By D. Beall

Nine Inch Nails are coming to Massillon- well, sort of. This One is On Us is presenting “Another Version of the Truth: The Gift”, a NIN concert film showing April 24th at the Lion’s Lincoln Theater in Massillon. When the Lincoln was booked for this film, it was one of only ten showings in the United States. The man responsible for booking it is Billy Ludwig, a local artist and brainchild behind Impale Design. Ludwig is one of several local artists aggressively pushing these kinds of things into Massillon and Canton, recognizing a desperate need for cool in the area. “The one stipulation for showing the film, handed down by NIN, is that if you’re hosting a screening, it has to be free. Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails are leading the pack on these kinds of things,” Ludwig says. Reznor’s history struggling with record labels and other corporate swine in support of his loyal fanbase is legendary. He actively encourages his fans to pirate his music, “and steal, and steal some more, and give it to all your friends and keep on stealin’”. This doesn’t go over well in big business usually. The film’s history is one of community involvement. Endorsed by NIN, fans recorded more than 450 gigs of footage documenting the band’s 2008 “Lights in the Sky” tour. A worldwide task force of designers, editors, and others spent about a year assembling it into “Another Version of the Truth”- a film by fans, for fans. The tour itself was cutting-edge technical genius; Reznor, always an innovator, partnered with MomentFactory who designed an incredible lighting set up that interacted with NIN itself. Band members could affect particles or effects on the screen behind them, resulting in video gamesque control of the show’s environment. It has to be seen to be believed. The evening starts with an art show featuring the Massillon Artist’s Brigade, including art by Impale Design, Bili Kribbs, Shock Studios, Ryan Shane Lynn, Scot Philips, Megan Mars, and Pinkerton FX. Admission is free, and attendees will get free download codes for an album by Ludwyg called “Limelit”. Expect this one to be packed. The movie shows on 4/24 at the Lincoln Theatre in Massillon.