Depeche Mode at Starplex
Show date September 22, 2017. Starplex, Dallas Tx.
Depeche Fucking Mode. Where to begin??? Depeche Mode is my favorite band on the planet, and has been for a little over 30 years. Why this is the case I'll save for another post. They are simply perfect. And perfect for me.
This was my first show to attend this year. I had been really good about not looking at too many spoilers throughout this tour, so I only had a vague idea of set lists and screen projections. I was very happy with the result.
As is our tradition here in Dallas, our ever-growing gang got together for a pre-show dinner, this time at El Fenix. I love doing this because of course we don't all have seats together (oh how I wish!) and this might be the only opportunity to see people that we haven't seen in literally years, and not everyone can get together after the show either. It's like a big family reunion! I wish we could get together like this more often. I may be biased but I sort of think our fan group here is quite large, active, and interconnected. Maybe it's just because I live here, I'm not sure. But I don't see huge groups of people appearing in pics from other shows.
This just got me to thinking, our Dallas group should have a name. The Dallas Black Swarm? Dallas Modies? Dalpeche fans?
Suggestions???
Anyway, I needed my merch, so I missed most of Warpaint. I had brought my Delta Machine tote bag because I was very concerned about being able to keep track of my stuff once the show started. Fortunately, bag check was nonexistent so I was able to keep everything together and safe during the show. I got 2 shirts (I requested a small for one of them but got a medium and it's too big, guess I'll be selling that one and get another at my next show. Note to self: check the size next time!), a mug, both key chains and the program. I was told that there may be a pop-up store in LA which has different, better quality and MORE stuff. I'll need $$$$$$. But this was a good start for me. The women's cut "boots" shirt fits perfectly, but I do wish the women's cut ones would have a lower neckline, like a V neck or something. The front seam on the neck rides a little high for my taste. Not because I want to be all boobs, but it just feels a little restricting. Almost like I have the shirt on backwards. The material is nice though. I had heard bad things about the shirts with red on them.
The stage had this cool split in the back where Dave could go up and be above the stage. He didn't use it too much though because I think he likes to be closer to the crowd. The lights set-up on the stage were really well done and I really enjoyed the different lighting set-ups they did for each song. One of my favorites was World in my Eyes. All purples! I had seats in section 101, on the aisle on Martin's side, row S, which was actually row 18. Decent, respectable, but not spectacular. I think next time I'm going to shell out the dollars to get 1st 5 rows. Maybe even front row. Fortunately I have enough friends experienced with this to help me out. Having said that though, I was quite happy.
We did not get Dave's red jacket and shoes for this show which I was bummed about. Maybe in LA? I should hope so. One thing I noticed about Martin's costume is that his vest seemed all ripped up in the back. I'm not sure if it was on purpose or if the audio pack he wears was messing it up. I can't imagine that if it wasn't on purpose that it wouldn't be fixed right away?? Maybe some of the other multi-show veterans can confirm.
I had my binoculars and the projections from the stage on the screen were awesome.
Here was the setlist:
Going Backwards
So Much Love
Barrel of a Gun
A Pain That I'm Used To
Corrupt
In Your Room
World in My Eyes
Cover Me
A Question of Lust
Home
Poison Heart
Where's the Revolution
Wrong
Everything Counts
Stripped
Enjoy the Silence
Never Let Me Down Again
Encore:
Somebody
Walking in My Shoes
Heroes
I Feel You
Personal Jesus
A thing happens with me during some concerts - mostly Depeche Mode but also other ones that are HUGE in my mind, like the first time I saw Nitzer Ebb. It's almost like I'm so hyped up, so wrapped up in the awe of what is happening around me, like I can't believe I'm actually HERE WATCHING THIS SHOW, that the actual show that is happening in front of my eyes is almost too much to fully take in. I don't always register which song is actually playing. In 2001 I saw the set list after the show and was surprised to see that they had played Clean. This time it happened with Going Backwards. The show started, the song was playing. I knew what song the show was going to open with, my ears heard it. I was singing along, but like, the cognitive part of my brain didn't register that this song was Going Backwards, one of my favorites from Spirit. A song that is so god damn gorgeous that I almost can't stand it. When the show was over I almost feel like I missed it. I'll just have to watch it again on my friend's video. And of course I'll have my 2 LA shows, but my seats are much further away there.
The band was really in top form last night. Dave's energy was higher than I have ever seen. He was running all over the stage, making funny faces, reaching out into the crowd, and grabbing his crotch a lot LOL. I can't believe his stamina. He's like the Olympic gold medalist of frontmen. I asked some folks who had been to many other shows if we got something special in terms of them being ON FIRE last night. I was told that they have been that way the entire tour. That they seem the happiest they have ever been. That makes me so happy. I am so glad they are in a good place and can share that with us.
I usually very much dislike the Starplex, or my joke "Smirplexapages". Sightlines are awful, the seating arrangement goes too far out to the sides, the stage could probably be a little higher, getting out of the parking lot is atrocious, no places to eat nearby, it's (for some, but I am a die-hard) unbearably hot. For some, unknown reason, all of the overhead big ass fans were off until well into the show. It was hot. So hot. When they finally came on the crowd whooped and hollered and it was so much better. Dave was sweating already during the 1st song.
I love Corrupt, and that was my first high point of the show, but Cover Me was when (according to multiple-show veterans) the crowd finally "got into it". The video that was released that day was the screen projection during the song. I love this song so much. Even thinking about it right now is giving me chills. The video is amazing. And I think Dave loves it because 1. He wrote it and 2. It gave him the first real chance during the instrumental 2nd half to get some real energy out of the crowd. I must admit when I heard they were going to play Cover Me during the set I was a bit iffy on how that instrumental piece was going to be handled (could be awkward), but it worked so well! More please.
Then it was Martin's turn and we got A Question of Lust which I have always loved, and the *regular* version of Home. Oh how I love Home, and I do prefer the studio version as opposed to the acoustic that he has elected to play during many shows in the past. I also like that he didn't particularly draw out the climax of the song too much as it seems to throw off the rhythm and pacing and makes for a slightly awkward moment especially if he goes off-key. I've seen this at other shows and I don't care for it. I *love* to see Martin playing his guitar though and love that he plays it while singing Home. Now, it's no secret that of Dave, Martin and Fletch, Martin is my favorite. He's a genius. He's amazingly talented. He's beautiful. And his taste in music, clothes, his lyrics, and what he brings to DM is just the perfect compliment to my tastes. The man can do no wrong, even if I don't care for an artistic choice he's made. I can still appreciate and see the artistry in whatever he does. His 2 songs on Spirit are not my favorite, unfortunately, and I'm glad he didn't sing them. I don't think they would have translated well to a live setting. Having said all that, Martin has a gorgeous voice, and hearing it solo in all its unadulterated glory just makes me smile, to say the least. So in the end, I'm happy to hear whatever he has to sing.
The next high point of the show was Wrong. I really like the song itself...it was the first release off Sounds of the Universe and thus the impetus for the following wave of Depeche obsession which tends to happen in cycles for me. What I particularly love most about this song though is the way Martin's and Dave's voices work together. Their harmonies are one of my favorite things about DM vocals. I particularly love it when Martin doesn't just sing alongside Dave as a duet or backing him up, but when Martin has different lyrics and sung in a different register and timing than Dave's. Here is the House and Fly on the Windscreen are 2 of my favorites in this regard. The studio version of Wrong has a part when Martin sings "Too Long" 4 times, and during the 5th one, Dave's voice comes in and then Martin drops his voice while Dave continues singing. This interaction gives me heart flutters. It's so gorgeous. So beautiful. I really miss their harmonizing in recent records and I wish they would do more of this. Also, I love Wrong because it's a stomping sexy groove, especially live, and Dave's vocals are really beautiful in and of themselves as well. In this live version, the harmonizing didn't work out quite like the studio version, but I still loved it.
We dug into the archive a bit with Everything Counts and Stripped. Not my favorite back catalog songs but I was happy to have them. I'm just glad they didn't play Just Can't Get Enough. It's fun, but not my favorite and I would rather have Photographic or Ice Machine or some other obscure one like No Disco or Monument.
Of course, Never Let Me Down Again is the highlight of any show, and also carries a tinge of sadness because when this song happens, you know the show is almost over. They closed the first part with it. If I were to be stranded on a desert island, I would have this single DM song with me. It symbolizes the fans, the awe, the incredible love and devotion that Modies have for their band, and likewise the gratitude that DM have for their fans. They get so much from us during it, and I know that Dave has said that this is the "high" that goes back to the Rose Bowl moment when he was overcome with love for their fans. I did a quick calcluation as I was waving my arms around. I've done the arm wave 19 times. I've seen DM 8 times. I've seen tribute band Strangelove 7 times. I've seen Recoil 3 times, plus I've seen Dave Gahan play once. It's de rigeur.
Onward to the encore! Martin came back with Somebody. In all honesty, even though this was my "1st dance" song at my wedding, I've never been a huge fan. I feel like the "things like this make me sick" line takes away from the pure romance part of it and makes it darker. But then again, if it wasn't dark, it wouldn't be Depeche Mode. So maybe it *is* perfect. Maybe I just convinced myself? Martin's voice sounded amazing as usual. My god that man can sing. How lucky are we to have not 1 but 2 amazing singers in the same band?!
Walking in my Shoes was okay and the screen projection was interesting, but the next highlight for me was Heroes. I know how important Bowie is to all of DM, and really they probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for him, not only because that's how Dave was discovered and became part of DM, but because of his pioneering and groundbreaking music and style. I love the love and care they have put into creating this version (and the video studio version), and, even if I'm not a huge fan of the song itself, *ducks the tomatoes that are being thrown at me* I love that they have included it in their set and are paying tribute to one of the most important artists in music, or, in anything really - of all time. That man's life was an artform. His death affected them all (and their fans) so profoundly. It's the perfect tribute.
I Feel You and Personal Jesus closed out the show. I always felt these 2 songs were really similar and it was so perfect that they were played back to back and to close out the show. Personally, I felt the most energy and euphoria from Personal Jesus than from any other song during the whole show. I'm not sure if it was because I knew it was over or because the song just does that for me by itself.
One song that I really wish they had played from the new album is Poorman. Maybe the tone wouldn't have been right, I don't know, but it's in the top 3 songs from Spirit for me: Going Backwards, Cover Me and Poorman. I'm not sure if it has been played at all this tour.
And then the show was over. We'll see you next time!
Another tradition of the Dalpeche Modies is to get together at a local nightclub after the show. They typically do a Depeche theme night and so we all go to dance and visit some more. For some of us, this is a once every 4 years event, so we go all out, bleary eyes be dammed. Unfortunately some of us couldn't make it and they were sorely missed.
I almost can't believe it's over. I already miss it.
Here are some videos of the show:
Jeff K
Luke Flach
Tara Salt's front row photos
And now finally, here are my photos. Click on one to see a slideshow.
