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Nine Inch Nails In Vancouver
Nine Inch Nails In Vancouver was the industrial haven fans had been waiting more than a decade for. The SOLD OUT Peel It Back Tour marked the first time Trent, Robin, and Alessandro performed in Vancouver since 2013’s The Tension Tour. If there is ever a way to make a triumphant return, Nine Inch Nails found it. Between trippy stage visuals that danced hauntingly with the dark, and at times furious soundscapes. The night was destined to etch itself into the memory of everyone inside Rogers Arena. Adding to NIN’s calculated chaos was the futuristic pulse of Boys Noize, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.
Boys Noize Grips Vancouver Into The Future of Industrial Sounds
Nine Inch Nails in Vancouver was opened by German-Iraqi DJ and producer Alexander Ridha, better known by his stage name Boys Noize. An impressive roster of collaborations with A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean, and remixes for Daft Punk, and Depeche Mode has been built over his career. Most recently, work was done alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to remix their score for Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers. Clearly impressed by his work, the duo extended an invitation for him to help shape the tour’s sonic atmosphere.
Alexander’s set gripped the crowd from the moment he stepped on stage under a wash of red lighting. Vancouver plunged into a world of futuristic synths and bone-rattling beats. For nearly an hour, the arena moved as one, dancing with abandon as if in pure ecstasy. The performance felt like stepping into the neon-soaked streets of Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City. As the set neared its close, he dropped his Challengers remix of “I Know,” sending a jolt of energy through the crowd. Moments later, the lights cut out and a drape rose in the center of the arena. A soothing yet haunting piano and voice filled the air, belonging to Trent Reznor. Vancouver erupted in cheers, their excitement briefly overpowering the quiet elegance of the moment. “Right Where It Belongs” opened the night for Nine Inch Nails in Vancouver, and within seconds the arena fell into reverent silence, ready for what was to come.
Nine Inch Nails Presence Makes A Decade Plus Wait Disappear In Seconds
The opening track hit like a statement, placing NIN exactly where they belonged, celebrating their history with tens of thousands of fans. For more than 30 years, Trent and the band have reinvented themselves while cementing their place as pioneers of industrial sound. Pretty Hate Machine, The Downward Spiral, With Teeth, Year Zero, and more all earned their moment in the Peel It Back Tour’s 21-track setlist.
After the methodically haunting introduction, Nine Inch Nails tore into “Ruiner” and “Piggy” with striking performances. As “Piggy” crashed to its end, Trent and the band stepped aside, giving Josh Freese the spotlight. Yes, that Josh Freese, the group’s former drummer. Years had passed since Vancouver had witnessed the legendary musician. With his first performance back with NIN only days earlier, he played as if he had never left in 2008. The moment his image filled the main screen, Vancity roared in approval. The cheers didn’t let up until his introduction finished. The piano and intimate tones vanished, replaced by a sonic eruption that launched the night into the stratosphere with “Wish.” The Broken EP’s defining track, famously covered by Linkin Park during Projekt Revolution in 2004. It had the entire arena clapping and shouting in sync with Josh’s pounding beats. In the pit, chaos surged as the crowd fed on the song’s unrelenting energy. Black and white visuals, pulled straight from the “Head Like a Hole” music video, amplified the frenzy.
Setlist
There was a key factor that made Nine Inch Nails in Vancouver a defining live shows of 2025. Its pulse-pounding setlist. From The Downward Spiral we had “Closer,” “March of the Pigs,” and “Reptile.” From personal favorite The Fragile, the crowd was treated to “Somewhat Damaged.” With Teeth brought “The Hand That Feeds.” Newest addition to NIN’s roster was “As Alive As You Are” from the upcoming album Tron: Ares. For the project, Disney followed the same formula they used with Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy soundtrack. Bringing in one of the most influential electronic artists of the era to craft a score. The track alone lives inside the film’s world while standing strong as a work of music on its own. If “As Alive As You Are” is only a glimpse of what the full album holds, it is safe to say both the Grammys and the Oscars should take notice.
One of the night’s most heartfelt moments came when Trent spoke about his affection for Vancouver. Revealing that he and Atticus Ross had been in the city for nearly a year working on film scores. He joked about “thinking of moving here,” and while it may have been in jest, there was a spark of hope in the crowd that he meant it. The conversation flowed seamlessly into a cover of “I’m Afraid of Americans,” a track Trent helped create with the late, great David Bowie. Coming right after his remarks about moving away from America, the performance felt like a sly wink to the audience. The cover stayed true to Bowie and Reznor’s original vision, and the crowd erupted, screaming every lyric.
Highlights
With a show like this, every moment from stepping into the venue to the night’s final note felt like a highlight. Still, a few razor-sharp moments etched themselves into memory. Midway through Nine Inch Nails in Vancouver, Boys Noize returned to the stage, leading the band back to mid-stage to perform a selection of remixed tracks. “Vessel,” “The Warning,” “Came Back Haunted,” and “As Alive As You Are” were the chosen cuts, and while the performances were already electrifying, the lighting design pushed them to another level. A massive disco ball, paired with flashes of red, blue, and white light that moved in sync on bars above both the audience and stage, created a visual spectacle that was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The crowd’s energy was just as crucial in making the night unforgettable. A seven-track run on the main stage that included “Closer,” “The Perfect Drug,” “Head Like A Hole,” “Less Than,” and more sent the pit into chaos. Mosh pits broke out in multiple spots, hands shot into the air like a congregation in worship, and for that moment, Reznor was the pastor commanding his devoted followers.
In Closing
Reaching the 21st and final track of the night felt like a climb toward a breaking point. Nine Inch Nails in Vancouver closed the set with the emotional gut punch of “Hurt.” Whether you know it through NIN’s original or Johnny Cash’s haunting cover. The song’s beautiful yet unforgiving lyrics pulled the crowd together, as if everyone in the room suddenly needed each other. Lighters flickered, phone screens glowed, and Rogers Arena lit up, sending Trent a quiet but undeniable message of support. For the next six minutes, the entire venue sang as one, every lyric delivered with raw honesty. The previous twenty songs had blasted with sound and energy, but this moment anchored the night. Faces turned toward each other, eyes glistened, and strangers shared something both deeply personal and entirely collective.
The weight of the moment deepened with a tender tribute to the late, great David Lynch. Ending the night was a walkout with “Laura Palmer’s Theme” from Twin Peaks. For those who knew the connection, it was more than a song. It was a nod to a friend, a creative ally, and a shared artistic vision. The surreal and bittersweet moment left fans with a feeling that lingered long after the final note. Between the unifying power of “Hurt” and the quiet beauty of the tribute. There was no better way the Peel It Back Tour could have ended.
Thank You
I’d like to thank Nine Inch Nails In Vancouver and their incredible team for allowing me to experience the artistry that was the Peel It Back Tour. If you’d like to find out more about the tour or NIN, please visit here: https://www.nin.com/home/
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