Bromance ahoy!

Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor sure knows how to keep the fans connected: Not only did Reznor launch a redesigned nin.com back in August 2008-- complete with discussion forums, chatrooms, member profiles, and a remix section-- but he also signed up with social-networking site Twitter and has been putting out videos from the band's recent Australian tour. The videos, shot by the group's art director, Rob Sheridan, from onstage with the band, are a brilliant way to capture the intensity and energy of a NIN show, especially the last of the series: a performance of the classic "Wish", with guests Dillinger Escape Plan.

DEP covered the song for their 2006 EP Plagiarism (along with Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You"-- fun trivia fact), and the two bands met up in Sydney, prompting an, uh, enamored Reznor to post in his Twitter account: "Inter-band NIN/Dillinger Escape Plan Sydney Harbour Bridge climb bromance last night. Actually quite fun!" Oh, that TR, ever the romantic. (Uh, BROmantic?)

By the way, I am going to use the term "bromance" as many times as possible in this blog, because hey, it's just fun to say.

Anway, bromance or not, it's a great performance. Not only can you practically see the testosterone emanating in great big waves from the stage, but in the last 45 or 30 seconds of the video, you can witness Reznor (who, by the way, is fast approaching the age of 44) take a really impressive dive into a drum kit. You have to give the guy props for that: I'm only 24, and I'm not sure I could get back up that quickly after tangling with a bass drum. Watch:



Other things I love about this video?

1. The reaction from Ilan Rubin, NIN's 20-year-old drummer, who seems to be unsure as to whether he should be more concerned about his boss or his bass drum;
2. The fact that Sheridan hasn't taken an elbow, guitar, or fist to the face yet, given that there are so many angry, muscular, black-clad rock guys onstage;
   
3. That DEP frontman Greg Puciato and TR could be twins (awww, matching black t-shirts!);
   
4. TR's introduction of DEP as a "poor man's Coldplay".
   

I also think that perhaps Treznor should start looking for endorsement deals with pain reliever manufacturers. Think about it: "Hi, I'm Trent Reznor, and I have to tell ya, sometimes after a long day of beating up my guitarist and diving into drumkits, my back hurts like a mofo. Aside from a fifth of Jose Cuervo, nothing works on my gig-related pain like Tylenol Rapid-Release Geltabs!" Gold, baby. Gold.

Anyway, you can view the rest of Sheridan's video from Down Under, or have a look at this one in true HD, at NIN's official website.

Nine Inch Nails will be touring North America this spring and early summer with co-headliners Jane's Addiction; tourdates and ticket sales info can also be found at www.nin.com. Catch them if you can, because it's sure to be an explosive show-- plus, Reznor has said that after this tour, he's "making NIN go away for a while".

And just because I can and because I think it's funny. . . .