Nine Inch Nails @ Co-Op Live

17/06/2025 - Manchester -

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I was very luck to get on this, Thinking the tickets were going to way too expensive, out of my league in terms of finance, especially with how ticketing works these days, however, in my mind it doesn't hurt to look. And there I was minutes later clicking on the confirm pay button. I'm surprised by that time, there were seats available. Nine Inch Nails are very popular so I was assuming very little seats left, however I could have pretty much taken my pick from all of the arena. The prices also very cheap in comparison to other bands I've seen in previous years.

Very lucky indeed.

NIN are also the kind of band to kinda not tell people on a large scale they are touring so that's perhaps the reason behind generous availability. Also, they rarely visit the UK so it was very important for me to go ahead and see them before it took another million years for them to tour again.

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Gig day came and the long winding picturesque drive on the A-Roads through the Peak District with the sun beating down luscious 23 degree heat met with a relieving cool breeze with familiar tracks transmitted to the car radio made the trek quite present and wholesome. However, I cannot say the same about getting into the massive city, with grey skyline and bad drivers, it made quite the stressful drive to the car park. But alas we had made it and now it was time to follow the flock of people to the queues. With much confusion of entryway gates, pushy and shouty security guards, (I'm pretty sure hated their job). Finally got in and settled with a nice cool over-priced double pint. Then it was back to the queues to kill off some time to grab a cool piece of Merch. I am accustomed to shirts costing between £25+ /// £45 being the tops before breaking the bank. But jeez Louise! £100 for a hoodie ! That's criminal offence. But with how little bands are paid logistically, merchandising is probably the most ways they are getting paid.

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And now for the actual gig! First and foremost, we walked in half way through a song. which I thought was weird considering the tickets says doors at 7pm, and it had not been too long. However, I found out masses of people have also been lied to, seems like NIN started at 6:45 or something. Heck! Seeing Trent Reznor in the centre of the arena, on a square platform, in complete solace, Performing A minute to Breathe surrounded by fans respectfully, and I mean not a single person in the front down there waved their phones in his face and the arena was....

Silent. Not a whisper. You could hear a pin drop.

It really does show how meaningful the most delicate of songs really do touch fans, It gave you chills. My favourite from the first act was The Fragile. The song had been my favourite for a long time and got me through some tough times so in that moment It felt so surreal to see it performed in real time, with just the same raw emotion as the album. And my Goodness I felt a chapter of myself become healed in that moment, shedding a few tears and just absorbed in the soundscapes. Then the transition made it to the main stage. my Goodness those visuals were out of this world, absolutely incredible use of lighting, LED Mesh screens. Smoke machines. Just wow! It felt so immersive. Like being in a Live Music Video. Bigger crowd- exciter tunes such as Wish, Copy Of A, Gave Up. Really jolted contrasted the serene feelings from earlier. shaking every single being awake. The Group cut their way to the centre stage once again, of which I didn't realise earlier had collapsed so fans could see the main stage! Wonderfully orchestrated tech considerations indeed. Vessel, Branches/Bones. Come Back Haunted were performed and projected here. nothing but pure noise and wall of lights from this. Then thrown back onto the main stage, finishing up with my favourites Perfect Drug, Head Like A Hole and Hurt. Bringing the night to a close with a painful goodbye. The night felt short to my disappointment and many people hung back for a few minutes, expecting an encore, however, the main lights flashed on and people ushered out of the building. but in NIN's defence, Hurt was the ideal way to go. And a trip to London the next day, they really had no business prolonging the night. All in all, perhaps my favourite concert in terms of visuals and use of space and stages with classic NIN bangers that translated well live making it perfect just the duration of the concert letting it down.

7/10 on my rating.