the twentieth time that weekend on wanting to be in the middle of a Chris Pine, Zach Quinto, and Karl Urban club sandwich – we had a show to make!
At this point we were on time. Maybe running a few minutes behind the swing of things, but I assured Gretchen that “these things never start right on time” and “Street Sweeper Social Club we can probably miss,” even though I have a great fondness for Tom Morello and would very much have liked to get my counter-culture rock on. Alas, not to be. My driving skills on the highway are nominal, at best, and Tampa makes that “nominal” into “nil”. After nearly killing us a few times and explaining to Gretchen that no, I don’t really like to tweet at 60 mph, we made it to the Ford Ampitheatre. Then we wondered “how the fuck do we get in here?” We didn’t see an obvious entrance. Well, dummy, that’s because it’s on the other side! Like a mile from the actual ampitheatre, which might as well be joined to the freeway! I probably could have leapt from my car Hudson Hawk style and landed in our seats more quickly and with less bodily harm than I got from our actual course.
Not really. But it did take a helluva long time. I can at least credit NIN fans with being a really cool bunch. After we made it down the exit, through the single lane of directed traffic, around the corner, through the entrance to the grounds, around a mall-like parking lot and into our space (moving at 5 mph, tops, mind), it only took us about a half mile of walking to get to the ampitheatre! Thanks Tampa! :)
Tickets were easy enough to procure, as I’d gone through the nin.com presale. I just walked up, showed my ID (which they apparently didn’t even care about, because the amiable dude just asked for my last name and didn’t even glance at my license. Hm), and walked to the security line.
By this point we had heard “Terrible Lie” while scrambling to the presale window. I was missing “Terrible Lie”, nooooo!! But, I really had nothing to worry about. I’ve seen that song live at every NIN show I’ve been to and it’s nothing new under the sun. I was more bummed to also miss “Sin”, which began as we dashed to our seats in the (very very crowded) Ampitheatre. I probably won’t forget Gretchen and I running madly through the throngs, hands clasped, giggling, to find our seats. Good times.
Trent was rocking some very unfortunate shorts that came right out of any guy’s wardrobe from my sophomore year of high school, but no one can really blame him considering how godawful hot it was. At this point (nearly 8 pm) it was still very bright outside, not even a hint of nightfall. So I can say that the atmosphere for NIN really hadn’t kicked in. The crowd echoed this feeling and wasn’t very rockin’ and/or vocal. I suddenly felt that missing “Terrible Lie” had been no great loss.
I “do the moves” at NIN shows. I don’t go for the mosh pit, having the physical fitness of a sick baby puppy and a low tolerance for drunk people, but I do like to get into it. The seats at the Ford Ampitheatre provided us with enough leg room to do a bit of jumping/dancing around while standing up, which was sweet. You may wonder why I mention this now. Because next on the set list was “March of the Pigs”. Killer as usual.
During “Piggy” (which sounded better than it has in years! – I only know that from hearing bootlegs, sadly…), Trent came down to the barricade and handed his mic to the GA people. That was awesome and really served to get the crowd going with some unity. By this point I think everyone was pretty stoked.
Thanks go to EMdemo @ YouTube for some killer HD footage of the concert. The sound is incredible on these videos.
One of my favorite moments came next. One I’d been really hoping for, actually. See, my first time hearing “The Wretched” live was also at my first NIN show with shit seats and little appreciation for the song. So, for each consecutive show on LiTS, I was hoping for “The Frail” to lead into its logical coupling. Tonight, it did! I leaned over to tell Gretchen that “if they start playing the song I’m hoping for, I’m going to lose it.” I did, with many others.
“Discipline” and “Head Down” came next. I’m a big fan of ‘The Slip’ and really enjoyed these two songs, but after seeing them both so many times on LiTS I was most eager to see how the guys would switch things up for the night.
The switch-ups began with the next song, “La Mer”, which, if you’ve never heard it live, is phenomenal. Justin on a stand-up bass alone was worth the price of admission, but the sheer exhilaration of knowing that great things were coming started to make the arena buzz. When Trent launched into “The Good Soldier” I could feel a few disappointed vibes, but then he announced that they were going to play a song they hadn’t played in years. Everyone was on the edges of seats with anticipation, and when “I Do Not Want This” started there was a collective quick breath drawn. Yes, it kicked inordinate amounts of ass.
But that wasn’t all! “IDNWT” was followed by “The Downward Spiral” (!!!!!) and “Non-Entity” – holy shit.
And then, there was “Lights in the Sky”. It seems dubious at best that the namesake for the “Lights in the Sky over (North/South) America” tour was never played on said tour. This fact has been pointed out by thousands more, and I’m saying nothing new there. But I don’t really know if anyone sincerely expected the song to premiere live on that night, after that batch of songs, providing an eerie coda to a combo punch of live rarities.
This song, is, of course, the most intensely special of all NIN songs to me. It was released only a couple of months after my mother’s death, and summed up my feelings so well. I’d been talking to Gretchen earlier that day, in fact, about finally getting my LiTS tattoo to match the symbol on my left wrist (I plan to get the LiTS symbol on the opposite wrist, in my mom’s memory), and hearing this song live just seemed to be a push toward that. Gretchen held me for the song and I shed a few tears, looking over at the sunset sky, feeling so very lucky I got to hear this and feel this. I don’t say “transcendent” much when describing rock concerts, but this came as close as I’ve ever felt. Tomorrow would be Mother’s Day. Love you, mom.
That sort of mood can’t last at a NIN concert, though. “Wish” had me jumping all over the place and singing along within moments. The mood swing continued with “Physical” (also a treat to hear!) and “The Hand That Feeds” (which I’m actually surprised to still hear played – aside from the Guitar Hero factor).
“Head Like a Hole” was awesome, though not quite as intense as it was in Vegas. I kept saying to myself “holy shit this might be the last time I sing ‘Head Like a Hole’ with a crowd and see Trent screaming these lyrics and wave my arms during the chorus oh maaaaan!” I was half-elated and half-bummed beyond belief. I channeled all that into having the time of my life during the song. There was a nagging bug in my head that kept saying I’d be disappointed by the closing number. After all, “Closer” hadn’t been played yet and isn’t that what everyone comes to NIN to hear?
HAHAHA not tonight!! I applaud Trent for making the decision to cut that dead horse/bloodless turnip from the lineup. “Hurt” began. I had just been considering the possibility of no more NIN, thankful that I got to see a show on this tour (I’d been scrambling for a way to sell my tickets two weeks before, in the throes of money panic, but I (thank god) decided to keep them), and that it had been with my bff of 16+ years. Of course I teared up. Of course I sang along (softly). This was monumental!
After an extended standing ovation, I beat feet to the merch booth for a t-shirt. Somehow I never convinced myself to drop the $35 on a shirt during LiTS, and now I regret that. So, I figured, I wouldn’t let myself down now. I stood in line for the customary For Fucking Ever to get….the wrong size. I stood BACK in line for about ten more minutes. By now Jane’s was into their set. I’m not a huge JA fan, so no big loss. I do dig them, though, so we got back in time to hear “Whores”, “Been Caught Stealing”, “Stop!” (my personal fave JA song – I’m not very original), and, of course, “Jane Says”. The crowd had dissipated greatly, leaving about 40% for JA, but I figured that I paid a great sum of money to be there and wanted to get the most out of it! Everyone was stellar, the crowd was truly feeling good by this point. When the show ended, it was past the midnight mark but none of us were really read to go home.
So I went out and had my last go at waaaayyyy too much food at IHOP for one last time before going on a vicious crash diet the next day (which I’m still on, thanks).
All-in-all, a fantastic experience. Thanks, Trent, for keeping it real (although I have no idea what that means in this context).
Oh, and just for the record, yes I still miss Ally. :(
Showing off a jump shot that is, despite her non-professional status, better than Patrick Ewing’s.
This is just magical. Her smile really is an anti-idol smile, I guess that’s why I love it. Despite that, she smiles with her eyes like a champion.
I CAN HAS FOURTHMEAL?
Maasa has fabulous versatility; she looks so elegant here…
…but looks just as awesome in overalls, doesn’t she?
“That there charcoal killed a man. Ya can’t be too careful around rogue charcoal, missy”
o_________o Those are some enchanting eyes you have there, Maasa.
This is my favorite bikini in the whole photobook. And this photo is great, it really captures a moment.
HIP PORN. HIP PORN. HIP PORN. Oh, to see this in live action. Somehow I don’t remember this being part of the Making DVD.
This is such a goofy, typically “WE’RE GOING TO THE BEACH :B : B :B” outfit, but of course Maasa works it.
WHAT THE HELL SHE LOOKS LIKE KAGO FROM ONE ANGLE AND MAIMI FOR ANOTHER.
And in conclusion, the most beautiful girl in Berryz ladies and gentlemen. <3____<3
