….it’s been a while since I last wrote about live performances, so bear with me, I’ll try my best.
The last time I saw Depeche Mode live was so long ago that…it kind of feels like it happened in a different lifetime. I wasn’t even in my mid twenties back then. Spotify wasn’t available in Romania (yet). Cluj seemed mostly an unknown thing to me. I was into bands that I’m kind of not into anymore. I wasn’t wearing glasses. I was more positive towards their previous album, Spirit.
So what has happened since then?
“Are you talking strictly about your relationship with Mode and their music? Or in general?”
The first part.
I soured on Spirit, but I still think it has enough bright spots to not see it as my least favourite album from them.
I got a Spotify account in 2018…and, while I can’t for the life of me remember my 2018 Wrapped, I do remember them making every Wrapped from 2019 onwards.
I went to see Spirits in the Forest in cinema in the autumn of 2019.
I was happy for them when they got into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in that odd year known as 2020. (I’m still not the biggest fan of that institution, but it’s nice to hear that the band is appreciated)
I continued to listen to them a lot.
I made a really dumb joke involving Enjoy the Silence and a public transport strike in Bucharest in early 2022. A joke which prompted my dad to say “Oh, you’re missing them, aren’t you?”.
I woke up one morning in late May 2022 to find out that Fletch had died. I was shocked…and over time, I started making peace with the idea that I might not see them live anymore.
But then…
The Universe decided to throw some positive stuff at me. In October 2022, Dave and Martin announced that they were working on a new album, titled Memento Mori, and that they were going on tour next year.
That tour was going to include Bucharest too.
I bought a ticket (tho not too in the front, those were a bit expensive), I watched the days go by, I enjoyed Memento Mori, I got home earlier at the beginning of June 2023 to watch a livestream of their set at Primavera in Barcelona….
And then I found myself on the hot afternoon of July 26th waiting to see the band live.
The opening group, Haelos, were pretty chill. I initially thought I couldn’t hear their frontwoman loud enough, but I got over that pretty quickly…cause it wasn’t like I couldn’t hear her at all, I just wasn’t hearing her loud enough at times.
“How were Mode live?”
Amazing as always.
My Cosmos Is Mine worked well as an atmosphere builder.
I’m still not thrilled with Wagging Tongue as a single choice, but it sounded good live, so who am I to complain about the song?
Walking In My Shoes had a singalong moment - one of the many during the night - and that was nice.
It was neat to hear people around me singing the words to It’s No Good. (I still don’t get the donkey visuals tho)
I loved hearing Sister of Night - one of my favourite deep cuts from Ultra - but a part of me will never forget the sight of Dave’s butt facing the crowd.
I know I said that hearing the album version of In Your Room back in 2017 was the gods’ gift towards the audience…but you know what? I liked the single mix too. I would never complain about hearing this amazing tune in concert….no matter the version.
Everything Counts was still great live.
It was nice to hear you live again after 10 years, Precious.
Speak to Me, one of my favourite songs from Memento Mori, got me in my feelings…and in my fears, given that the rain started…and came with two of the things I like the least…lightning and thunder.
Home was as magical as always….Soul With Me was amazing, too, in spite of the technical difficulties in the beginning.
Ghosts Again is already a classic and it felt like one live.
I’m still surprised I haven’t got bored of I Feel You. I don’t know what it is about this song and resisting overplay.
A Pain That I’m Used To started with technical difficulties - can’t blame the band tho - but it still managed to be fun? I guess I like the Jacques Lu Cont remix almost as much as the original…
World In My Eyes …was great, but bittersweet. I miss Fletch. I hope that he enjoyed the dedication…wherever he is now.
I didn’t mind hearing Wrong again.
Stripped was wonderful as always.
Teenage me would be pleased to know DM played John the Revelator live.
Enjoy the Silence was a great choice for the last song before the encore…cause the people went nuts.
Waiting for the Night felt intimate and full of tranquility. Also nice screen projections, though I can’t for the life of me tell you why I like them so much.
I guess I have matured a bit…given that hearing Just Can’t Get Enough live again didn’t send me into hysterics (like it almost did a decade ago). It just put a smile on my face. And made me dance a bit.
You know what? It really doesn’t matter whether they end their gigs with Never Let Me Down Again or Personal Jesus. They were both legendary and putting them next to each other was brilliant.
Conclusion?
Man, it feels amusing to say that it rained at a Mode gig again…but I’m not going to complain too much: they were great, the audience was great, I love their music and I feel grateful to have seen them live multiple times.
View high resolution
