Nine Inch Nails in Cleveland + 5 New Tracks You Need Now
NIN Live in Cleveland: A Bucket List Show ✅
What happens when 13-year-old Mark Bradbourne’s dreams come true? You get one of the most enthusiastic concert reviews of Nine Inch Nails’ 2025 Peel it Back Tour stop in Cleveland.
From scoring free parking in downtown Cleveland (a feat in itself!) to pre-show tacos at Barrio and a killer seat at Rocket Arena, Mark takes us into a show decades in the making. The night kicked off with BoysNoize spinning an unexpected set of knob-twisting electronica before Trent Reznor emerged on a mini stage like some kind of industrial angel at a grand piano.
From there, it was pure magic and mayhem:
- A stunning transition from Piggy to Wish and March of the Pigs
- Mesmerizing visuals during Copy of A that matched the song’s themes
- A second B-stage set with Vessel, Closer, and Came Back Haunted featuring BoysNoize again
- An epic main-stage finale: I’m Afraid of Americans, Mr. Self Destruct, The Perfect Drug, The Hand That Feeds, Head Like a Hole, and a gut-wrenching Hurt
Backlighting, abstract visuals, and shadowy silhouettes turned this concert into a multi-sensory art piece, not just a gig. Trent even gave a heartfelt nod to Cleveland and its role in shaping his musical identity. If you missed this tour—our condolences.
🎧 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
Let’s dive into five standout tracks you need to hear this week:
1. Maya Lakhani – Fall For Me
🔊 Grunge meets Parachutes-era Coldplay meets Desi fashion
Imagine a soaring vocal wrapped in fuzzy guitars and backed by a Flying V. Maya Lakhani smashes stereotypes and expectations in a track that’s as visual as it is sonically rich. The grunge roots are undeniable, but listen closer and you’ll find those emotive Coldplay-esque melodies looping underneath. 🔥
Maya Lakhani is a rising star in alt-rock—definitely worth a follow on Spotify.
2. Sydney Shea – I Miss Daytona
🌆 Country with real storytelling heart
Mark admits he’s country-cautious, but this track hit him where it hurts—in the heart. Sydney Shea’s personal songwriting shines here, recalling places we love but never lived in (for Mark, it’s Seattle). Shea’s authenticity breaks away from Bro Country fluff and builds something real.
Perfect for fans searching “new authentic female country artists 2025.”
3. The Mukherjee Development – Loving You Is Like Waterfall
🌀 Beatles chaos meets Dylan swagger meets Mott the Hoople flair
This one’s a swirling sonic cocktail. Psychedelia, glam rock, and singer-songwriter vibes collide in a beautifully retro, chaotic, and charming track. That fat snare sound? Chef’s kiss. 🎧
Add this to lists like “best new psychedelic rock 2025.”
4. Giobia – 1976
🧠 7-minute psych-jazz spoken-word trance
This is not a song—it’s a journey. With trippy jazz inflections, Pink Floyd-esque atmospheres, and poetic narration, 1976belongs on your deep focus playlist or your next introspective walk through the woods.
“Best long-form psych rock tracks 2025” should definitely include this gem.
5. Cinema Stereo – Can’t Get Close Enough
🎸 Jangly ’70s rock revival with a twist
Bouncy drums, a tambourine, Hammond-style keys, and killer vocal harmonies—all capped off by a clever chorus B-section that throws you for a loop (in the best way). This track closes the episode with pure rock ‘n roll energy.
File under “bands that sound like The Strokes and The Kinks had a baby.”
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