Nine Inch Nails didn’t waste a second. The B‑stage pulled everyone in tight, collapsing the room until the whole show felt like it was happening at arm’s length. It was loud in that unmistakable NIN way — sharp, physical, impossible to ignore — but the set stayed surprisingly concise, moving with a precision that made every song feel intentional.

They opened on that intimate B‑stage with “Something I Can Never Have,” Reznor alone at the piano before smoothly transitioning into “Non‑Entity.” Atticus Ross and Robin Finck joined in to close the song with a wall of noise that bled straight into the remixed version of “Piggy” from 1995’s Further Down the Spiral. That’s when things really snapped into place and the full band came alive.

The shift to the main stage was marked by a frantic, almost show‑stealing drum performance from the newly returned Josh Freese. From there, they detonated into an explosive rendition of “Wish.” Despite Reznor and crew being well into their middle ages, their commitment to intensity never wavered — Reznor’s voice stayed clear yet remained gritty and powerful.

The mix was immaculate. Every chaotic texture had space, and the lighting design elevated each track into its own environment. Left to right, back to front, the crowd was singing along to every song.

A large portion of the setlist leaned into The Downward Spiral, and the second return to the B‑stage brought out Boys Noize for live remixing. “Closer” hit with a fresh, pulsing energy, the crowd danced to a version that deserves an official release. “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” was another standout — the newest song in rotation, and one that somehow captures every era of NIN in a single track.

They paid homage to David Bowie with a fierce cover of “I’m Afraid of Americans,” then closed the night with “Hurt,” as expected but still devastating. It was an impactful performance that left the crowd wanting more. Sure, a few more cuts from The Fragile or With Teeth would’ve been welcome, but with how tightly curated and flawlessly executed this set was, there’s nothing to complain about.