The line of "freaks" got progressively freakier the closer I got to the doors of the Cow Palace. Shouting at them through megaphones, over the swelling sinful sounds of "Reptile", was a Christian group hell bent on saving these lost goth souls from an eternity of damnation in the afterlife. The Devil doesn't let you bring along your Walkman and a copy of The Downward Spiral apparently. But it was clear who the dark ones bowed down to. It was clear who they served. And they got what they deserved as Nine Inch Nails took the stage Wednesday, June 7.

I had been waiting a long time ... ever since 8th grade, in fact, when I didn't dare ask my mom to attend a concert in which the headliner had a hit single likening the act of love to animal copulation.

But it was worth the 5 year wait. The same holds for The Fragile. And I was glad I got to attend the Fragility 2.0 tour (with my friend Jes!) that showcased classics like "Head Like a Hole" and soon-to-be-classics like "Somewhat Damaged" (although they didn't play that one at the SF show, damn!)

Trent got the pretty hate machine revved up with "Terrible Lie". Afterwards, I decided my volition to get close to Trent wasn't as strong as my will to breathe comfortably, so I fled the pit for the outskirts to the right of the stage, where I could barely make out Trent over the bobbing heads in front of me.

Even from this distance, Trent was such a presence onstage. You could tell that he's relieving all the emotions his lyrics deal with each time he sings them (what terrible things to have to relive). His signature grip on the microphone showed his tenacity to remain sane amid the world's and his own demons. It also showed his manly biceps thanks to his cropped-sleeve shirt.

When not drooling at Trent, I admired the stage's interesting telescreen that rotated throughout the show and projected apropos images of oceans and drowning during songs like "The Great Below".

One of my favorite moments of the show was when he came out after the first set and thanked the crew, band, and audience and mentioned being "melancholy" that the tour was almost over. And he also said we were the best fucking audience. Oh, Trent, I bet you say that to all the crowds.

My other favorite moments were when he played "Reptile" (one of the best NIN songs) and in "Starfuckers, Inc." when in the refrain he does the Carly Simon lyric, You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you, don't you? and he chanted in that restrained fury, don't you? don't you? don't you? letting it build up. The last great moment (I swear!) was the show-closing "Hurt". And while Trent doesn't solicit any corny sing-a-longs ("OK, all together now: 'I will let you down, I will make you hurt'"), everyone was singing along in self-destructive ecstasy.

The band was great. But as you know, NIN is Trent Reznor, so of course I focus on him. It's been weeks and I'm still buzzing over the show. NIN are one of the last great things about music in general.

Ah, Trent, the savior of rock.