Trent Reznor-The Bridge School Concerts 2006 Sep 26 '09    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 Mai by Eri Sugai From $4 The Bottom Line The Bridge School Concerts Have Trent Reznor playing NIN Classics with a String Quartet In An Amazing Presentation. While Nine Inch Nails has always been known as a fierce live band, the heart of the band is its mastermind Trent Reznor. When Reznor performs live, he's often with whoever is part of the NIN live band at certain times. Yet, he rarely performs by himself as a solo artist with the exception of a benefit show in late 2005 for the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. In late October of 2006, Reznor made a rare live appearance as a solo artist as he once again performed for another benefit show. This time, it was for Neil Young's annual Bridge School Benefit that was organized by Young and his wife Peggy. The Bridge School Benefit is known for providing support and education for disabled children as Reznor's appearance was unique in itself. Supported by a string quartet that consisted of Ana Lenchantin and Vanessa Freebairn-Smith on cello, Pablo Motta on upright bass, and Martin St. Pierre on violin, sitar, and arrangements. Reznor performed two days in his appearances that would ultimately become another NIN bootleg known as The Bridge School Concerts. The bootleg consists of nine songs performed in two days for a near forty-minute set. Separated into two discs from the two different days, it does feature the same tracklisting but with different running times and speech dialogue. Featuring Reznor on piano and percussions, the musical presentation recalls another bootleg in The CRC Sessions back in 2000 and the official Internet-only NIN EP Still. The major difference is that the music is all acoustic in which Reznor deconstructs NIN songs and instrumentals into something more intimate but also intriguing. The result is one of the most fascinating bootlegs of Reznor's career. Opening the performances is the instrumental piece The Frail that is performed by a violin instead of a piano as it starts the show with people whistling and talking throughout as Trent Reznor arrives on stage. Then comes a piano accompaniment by Reznor as piano and violin play through its somber tone. Something I Can Never Have is led by Martin St. Pierre's screeching violin along with accompanying cellos and a slow bass line with Reznor sings the haunting ballad as the song is given an eerie presentation with its string arrangements as audiences cheer on. Piggy is one of the highlights of the performances with its jazz-like presentation due to Pablo Motta's swooning bass line, screeching violins, and swift cello arrangements. Reznor's vocals are top-notch in its performance as he also does percussion for the track making it a highlight with audiences. The next two tracks are instrumental performances. First is La Mer with Reznor on a melancholic piano track for a brief moment with a somber violin as it segues into another instrumental. Adrift And At Piece is led by St. Pierre's mournful violin with cello plucks and soothing bass as Reznor provides soft percussion to the performance. Next is The Fragile which is split into two tracks as Reznor performs the song with a piano as he is accompanied by somber string arrangements in the background. With its despaired lyrics, the song intensifies in the middle with Reznor's growling vocals and the string quartet providing screeching tones to the performance. The second half includes an extended piano solo in its instrumental section as it shows Reznor's brilliance as a pianist. Right Where It Belongs is another ballad where Reznor sings about the despair of the world as he is accompanied by somber cello performances, wobbly bass lines, and a droning violin. The intensity of the string arrangements adds an element of horror only to quiet down later with Reznor's plaintive vocals as audiences cheer throughout. Non-Entity, with its droning cello arrangements, screeching violins, and heavy bass, is presented in an intense approach with Reznor on tambourine with its dark lyrics as it's another highlight in the performances. The last song of the performances is Hurt as it is accompanied by a twangy sitar performance from St. Pierre, screeching cellos, and a soothing bass line as Reznor sings the famed ballad with his own lyrics as it's another highlight and a fitting closer to the performances Reznor gives in the show. The differences in the two discs are in speeches and such where the first disc had a mix where at times, Reznor's voice is barely heard due to the cheer of the audience at times. The second disc's version of Something I Can Never Have as an intro of the performers tuning their instruments while the vocal performance on that disc is better heard. The dialogue in the discs have Reznor thanking Neil Young and the musicians that's backing Reznor while glad to do this for a good cause. Plus, some of the dialogue showed Reznor being a bit humorous at times. Overall, The Bridge School Concerts is an essential bootleg for NIN fans showing Trent Reznor reshaping NIN songs and performing them for a very good cause. NIN Reviews: Bootlegs: Purest Feeling - When the Whip Comes Down - Live Hate w/ David Bowie - Quake OST - The CRC Sessions - Where Darkness Doubles, Where Light Pours In

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