There is no such thing as a perfect performance and that was the case last night at Jiffy Lube Live, where Depeche Mode made its latest stop in support of its most recent release, Delta Machine. Perhaps it might be time for the band to close its performances with a song other than “Never Let Me Down Again,” which the band has been using in the role since its release. Maybe the mix could have been clearer during certain parts of the show. In the end, any complaints would amount to little more than picking nits because after 30 years in the game, these guys just know what they’re doing. They wouldn’t have become the most influential electronic act of all time with a bag full of classic hits if they didn’t understand how to put on a good show and take an audience on a journey (plus all the arm waving that happens during the finale looks really cool).
The key to Depeche Mode’s strength as a live band doesn’t come from the trippy visual imagery on the back screen or the descending lighting towers, although there was plenty of that type of stimulation. Rather, it comes from the two people on stage who actually move: vocalist Dave Gahan and drummer Christian Eigner. Gahan has earned a place in the pantheon of great front men and at 51-years old, he brings a physique, sensuality and vocal resonance that should raise envy in performers half his age. From the opening drones of “Welcome to My World,” a single off the new album, he delivered each melody with passion and precision, never even hinting that he was taking the thousands before him for granted.
Without Eigner’s presence, the only support for Gahan would be three men spending most of the set behind banks of keyboards and laptops. As a live drummer he brings a physicality to the performance that is not only visually appealing, but which also adds an emotional connection by establishing a human element among the highly programmed beats and digital sounds. This was especially true of his locomotive groove in songs such as “I Feel You” or “Heaven,” as well as the short solo he took during “Enjoy The Silence”.
Singling out these two is not meant to diminish the contributions of other members. While Andy Fletcher avoids the spotlight on stage, he is a founding member of the group and a vital part of the creative process. Similarly, Martin Gore is responsible for writing many of DM’s most beloved songs. And while he doesn’t have Gahan’s charisma, he did offer the concert’s most poignant moments. Singing “The Child Inside” and “But Not Tonight” with only keyboardist Peter Gordeno accompanying him, he proved that honest emotion can outdo all the lights, bells and whistles. In fact, seeing Gore in a duo setting would be something worth paying for, maybe even a visit to one of the District’s intimate jazz venues might be in order. Even more touching was the way in which the audience gave back. After his second tune, Gore’s signature song, “Home” began to waft from the seats and Gahan mock conducted the crowd through its chorus. We had to wait until the encore to hear the real thing and it did not disappoint.
All the hits were there, of course. “Personal Jesus” benefited from a sweaty guitar intro from Gore while “Policy of Truth,” “Walking in My Shoes” and “Precious,” from 2005’s Playing the Angel, were all performed faithfully and with verve. Of the new material, “Heaven” and “Should Be Higher” were standouts. “Just Can’t Get Enough” was especially uplifting given the band’s generally introspective nature. For those of us who enjoy electronic music, but who aren’t house heads, the moods and textures that a band like Depeche Mode explores are a refreshing departure from the “boom-tsk-book-tsk” monotony of contemporary EDM. Given this band’s longevity, one wonders why more electronic artists haven’t followed this aspect of its legacy.
