Pop Break Live: Nine Inch Nails, ‘The Peel it Back Tour’ at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on February 14, 2026
Photos Courtesy of LiveNation
Tron: Ares did not deliver at the box office, but one thing it delivered to the world was the glorious return of Nine Inch Nails.
When Disney announced back in the summer of 2024 that Oscar-winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross would craft the score for the third installment of the Tron series and specifically credited as Nine Inch Nails, a tour announcement didn’t seem like a complete impossibility.
The Tron: Ares soundtrack would be the band’s first new album in five years, and the Peel It Back tour, which was announced on January 14, 2025, would be the band’s first tour since 2022. Fast forward one year, and Nine Inch Nails are now in the midst of the second leg of the Peel It Back Tour, with a stop at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
This was my first time seeing a NIN show. I was always a casual listener of the band, but a massive fan of Reznor and Ross’ scores. I was excited to see them live for the first time, but had no idea what the experience would be like. It didn’t take long for me to realize I was not just watching another 90s band perform; I was witnessing an unforgettable live music experience.
The arena was set up with a gigantic main stage on one side and a smaller B-stage in the center of the floor. The band began Act 1 of their set on the B-stage with “(You Made It Feel Like) Home,” from Reznor and Ross’ Bones and All score, with just the two of them on stage. Most of the band joined the B-Stage for “Non-Entity” and “Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now),” which led into the reveal of returning touring drummer Josh Freese on the mainstage, playing a drum solo that transitioned into the full band taking the stage for the start of Act 2.
Act 2 is where the show really started to kick in. The band performed behind a transparent curtain that displayed different graphics throughout the show. What truly stood out during this show was the gorilla-style camera work that was used throughout. There were no static shots of the different band members; instead, the cameraman filmed this concert like it was a 21-song music video. The handheld video style, combined with the beautiful digital visuals, complemented Reznor’s vocals and the bombastic music coming from the different stages. The best example of which was during the song “Copy Of” where digital copies of Reznor surrounded him as he moved on stage with a delayed effect that truly complemented the music. Later in the show, during “A Perfect Drug,” (from the soundtrack to David Lynch’s Lost Highway) the camera angle and digital effects made it feel like you were also on drugs.
The highlight of the show was during Act 3 when Reznor and Ross went back to the B-stage and were joined by their opening act and frequent collaborator Alexander Ridha, aka Boys Noize. The German musician and producer provided remixes for “Vessel,” and “Closer” along with a cover of “Parasite” from Reznor and Ross’ side project, How to Destroy Angels. They closed Act 3 with the Tron: Ares single “As Alive as You Need Me to Be,” which sounded incredible live.
Between the music video-style feel of the visuals, Reznor’s ageless voice, and the band’s energy throughout the show, the show felt like a must-see experience rather than a run-of-the-mill nostalgia-driven tour. Reznor and Ross are still at the top of their game, and I hope the Nine Inch Nails renaissance continues past the Peel It Back tour.
