T Minus 3 Days and Counting...

It's now just three days before Lolla kicks off and the excitement is damned near palpable here at Casa de Iris. The camera batteries are fully charged, the memory card has been cleared off, clean underpants have been packed...in short, we are SO ready to be rocked.

I've been keeping an eye on NIN.com which has resumed photoblogging from the road and what I've seen there has me seriously pumped up. The stage production looks fantastic! It seems as though we're going to get the setup that was lacking in Vienna last year. That's not to say that Trent and Co. didn't give it 110% with the performances we attended but the "Year Zero tour" took such a minimalist approach to stage aesthetics in the beginning. I suppose the idea was to echo the dystopian future laid out in the ARG storyline but damn man, a couple of swinging lamps does not a stage production make. Although...Cardboard_Trent was comedic gold.

So anyhow, I've been trying not to read too many concert reviews because I still want to be surprised at our show on Sunday but that's proving difficult since my curiosity is piqued. While poking around the Ninternets tonight I came across a radio interview Trent did recently for Q101 in Chicago.

Trent phoning it in.

For those who can't listen right off, Trent teases us about a possible collaboration between himself and Saul this weekend, hints at a secret project still in the works with Year Zero along the lines of a TV/internet series, and generally talks about his current situation as a free agent and what it's entailed for him thus far. He even cracks a joke about no longer needing sleep now that he's 70 years old after the interviewer brings up the fact that NIN is nearing its 20 year inception anniversary. Really? 20 years? I think that would bring him up in Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame eligibility age. But that's another story for another day.

If you're having trouble keeping up with the rapid fire, nightly photo updates you can check the unofficial NIN.com Blog & Media Archive. It can take a few hours from the time a picture is first posted on NIN.com but they usually have everything archived by the next morning.

Checking in with Trent, Part 3

Is it sad that the best part of this performance is when the noise kicks in towards the middle? Trent, honey, you sound way too out of breath, the pitch is all off, you're screechy/screamy in all the wrong places (really the best part of this song is how smooth and controlled your voice is...was...whatever), and are you fucking making a shadow puppet bird in the beginning?
For any of those who want to start shit and say “well NIN live has never completely sounded like the album versions. That’s part of what Trent loves about touring is how the songs get changed up”, just hold up. Some of my favorite songs are the live versions. See pretty much anything off the And All That Could Have Been DVD. Even with all the love in the world for this man, I still have to call it like I see it this time. Goddammit Trent, this was a highly anticipated song to hear live for me too. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

Thanks to Rob for trying to get a closer shot of the stage...even if it didn’t quite work either.

I will say you look cute here, Trent. Short, but cute.

Grumpy Iris out.

Edit: So if you're one of the ones wondering what the fuck I'm complaining about and can't see the embedded video, check the new live performance video on nin.com of The Great Destroyer.

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Jesus Fucking Christ

Okay, so we made the PAINFUL and CONTENTIOUS decision to put WTC on hiatus. Then what happens? Trent Fucking Reznor decides to make about 7 gazillion updates to his home page. While I'm on vacation and can't see any of it, of course. And it's a good thing that we're carrying the torch of greyhound rescue on our page because apparently he's decided that he doesn't need "Resources" anymore.

But Iris sent me this infinitely helpful link that shows all of the recent updates, and of course, I have some comments.

August 1st--pics from bus. Trent is not the best photographer.

August 1st--Russian "Survivalism" video. Didn't that lead singer guy show up in some Danny Boyle movie at some point? He kind of looks like Trainspotting's "Spud." In addition, I'm sure those Russians could tell Trent a thing or two about secret surveillance and having the police bust down your door . Bless 'em. Plus, I'm especially proud because I'm part Russian. (The HIGHLY DYSFUNCTIONAL part of the family, but no matter.)

August 2nd--Rob's toilet pic. Yeah. I still hate him.

After that...a bunch of hipsters taking tourist photos. Zzzzzzzz...

Also, while I was away, Iris had sent me a pic of the band looking very staged in their boredom while being stuck at the airport. Cute shoes, Trent!

So in this thread, post your thoughts and any new updates! You didn't think we were going to get THAT far away from Nine Inch Nails, did you?

If I were ambitious, I'd steal a pic for this post, but I'm feeling kind of crabby and tired at the moment. Ah, vacation!

Okay, so I changed my mind after getting some rest. This one is new...is it just me or is Trent really channeling Jason Lee in this pic?

Lollapalooza TOMORROW!!!!