Jesus Holmes,
I think SLC has suffered enough from ultra-violent mosh pits and a violent scene and have learned the hard way that there is a respectful way to mosh, which, if you're REALLY an old-school punk (Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc., not Green Day), you'd already know.
The NIN show was amazing; I loved the minimal set design and how much could be accomplished with a few elegant, subtle touches, lighting and a projection screen. I heard it's reminiscent of earlier NIN tours, but I wouldn't know, because this is only the 2nd time I've seen them (first time, Coachella).
Interesting tidbits about NIN and SLC:
My friends Kyrbir and Lincoln said they hung out with Trent Reznor the first time NIN played SLC, at the Speedway back in ... what, 1990, 1991? And again when he played the SLC Fairgrounds. They hung out with him for a couple hours, and filled him in on some of the tensions that exist here; from conservatism, etc. and how it creates a thriving counterculture in SLC. They said he seemed fascinated by the subject and a few months later, repeated almost verbatim in a SPIN article some of the things Kyrbir and Lincoln had told him. He has mentioned before too in interviews that the wildest crowds he has encountered were in SLC. Don't know if it still holds true, though, but it seems SLC crowds do still stand out in his mind.
Also when Kyrbir & Lincoln (now in their 30s, back then they were in their teens), said that Utah was one of the first places NIN was big first ... and Trent Reznor said it was really weird to come out and play the Fairgrounds and be treated like a huge rockstar in a place like Utah (thanks to pre-hype by Utah radio play) where elsewhere people were not familiar with NIN ... yet.
We were ahead of the curve.
Thought some Salt Lakers might find that interesting.
Rebecca Vernon
P.S. Congratulations to my friend Joe Ashton from Phono for winning the X96 remix contest (details, p. 20, City Weekly this week with the Buddha on the cover).
