I was away this weekend, but I got back to the city just in time to change and go see NIN at Hammerstein. I didn’t manage to leave the apartment till about 6 and door was at 6:30, but I still scored a place near the front on the left side. I couldn’t believe how young the crowd seemed to be (I wonder if I looked that young at 16 or 18 or however old these people were) but I ended up in a group of fans my age or older, and we traded concert war stories while we waited for and through the unremarkable opener.

I admit that I’d actually gotten a little tired of the new NIN album in the past week or so, but the show changed that (the new songs sound much better live, without exception) and reminded me why I like the band so much in the first place. Highlights include the reworked version of Closer, You Know What You Are, Burn, Suck, and The Big Comedown. Not sure if there were any real weak points - I didn’t look at my watch once - but I do still feel that the middle bit in With Teeth is too long.

Thanks to the spot I grabbed and held onto, I was able to see perfectly, with none of the crap that comes with being in the pit. Along with a couple Red Bulls and some preventative foot care (extra socks and lots of bandaids where I’ve gotten blisters in the past), it made for one of the best show experiences I’ve had. Good sound, good view, no aching feet and no assholes - amazing!