Nine Inch Nails "Closer" from The Downward Spiral Live at Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI Feb 11, 2006 PODCAST EXCLUSIVE!

I was still a little edgy about the anti-camera brigade when I started recording "Closer," so I decided to put my thumb over the camera's display, making myself less visible. Of course, the result of this is that I was shooting blind until I gave up on that strategy about 30 seconds in.

This performance was actually an interesting microcosm for what NIN has become -- the original six-minute version of maybe their most recognizable song was shortened to four and a half, with the chorus lick from "The Only Time" teased during the instrumental break. I'm not sure what to make of it -- it was certainly exciting to be part of the crowd singing along -- but it strikes me as somehow telling.