Trent Gets Me Closer to God

This week has been like a wave of 90s nostalgia. I think it's a combination of trying to recall long forgotten memories for Ryan's birthday blog, pictures of high school dances posted on Facebook (thanks a lot Ryan and Scott) and the Nine Inch Nails concert last night. 

I have been looking forward to the NIN concert all summer. Monty and I bought tickets way back in May and imagine my disappointment when I got a call from Mont yesterday telling me he was stuck in Canada and wouldn't be home in time for the concert. So I called my favorite concert companion, my sister Paige and off we went.

We arrived at the E Center (which is actually a pretty good venue) and I was surrounded by black, black and more black: over sized black pants with lots of buckles, big black boots (knee high and thigh high), black hair, black fingernails. You get the picture. As I caught the first glimpse of Trent Reznor, dressed all in black, I was instantly transported back in time to 1994, when I was full of teenage angst, anger and depression.

It was a challenging year for me. I was coming to grips with my oppressive white, upper-middle class, Mormon upbringing. I rebelled against this seemingly Fascist regime by refusing to read For Whom the Bell Tolls for Honors English because I didn't like being told what I should or shouldn't read. I really showed that teacher when I was asked to leave Honors English because my work was subpar. I stopped going to Seminary and started skipping Chemistry a lot. I dyed my hair green to piss off one of my aunts. Turns out she didn't really care that my hair was green, but the dye did end up lasting about month instead of a week because my hair is so blonde. I looked like an idiot. 

My soundtrack during this dark year was mostly a mixture of NIN and Rage Against the Machine. First I became obsessed with Closer, it is such an awesome video. I remember writing, "I want to fuck you like an animal, I want to feel you from the inside ...you get me closer to God" in Ryan's yearbook that year and then his dad read it and kind of freaked out. Let's just say that Dick didn't really appreciate Trent Reznor's genius like I did. 

I quickly discovered Pretty Hate Machine and Head Like a Hole became my theme song of sorts, along with Rage's Killing in the Name. I used to love to drive around with my windows down screaming, "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" I didn't like being controlled, I didn't like authority, I didn't like being told what to do. I was questioning everything: parents, teachers, church, God, who I was. Head Like a Hole encompassed all these things for me:

God money I'll do anything for you
God money just tell me what you want me to
God money nail me up against the wall
God money don't want everything he wants it all

No you can't take it
No you can't take it
No you can't take that away from me
No you can't take it
No you can't take it
No you can't take that away from me

Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control

Bow down before the one you serve
You're going to get what you deserve
Bow down before the one you serve
You're going to get what you deserve

God money's not looking for the cure
God money's not concerned with the sick amongst the pure
God money let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised
God money's not one to choose

You know who you are

In conclusion, NIN puts on an amazing show and Trent still kicks ass live! Paige got part of Perfect Lie on video...the sound is terrible, but the lights look awesome. Best show I've seen in a long time.