The Nine Inch Nails Experience

Nine Inch Nails Lights in the Sky tour is well under way and I just experienced the Houston leg of the tour and plan to see them again this October in New Orleans for the Tenth Anniversary of the Voodoo Music Experience. Instead of writing a hackneyed review I wanted to research the creation of the show and the technology on stage.

The Greater Good

Trent Reznor never one to shy away from technology and tour presentation has really pushed the envelop this time around. Rob Sheridan, Art Director of Nine Inch Nails, and Moment Factory, Montreal-based experience design company, produced perhaps the most spectacular tour in recent memory. Rob Sheridan’s photos captures a few moments of the concert experience.

Moment Factory no stranger to stage presentation, Cirque du Soleil being part of their resume, had an interesting undertaking when they were challenged with making the actual stage interactive.

The Toronto Star:

The company had a reputation for its use of cutting-edge technology, but even it wasn’t ready for what was in store when it was contacted last year by Roy Bennett, the lighting and set designer for Nine Inch Nails.

For example the song Echoplex has an actual interactive drum machine interface on stage as the crowd watches drummer Josh Freese manipulate the beginning beats of the song.

The New York Times recently covered Reznor’s frustration and ambitions.

Trent Reznor:

I don’t make any money because I spend it on the production… But I can’t afford to go lose money to play shows… What I’m trying to do is use the stage as an interactive instrument… I’m in the world of science fiction now.

The visuals remain stunning throughout the show climaxing with a cinematic view of a dystopian city approaching its final minutes.

Nine Inch Nails - The Greater Good (Live 2008-07-29 Calgary AB) from Michael Callahan on Vimeo.