Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Blog #5 - Tour of the Universe

As you know by now, my favorite band of all time is Depeche Mode. No one else has ever written music that touches my soul in so many ways. I am one of the devout, forever. I was aware of them growing up (spending my childhood watching music videos since I didn’t really play outside with my allergies and arthritis), but I fell in love with them in high school. My friends & I would spend all of our free time on the weekends in three different independent record stores in OKC. We devoured everything we could get our hands on. It was actually more exciting than downloading whatever you want from the internet now. By the time Ultra was released in 1997, I was a senior in high school, and completely in love with Depeche Mode.

They didn’t really tour for that album, but they toured the next year for the singles collection. I was a freshman in college, with no money to road trip to see them. Finally, when Exciter was released in 2001, I could go. I had just turned 21. Watching my favorite band, outside under the stars, with my brother & a cold drink in my hand was an amazing experience. The track list was magical. My favorite song (Halo) and my brother’s favorite (Home) were included. The show started before sunset, and seeing them play Waiting for the Night during sunset was magical.

Tuesday, July 17th 2001 - Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Center

Intro - Easy Tiger / Dream On (acoustic)
The Dead of Night
The Sweetest Condition
Halo
Walking In My Shoes
Dream On
When the Body Speaks
Waiting for the Night
Sister of Night (Martin)
Breathe (Martin)
Freelove
Enjoy the Silence
I Feel You
In Your Room
It's No Good
I Feel Loved
Personal Jesus

(Encore)
Home (Martin)
Clean
Black Celebration
Never Let Me Down Again


My next opportunity to see them was in 2005, on the first leg of Touring the Angel. This time I was a newlywed, and seeing my favorite band with my husband and brother rocked. Now that I think about it, it was the only time I have seen them indoors. Hm. Again, my brother heard his favorite song, Home. The encore began with Somebody, the song that meant so much to Jason & I. He held me and kissed me and we swayed along. We were very much in that newlywed high, each of us so happy to find our Somebody.

Tuesday, November 8th 2005 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center

Intro
A Pain That I'm Used To
John the Revelator
A Question of Time
Policy of Truth
Precious
Walking In My Shoes
Suffer Well
Damaged People
Home (Martin)
I Want It All
The Sinner In Me
I Feel You
Behind The Wheel
World In My Eyes
Personal Jesus
Enjoy the Silence

(Encore #1)
Somebody (Martin)
Just Can't Get Enough
Everything Counts

(Encore #2)
Never Let Me Down Again
Goodnight Lovers (acoustic)


The following spring, we decided to drive to Kansas City to see them on the second leg of Touring the Angel. It turned out to be the most unique Depeche Mode show of all time. When it started, we noticed that Dave Gahan’s (lead singer) voice sounded quite strained. After six songs, he was taken to the hospital. It was exhaustion or something. So we stood there for a bit, wondering what would happen next. Martin Gore (principal songwriter and sometimes singer) performed six more songs before they ended the show. Being there to see Martin sing six (instead of 2 or 3) in a show was too amazing for words. I could write a book about how magical that performance was.

Wednesday, May 10th 2006 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Amphitheater

(Dave Gahan)
Intro
A Pain That I'm Used To
A Question of Time
Suffer Well
Precious
Walking In My Shoes
Stripped

(Martin Gore)
Home
It Doesn't Matter Two
Leave In Silence
A Question of Lust
Somebody
Damaged People


That brings us to this summer. I had the opportunity to see them three times in the month of August. The first was the Lollapalooza festival. Depeche Mode was announced as one of the headliners, along with Tool, my brother’s other favorite band. We knew there would never be another opportunity to see two such amazing bands in the same weekend, so we decided to go. We bought the VIP tickets (worth every penny) to have access to real bathrooms, unlimited alcohol & food, and premium viewing at the three day festival. Depeche Mode headlined the first night. My mood was up and down. The thought occurred to me that I had come full circle. The first time I saw them perform, it was just me and my brother. The second and third time, Jason was alive and married to me. Now as a widow, I was seeing them with just my brother again. Widows have these thoughts from time to time. “First time I have done blank without him.” “First time I have gone to blank without him.” It felt good though. This was me moving on with my life, being strong and happy and enjoying myself. Seeing over 100,000 people wave their arms during Never Let Me Down Again was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The Chicago skyline as a backdrop was nice too.

Friday, August 7th 2009 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza

In Chains
Wrong
Hole to Feed
Walking in My Shoes
It's No Good
Question of Time
Precious
Fly on the Windscreen
Home (Martin solo)
Come Back
Policy of Truth
In Your Room
I Feel You
Enjoy the Silence
Never Let Me Down Again

(Encore)
Stripped
Personal Jesus


Three weeks later, we drove to Dallas to see them again. Two things made this show super exciting.

One – with the time restraints of a festival, the set list for Lollapalooza had been shortened. We would get the full set list now.
Two – There was a group of nine of us going together. I had never been to any concert with that many friends before.

In Chains has to be the best opener I have ever heard. The way the song slowly builds into a sexy grind, just immediately gets the crowd warmed up. I could go on forever about this track. If you haven’t heard it, watch the video below. Yes, it’s the Dallas show. No, I didn’t shoot this. We were on the lawn.



The first encore started with Martin singing Somebody. When I heard the opening chord of the song, I swear that I went into an out of body experience. I saw myself spin in a circle, sit on the blanket, and burst into tears. I had not seen this song live without Jason, ever. Everyone reached down to hug me and tell me they love me, but I think I just needed a good cry. Blaine held me and we swayed back and forth. I asked him the question I had not spoken out loud until that moment. “Will I find a Somebody again?” All of my emotions came out. At the same time, I was sad to be a widow, proud of my marriage, scared about the future, hopeful that I will find someone new, grateful for having such amazing friends, and in awe of the talent on stage in front of us. Thank you Martin Gore. Thank you for writing that song, and thank you for playing it live.

Again, not my video, but the show I am talking about.



Saturday, August 29th 2009 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center

In Chains
Wrong
Hole to Feed
Walking In My Shoes
It's No Good
A Question of Time
Precious
Fly On the Windscreen
Jezebel (Martin)
Judas (Martin)
Miles Away / The Truth Is
Policy of Truth
In Your Room
I Feel You
Enjoy the Silence
Never Let Me Down Again

Encore #1
Somebody (Martin)
Stripped
Behind The Wheel

Encore #2
Personal Jesus
Waiting For the Night (Bare Version)


After the show, we all partied the night away at the W Hotel. Have I mentioned how much I love my friends?

The next day, I flew to Houston, to welcome my friend Marline home from basic training (Jason inspired her to join the Texas Army National Guard), and see Depeche Mode with her. This was her first time to see them, and we managed to get 5th row tickets. I had never been this close before. I was a little disappointed in the majority of the fans in the front 7 rows (pit section). Most of them didn’t know any of the songs from the new album. Even the reviewer commented on that the next day.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/08/aftermath_depeche_modes_black.php

Ignoring those folks, the show was amazing. Let me get all girly for a second. I can’t believe how sexy Dave & Martin are! Okay, I had to get that out of my system! Martin played Home again, so Marline texted my brother to tell him that I got a short video of it for him. Personal Jesus is one of the most amazing live tracks now, thanks to Martin’s little guitar intro. Here’s my video of that.



Sunday, August 30th 2009 - Houston, TX - Woodlands Pavilion

In Chains
Wrong
Hole To Feed
Walking In My Shoes
It's No Good
A Question Of Time
Precious
Fly On The Windscreen
Little Soul (Martin)
Home (Martin)
Miles Away / The Truth Is
Policy Of Truth
In Your Room
I Feel You
Enjoy The Silence
Never Let Me Down Again

Encore #1
A Question Of Lust (Martin)
Stripped
Behind The Wheel

Encore #2
Personal Jesus
Waiting For The Night (Bare Version)


I realized that the first tour I went to was one show. The second tour was two shows. And this, my third tour, was three shows. I have already started saving money to hit four shows on the next tour. If you have never seen Depeche Mode live, you must see them next time around.

No comments:

Post a Comment