Nine Inch Nails and More
If you’re a fan of live music like us, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a concert—no matter how many shows you’ve seen. Both Rich and I have been attending gigs for years, long before we even met each other. Rich often went with his mom to see legends like Tina Turner, Billy Joel, and Prince, while my personal highlights include Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, and Sheryl Crow. But, our shared love for hard rock and metal is what really brings us together.
Flashback to 1995: Nine Inch Nails was set to play in Moline, IL—a show both of us actually had tickets for! Unfortunately, a snowstorm grounded all flights and the concert was cancelled, never to be rescheduled nearby. We didn’t realize until much later that we’d both been planning to go to that same concert. Small world, right?
Fast forward nearly thirty years, and Nine Inch Nails finally announced a gig in St. Louis—the closest city for us, but still a solid five-hour drive away. As soon as tickets went on sale, we grabbed ours for the February show. Coming off a long vacation, we were definitely still a bit jet-lagged, so we booked a hotel near the venue and used ride-sharing to keep things easy (especially with some classic Midwest winter weather thrown in).
Inside the arena, food options abounded—even if the prices gave us pause. We snagged drinks and some merch before finding our seats. The opener, Boyz Noise, brought a German techno vibe with a vocal-free digital set that split the crowd—some folks loved it, others not so much.
Then came the main event. While we usually opt for general admission, this time around we decided on arena seats for budget reasons. Nine Inch Nails kicked things off from a small stage in the middle of the GA section before moving to the main stage, which featured incredible visuals: live video feeds on reflective screens, eye-catching lighting—the works.
They played all the crowd-pleasers: “March of the Pigs,” “Heresy,” “Closer,” “The Perfect Drug,” “The Hand That Feeds,” “Hurt,” and wrapped up with “Head Like a Hole.” The energy was electric, and honestly, the whole experience was top-notch—I couldn’t recommend it more!
The audience added tons of personality. One fan near us was especially enthusiastic about Trent Reznor, weaving in and out of her seat and getting neighboring fans involved. It made for lots of laughs and an even better sense of true fans.
After the show, we made the most of our trip with some sightseeing. First stop: Pink Elephant Antique Mall and the Route 66 Convention Center and Hotel in Springfield, IL. The antique mall is a treasure trove with quirky decor and fun finds—imagine a Donald Trump fortune-telling machine that told Rich he was “Big and Beautiful” alongside all sorts of themed statues!
The Route 66 hotel itself is decked out in classic cars and has a restaurant famous for its fried chicken and regular live music.
We also visited the Lincoln Museum and Library. If you ever get the chance, go! It’s much bigger than expected, with immersive exhibits chronicling Abraham Lincoln’s life using wax figures and dramatic displays covering everything from his early years to the Civil War and his presidency.
Once our whirlwind tour wrapped up, we took the two-hour drive home, already chatting about sharing more adventures in future posts.
Stay tuned for more stories from the road!