NIN, Mastodon Review

Wow, what a week!

It was kicked off with an incredibly raw NIN show (5-10-09). It was absolutely amazing, and pulled off without the usual high tech props that fans have seen for so many years.

Sadly, this might be the last nails show I will ever get to see. And other than Bonnaroo, this is probably the last nails show within a 4 hours of Knoxville. For sure, Trent seemed very serious about his retirement plans. Though, a friend I went to the show with, (who also happens to be the biggest nails fan this side of the reptilian universe) is convinced that NIN will be back very soon... We can only hope...

The amazing set list for the Show:

Noise Intro
1,000,000
Wish
Heresy
March of the Pigs
Something I Can Never Have
meddle
The Becoming
Head Down
Mr. Self Destruct
Reptile
The Big Come Down
Gave Up
Gone, Still
Survivalism (w Saul Williams)
Banged & Blown Through (w Saul Williams)
Home
Trent Speaks & Intros Band
Physical (You're So)
Down In It
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like A Hole

While NIN is retiring, I saw another band this week that seems to be just emerging in their place as one of the best prog metal bands to ever roam the earth - Mastodon. If you love prog-metal, and you haven't listened to Mastodon's new album, Crack the Skye, then drop everything you are doing and run immediately to the record store and get this amazing work of art.

It was certainly an awesome surprise to see them play in Asheville this week (5-14-09), as they played Crack the Skye in its entirety in the first set, along with incredible visuals that corresponded with the concept of the album. The second set was ripe with older material.

One thing I am always amazed by is how incredibly difficult Mastodon songs are to play: they are loaded with spastic time changes and jazz- metal lead parts that are used like other bands use rhythm parts, and its awe-inspiring to see this pulled off live!

Set List from the Asheville Show:
Oblivion
Divinations
Quintessence
The Czar
Ghosts of Karelia
Crack the Skye
the Last Baron
Bladecatcher
Colony of Birchmen
The Wolf is Loose
Crystal Skull
Capillarian Crest
Iron Tusk
Megalodon
Seabeast
March of the Fire Ants