I know in my previous post I mentioned I was going to post yesterday, but instead I spent yesterday napping and in a slight depression over the realization that the night before I saw what just might be my last Nine Inch Nails show ever - but WHAT A SHOW and WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

A couple weeks ago Trent Reznor posted on Twitter about a special opportunity where if you made a donation to a charity he was championing, that he would give you special backstage and onstage access to an upcoming NIN|JA show of your choice. The charity was to help Eric De La Cruz stay alive, basically. Eric needs a heart transplant but has no health insurance, and keeping him alive until a suitable donor is found (and so his name can even remain on the heart donation list) will require large sums of money. (Welcome to the screwed up American Health Care System - unfortunately, Eric’s situation is a glaring example of the flaws within it. If you don’t have money, you do not get the care you need and that is just not right.) One of my old classmates John Fritz had a heart transplant. I worked with his brother-in-law at the time and I remember how stressful it was on his family with the uncertainty they faced on a daily basis, and John had health insurance! I can’t imagine the stress the De La Cruz family must be dealing with, but if we as a community can help relieve at least one major stress (just having the money to keep Eric alive) then they can focus on other things - like helping Eric get better.

So, on June 3rd I went to the NIN|JA show at the Comcast Center in Mansfield - I saw the show from the stage and from awesome seats in the crowd, met the band, hung out backstage, met other great fellow fans and all around just had the Best. Day. Ever. For a rock-n-roll geek like myself it was just awesome to see how such a big show is put on from a production standpoint, and also meet a band that I have listened to on a steady rotation for almost 20 years.

I thought about writing a very detailed account of my day, but I think I will do the selfish thing and save the details for myself. What I will say was that all the band members - as well as all the members of the NIN staff we dealt with - were extremely gracious. I went into the day not really knowing what to expect, and by the end of the day the mind of this fangirl was just completely blown. Suffice to say, all my previous backstage experiences with other bands had been in smaller, crappy venues and their idea of catering was a box of donuts and a quart of Jack Daniels on ice (which the singer usually took for himself), and this was SO NOT THAT. I mean, when you are standing in line for dinner and pondering whether you will go for the chicken, pork or vegan option and Dave Navarro walks by and smiles at you, that day just kicks the asses of all other previous show days. (OK, so, that was some details. haha)

I do have some photos and video to share tho! My complete Flickr album is here and Donna’s is here, but here are some of my fave pics of the day from both our albums, plus some video to follow…

The Mother Of All Other Photos Taken That Day - Donna and I with Nine Inch Nails. From l-r: Ilan, Justin, me, Trent, Donna and Robin.

I do not believe I got a pic of Trent SMILING! Like, showing teeth and everything.

When we were onstage we stood just to the right of Ilan. It was a great view to have as you usually do not get to see much of the drummer from the crowd.

I like taking pics of equipment crates because I am a dork.

There’s a lot of equipment that requires POWER!

I’m so glad Donna got this picture! There was a “velvet Elvis” painting backstage. We didn’t know if it belonged to the venue or if it was “traveling art” that went with the band.

Waving goodbye to the Wave Goodbye Tour.

Obligatory photo of Dave and Perry of Jane’s Addiction. And now, video! I didn’t take any video during NIN’s set because I was too in awe and running back & forth from stage to crowd. My friend Jason was at the show took some video tho, here’s Gave Up…

I shot some crappy quality video of Jane’s Addiction. Here’s Stop. Yes, that’s me you hear singing during “Turn off that smokestack…And that goddamn radio…” part. And for that I apologize.

Jane Says…

And the close of the show - Dave Navarro on the drums.

Thank you, and good night!