LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, ARENA RIGA, RIGA, 20 FEBRUARY 2018

Alan Lines returns to reviewing duties following his Vancouver review from October. He's certainly managed to catch a good number of gigs on this tour. His latest one was Riga on 20 February and here is his review. As you'll see, the crowd in the seated part of the arena were subdued to say the least, but Alan made the most of it. Thank you very much for another great review Alan and thanks to Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group for letting me use pictures again.

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

Hello fellow Devotees! I’m writing this on our way by coach to Vilnius after another great night of modeness in the beautiful town of Riga. This is our ninth concert of the tour and my second review.

We arrived in town on Sunday and the build up was really good, lots of DM fans in town and we had a lot of fun in the DM bar too. There appeared to be a good showing from the UK, Germany and especially next door Lithuania. I have to say up front we were a little concerned after the 2014 concert here that the atmosphere would not be good but we had front row seats in a good sector. Our days of getting to the venue at 5 and queuing are long gone, we just love to get reasonably good seats and immerse ourselves in the whole night. So after a few beers in the DM bar we headed off to the venue arriving at 8.15 to find ourselves sat among some very sombre looking people. No matter my black nail varnish and feather man hat will liven them up. Water aid advert tension builds. Luckily none of my workmates will read this because by this time I always have goose bumps!!!

Mr Black Feather Hat and Black Nail Varnish Man aka Alan

8.45 prompt and the Beatles intro kicks us off.  (I’ve even got goose bumps writing this!). The first couple of tracks whizzed by and were well received by the standing audience. I’m no music critic but at this point I realised what a totally professional band DM are. Aside from the hardcore standing, they were getting nothing back from the rest of the arena and still Dave in particular worked his magic, encouraging the crowd at every opportunity. Barrel Of A Gun was a highlight -  I just love that ending. Fanzone started to get really good from that poiunt but from where we were just can’t say anything more than the band were spot on until things moved to the next level with Cover Me.

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

"WILL YA?" -  YEEEEESSS. Dave looking good on the catwalk. Was it me or was Birthday boy Peter spending a little more time up front today? Felt like his sound was turned down a little today so less booming and I particularly enjoyed Christian’s drumming. Martin time, as my kids would say he was "totes amaze." I, however, would say mesmerising and very much appreciated by the crowd. A little go at a sing along and then a deafening roar from the crowd when Dave introduced the group one by one. In Your Room and I’m singing at the top of my voice (hang on said my, wife youve been doing that all night!) Martin's vocals during In Your Room.... oh those goose bumps again. Where's The Revolution wasn’t recognised by many at the start but Dave soon got everyone going.

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

Everything Counts -  sorry purists but who doesn’t love that new intro. Finally I explode and jump up and start dancing but am firmly put back down on my seat (as in 2014).  Martin now bouncing around a fair bit and good hands from Fletch as the concert powers on to the Never Let Me Down Again finale. Lots of hands and as the band walks off, the roof nearly comes off!

Encore, nice rendition of I Want You Now and then the classic Walking In My Shoes. I can now take no more and join a small group standing in the aisle for a maximum effort A Question Of Time from Dave and a rousing Personal Jesus from all the group. And then finally at last, a happy birthday sing a long for Peter and much waving to the crowd from the group, particularly from Andy as they leave the stage. 

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

As always still on a high after the concert when we meet up for a post match beer with our good friends Marius and Vaiva who came over from Vilnius. Sorry everyone if this reads badly or seems over critical. I’m writing this on the coach relying on David’s spell checking and sitting at a DM concert in Riga really is a different experience.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Alan

LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, ROGERS ARENA, VANCOUVER, 25 OCTOBER 2017

The second last gig of the second leg saw Depeche Mode arrive in Vancouver for another rapturously received show. Alan Lines traveled all the way from Southampton to see this one and wrote this cracking review for the blog. Look out for more from him on the 3rd leg. Thanks very much for this Alan and thanks as ever to Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook group for letting me run amok again. 

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos &Videos Facebook Group

Intro

So after reading the reviews on Portland it looks like we are in for another great night of modeness. First some background on me. In 2006 shortly after meeting my long suffering wife Nicky, we started arranging all our holidays during tour time around DM concerts. I'm not the kind of fan that knows the bands Birthday's or the name of Dave's cat I just love their music and seeing them live. Of all the countries we've seen them i guess a field in Costa Rica was the highlight. Or maybe it was making life long friends in Lithuania! So many happy memories. Tonight promises to be extra special as we missed Rome due me falling off my bike and breaking some bones! Right time to put on my new DM Mohawk hat and head into town.

The Concert

Well what a night, an absolutely stunning performance from the boys.

As we neared the venue we started to feel like we were the only people not going to the football match in the stadium next door. Still no DM shirts on view and when we reached the arena we actually wondered if we were at the right venue! Of course that all changed when we went inside! We took our seats early and enjoyed Warpaint who were very well received by the crowd. We were still very anxious (along with others we spoke to) at the thought of having to sit through the concert. However we need not have worried because as soon as the band came on everyone stood up and got straight into the concert, unlike many European concerts we have been too. 

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos &Videos Facebook Group

From the start Dave in particular was on fire. It was only our third concert of this tour so I don't know if this has been happening everywhere but from what I saw Dave was interacting with the crowd more than ever. Maybe it was just us but we thought the band put more energy than ever into it (didn't think that was possible!) and it certainly paid off. Our days of fighting for front row seats/standing are long gone so we are often amongst the less super hard core fans. Row 27 tonight and in these areas although the view is still great the atmosphere can be a little subdued compared to front of stage. A lot of people we spoke had only seen DM once or twice and were probably hearing some of the tracks for the first time. However they were feeding off the bands energy and going crazy at every one of Dave's antics. There was lots of whooping and a hollering from the male part of the audience too! 

After the first few tracks everybody was ready for a classic and In Your Room hit the spot. Although I hate to criticise this was one of many tracks where the sound wasn't right, the vocals were just not loud enough at key points or was the background music too strong? This was also the case with Home, Walking In My shoes and "Heroes." Never experienced this before so maybe it was a local thing. No sing a long after the amazing rendition of Home but I don't think the crowd were aware of the possibility and Martin didn't try to start it. It was good to see Fletch get a mention from Dave around this point. Andy was great tonight and seemed to be really enjoying the night. 

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos &Videos Facebook Group

Well the concert powered on it seemed without let up tonight and hit 11 when the crowd realised the new intro was for Everything Counts. From then until the encore the band carried on excelling with each song getting great crowd responses. I've seen more hands for Never Let Me Down Again but could see a lot of people blown away by the whole thing. The encore, Somebody, was just perfect. And then the funny thing -  the crowd seemed to go a little flat for Walking In My Shoes. It then became quite emotional for "Heroes" and flatish again for the last two tracks. Was I the only who wanted to reach out?! I had a good look around and realised everybody was still loving it but not interacting like we often see. However there was still plenty of that whooping and a hollering from guys and girls. 

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos &Videos Facebook Group

So, in summary I hope I haven't sounded critical in any way. It was our first North American concert and I have tried to highlight the differences. Considering the group are near the end of the leg it's amazing they are still putting on such high energy, aweeeeeeeesome shows and Vancouver you rocked. I don't do twitter etc so don't know the gossip but seeing Dave and Fletch appearing to be getting on ok was the highlight for me.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Alan!