At the Forum, Nine Inch Nails conjure rage and dread. Be afraid, Americans.

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It’s a really interesting time for Nine Inch Nails to be touring and performing their take on David Bowie’s song, “I’m Afraid of Americans.”

During Thursday’s show at the Forum-the first of two nights for Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Peel It Back’ tour-singer Trent Reznor didn’t discuss the new meaning behind a David Bowie song he’d previously remixed. Reznor also appeared as a somewhat unsettling character in the song’s music video, reminiscent of Travis Bickle from the film *Taxi Driver*.

A sense of discomfort spread through the packed Forum as the harsh, mechanical music began, and Trent Reznor sang the provocative lyrics from David Bowie’s song, including lines about isolation, desire, and a cynical view of faith.

It’s hard to deny a sense of unease about the current state of things. Nine Inch Nails perfectly captures those raw, primal feelings of fear, anger, and hopelessness that many of us are experiencing. They seem uniquely suited to express what’s on so many minds right now.

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The 2026 Coachella music festival, held April 10-12 and 17-19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, will feature performances by Devo, Turnstile, the Strokes, and possibly Radiohead, though details about the latter are currently unclear.

After nearly forty years together, Nine Inch Nails – consisting of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, along with their regular touring musicians – consistently achieves two impressive feats.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have become Hollywood’s go-to experts for cutting-edge film scores over the past 15 years, earning Oscars for their work on films like David Fincher’s “The Social Network” and Pixar’s “Soul.” They are now launching Future Ruins, a unique and ambitious film music festival coming to Los Angeles.

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Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Robin Finck performed at the Kia Forum, drawing a reaction from fans. (Photo by Hon Wing Chiu for The Times)

Thursday’s concert was also a powerful reminder of the band’s raw, aggressive side and how intensely they can perform.

The show began on a smaller, circular stage with Trent Reznor playing “Right Where It Belongs” on piano. He was soon joined by bandmates Atticus Ross, Alessandro Cortini, and Robin Finck, building the song into a chaotic version of “Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now).” Finally, drummer Josh Freese entered during the energetic and rhythmic performance of “Wish.”

Jordan Freese joined the tour band at the last minute when the group suddenly switched drummers with Foo Fighters right before the tour began. However, Freese, who previously toured with Nine Inch Nails in the mid-2000s, quickly became a popular and welcome addition, bringing a lot of energy and rock-solid drumming to the band.

Returning to the main stage, the band powerfully performed “March of the Pigs” and delivered a distorted, raw rendition of “Reptile.” During “Copy of A,” they covered the stage in gauze, creating many shadowy figures of Trent Reznor as he moved around and sang about the sadness and alienation of modern life.

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Ilan Rubin is a touring and session vet who most recently played in Nine Inch Nails.

I got a sneak peek at what Nine Inch Nails might have up their sleeve for Coachella during their set on the B-stage. It seems they’re really leaning into their collaboration with Boys Noize – the producer who opened for them – and they’re calling it ‘Nine Inch Noize.’ The vibe was intense, playing under this huge, red light. They debuted a new track, “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” from the upcoming ‘Tron: Ares’ film, but the real surprise was hearing classics like “Closer” and “Came Back Haunted” remixed with this raw, late-night energy. It was a totally fresh take on familiar songs.

As a long-time movie and music fan, I can’t picture a song as raw and intensely intimate – and honestly, a little bit scandalous – as Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” hitting the mainstream charts now. For younger audiences who are really drawn to that darker, more sensual vibe, it probably feels even more boundary-pushing than it did when it first came out.

Following energetic versions of “The Perfect Drug” and “The Hand That Feeds,” the band finished their performance with two songs that really resonated with the current feelings of the crowd. It was powerfully cathartic to shout along to lyrics like “Head like a hole, black as your soul / I’d rather die than give you control,” especially with everything happening in America right now.

The band finished their set with “Hurt.” Johnny Cash’s iconic recording of the song, made when he was 70, is now strongly associated with facing mortality. Trent Reznor, at 60, performed it on Thursday with the same intense emotion and powerful intimacy he brought to the song when he first wrote it. Nine Inch Nails captures the heartache inherent in the American experience, and their music continues to resonate deeply.

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2025-09-19 21:31