On Thursday September 11, 2025, the 24 anniversary of 9-11 in New York City, I headed down to the DNA Lounge in San Francisco, California. The show for the night was Nitzer Ebb with opening act Front Line Assembly, Clock DVA and Lead Into Gold. This sold out show was the start of their Industrial Nation 2025 tour and it was a fabulous night.
Beginning with Lead Into Gold, this artist and his mixers delivered a strong collection of songs. Although he acknowledged that his vocals could have been a bit more prominent, the performance was largely impressive. A powerful drum beat energized the crowd as he sang. Overall, it was a solid set for the audience present.
No Setlist available
Up next was Clock DVA, a duo that truly knows how to rock. As they played their set, the crowd was highly engaged, enjoying every moment. Throughout their eight-song performance, they kept the audience entertained, with many heads bobbing along to the music. Although the tempo of their songs was slower, the music had a powerful impact. This power stemmed from the lyrics, which blended seamlessly with the instrumentals. The lighting during the performance was dark but complemented the music perfectly. Overall, it was a truly enjoyable experience for everyone present.
No Setlist available
When Front Line Assembly took the stage, the atmosphere was electrifying. They kicked off with the intro to “Lethal Compound”, instantly capturing the crowd’s attention. As they launched into “No Limit”, a wave of energy surged through the first three rows as the pit started to form. The song was fantastic, and the band clearly felt the vibe.
Next, they performed “Resist”, a 35-year-old track that resonated more than ever in today’s context. Following that, they played “Big Money”, a song that really connected with the audience. The driving beat had everyone up in arms, rocking out together.
Then came “Provision”, a song from 1991 that I was surprised they hadn’t played in such a long time. It was a solid performance and a joy to hear. After that, they delivered “Mental Distortion”, another strong Front Line Assembly track that they absolutely nailed. This setlist was seriously one of the best.
After finishing “Mental Distortion”, they transitioned into “Digital Tension Dementia” and then “Iceolate”. This was particularly special, as they hadn’t played “Iceolate” live since 2017, and it sounded fantastic as they jammed through it.
For the next song, they rocked out to “Mindphaser”, which received loud approval from the crowd. The band belted out the lyrics with enthusiasm. As they wrapped up that song, it was time for their finale—a track dedicated to Skinny Puppy. They closed with “Nothing Stays”, a song by Cyberaktif. It was a fitting choice to end the show, striking a balance with its mellower tone while still holding the audience’s attention.
It was truly wonderful to hear all the classic songs they played, and I hope they continue to perform more of them in the future.
Follow Front Line Assembly band members on social media
Bill Leeb – vocals
Joey Blush – keyboards
Eli van Vegas – drums
Setlist
1). Lethal Compound (intro)
2). No Limit (First time since 1989)
3). Resist
4). Big Money (First time since 1989)
5). Provision (First time since 1991)
6). Mental Distortion (First time since 2016)
7). Digital Tension Dementia
8). Iceolate (First time since 2017)
9). Mindphaser
10). Nothing Stays (Cyberaktif cover) (First time since 2018)
Nitzer Ebb hit the stage, and the crowd erupted with excitement. Starting with “Control I’m Here”, this was the moment everyone had been eagerly anticipating all night. The powerful music did not disappoint. Following that song was “Hearts and Minds”, a mellower piece that showcased Bon’s stage presence and exceptional vocal ability as he navigated through the lyrics.
Next was “Blood Money”, which experienced some technical issues that Bon handled wonderfully. The band was back on track in under a minute. Despite the brief delay, the intensity of the song was captivating. The following two tracks, “Lightning Man” and “Captivate”, were crowd favorites, driving the audience wild with their infectious beats.
When they started “Once You Say”, everyone began bouncing and grooving to the rhythm, completely immersed in the song. The chorus, “Left, right, left, left, right, left,” became a collective jam for the crowd. Then came “Come Alive”, which hit us like a ton of bricks—everyone was thrilled to hear it. Following that was “Godhead”, which, if the previous song was a heavy blow, this one hit even harder. The energy surged, and many in the audience were singing along.
Next was “Join in the Chant”, which sent the crowd into an even higher state of excitement. A majority joined in singing along, creating a truly special atmosphere. The following song brought the energy down a notch, with “Down on Your Knees” bringing it back to a nine. This was followed by “Murderous”, an incredible song to conclude the main set.
However, the band wasn’t finished yet. After a brief pause, they returned with a heartfelt tribute to Douglas McCarthy. They performed “If We Had a Chance to Live Our Time Again”, a touching song that was different from their usual style but uniquely theirs. This tribute honored a great man, Douglas McCarthy.
To close the set, they played “I Will Give to You”. The song was performed with genuine passion, and the audience greatly appreciated it. I do hope they come back soon, as I want to see them more.
Follow Nitzer Ebb band members on social media
Bon Harris – vocals
Jason Payne – drums
David Gooday – keyboards, percussion
Setlist
1). Control I’m Here
2). Hearts and Minds
3). Blood Money (Technical breakdown after about 2 minutes, Bon talks to audience)
4). Blood Money
5). Lightning Man
6). Captivate
7). Once You Say
8). Come Alive
9). Godhead
10). Join in the Chant
11). Down on Your Knees
12). Murderous
Encore
13). If We Had a Chance To Live Our Time Again (Garrison Keillor cover) (Tribute to Douglas McCarthy)
14). I Give to You
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