LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, HONDA CENTER, ANAHEIM, 22 MAY 2018

Welcome back. The fifth leg of the Global Spirit Tour has begun and the band started with a show at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on 22 May 2018. Rob Rohm was there and this is his review. You may recall that Rob has reviewed for the blog previously on the tour (San Diego) and this is yet another cracking read ending with yet another guitar pick success for Rob. He must have a magnet that attracts them or something. Thanks very much for the review, the pictures and the superb videos Rob. 

I speculated there would be a second US leg of the Global Spirit Tour because of the huge gap in the schedule between South American and EU Festival Dates. As 2018 began and weeks passed without an announcement, I did get a bit concerned. Finally, in February it was announced! And what an announcement, the second leg of the US tour would open with a show at the Honda Center in Anaheim! This is as close as it can get for me. My house is 2 miles (3 km) away from the Honda Center. I’m near the freeway and it’s 2 freeway exits away. A $6 Uber ride. Needless to say, I was ecstatic!

The first order of business was to secure tickets. Luckily I ended up with front row on the floor. During the on sale, I first purchased a pair of fifth row tickets but then found a single in the front row. Knowing what a hardcore of a fan I am, my wife told me to me sit up in the front row while she sat in fifth row with someone else (my Mom). And as luck would have it, I was in seat 4 and my friends Adam, Lisa, and Jeni had seats 1, 2, and 3.

Since the venue was so close to my home, I thought I’d invite some Devotees to my house for a pre-party the day of the show. Since a lot of us had VIP party packages, I held the pre-party at my house from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. The VIP party was beginning at 5:30 at Honda Center. This is the first time I’ve ever thrown a party with an end time. The timing worked out perfectly.

I started a Facebook group called Depeche Mode Global Fan Group after I was a part of Depeche Mode’s Facebook Fan Takeover last summer. The group currently has almost 5,500 members from all across the globe. I invited some of the members of the group that were attending the Anaheim show to the pre-party at my house. It was a great group of people, some I had just met in person for the first time but as we all know Depeche Mode fans are like a family.

When we hit the Honda Center for the VIP party, there was a merch table set up right next to our check-in location. I bought a poster and t-shirt and put it in the car before we went inside (our friend Jeni drove us from the pre-party). We checked in and received our VIP lanyards, wristbands, and drink tickets. The VIP event was held in the Shock Top Terrace on the Club Level of the Honda Center. We were given VIP exclusive Depeche Mode branded black bags that are reversible with printing on both sides in different colors (gray and red). Inside the bag there was also a Depeche Mode branded wireless speaker. The food was really good with a self-serve taco bar and churros for dessert. While walking to the VIP area, one of our friends, Leah, recorded a snippet of soundcheck. It was Martin Gore performing The Things You Said.

The VIP experience at Honda Center was a bit above the Hollywood Bowl shows. We headed down to our seats after almost 2 hours in the VIP area.

VIP Party - Rob in the centre

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was the opening act. I’m not too familiar with their music but they sounded great.

During the intermission between bands, I joined a group of fans that had hosted the Depeche Mode page during the Facebook Fan Takeover including Depeche Mode’s webmaster, Daniel “Brat” Barassi.

Takeoverees

All eyes were on Anaheim as fans across the globe were curious as to what changes might be in store for this next leg of the tour. When Depeche Mode last played Southern California, they had significantly reshaped their set list with changes that would flow across the rest of the tour. The familiar intro with the Beatles’ Revolution and the Spirit feet marching lead into Going Backwards. The beautiful color splatter video backdrop and Dave’s silhouette dancing across the upper stage is still in place.

It’s No Good was the second song, this was one of the surprise changes at the Hollywood Bowl that has been a staple in the set list since. Barrel Of A Gun and A Pain That I’m Used To were followed by Useless and Precious, two other tracks that made their appearance at the Hollywood Bowl shows. Useless had a new video backdrop for this part of the tour.

World In My Eyes was up next and the backdrop features a silhouette of a young Dave Gahan from the Violator era with his hands forming the familiar glasses the band members were photographed doing. Stellar versions of all of these songs as usual.

Cover Me has been one of Dave’s favorite songs to interact with the audience on this tour. At the Hollywood Bowl, I filmed Dave up close during Cover Me. Honda Center had the traditional catwalk the band has used this tour (unlike Hollywood Bowl). As the song entered the middle section, I made my way from my front row seat across the floor to the catwalk. I captured some video and you’ll notice in the middle of the clip that Dave is actually telling some fans to “Get the fuck up!” since they were sitting down.

As alluded to earlier, Martin soundchecked with The Things You Said and he delivered. This was a very welcomed set change. Really cool to hear it live again.

Home was a standard rendition but the singing by the fans at the end seemed a bit minimal in comparison to previous concerts. In Your Room is one of my favorite tracks and I’m happy they continued playing it this second leg. I love that it’s the album version of the track. It was accompanied by the same video footage that’s been used all tour. Where’s The Revolution had all of us raising our fists in the front row in unison with the chorus. Everything Counts was up next and I was hoping to capture a nice clip of us in the front row on the video screens but they changed up the video feed a bit for this song.

The closers for the regular set are three of my all-time favorite Depeche Mode tracks: Stripped, Enjoy The Silence, and Never Let Me Down Again.

This potentially could be my last show this tour. I was fortunate enough to attend their rehearsal in April 2017 at S.I.R. Studios in Hollywood with 40 other Devotees. I then saw them in Paris in July, followed by shows in Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and the four Hollywood Bowl shows. I haven’t completely ruled out heading to Europe for one of the summer festival gigs but as of the moment this 10th show I’ve seen on this tour is my last. I mention it as I was taking in the experience with that perspective. I had been so hyped to see them in my hometown but it’s bittersweet for it to come to an end.

The encore started with Martin Gore’s other lead vocal track from Music For The Masses, I Want You Now. It was a beautiful piano rendition of the song.

Walking In My Shoes was the second encore. Being seated directly in front of Martin, it’s always cool to watch him play guitar. Most people are unaware that he uses an Ebow on Walking In My Shoes. The EBow is a hand-held electronic bow for guitar. I shot this photo of him using it:

A Question of Time was a nice set change from what they played on the first US leg. It was a hard-driving energetic performance. The second leg features a shorter 20 song set list, so the final song was Personal Jesus. I don’t think anybody wanted the show to end. After the song Martin threw his guitar pick to me. Everything came full circle for this Global Spirit Tour. He handed me a pick after their rehearsal in April of 2017 and also threw me one at the last Hollywood Bowl show. I now have one from my hometown gig too, potentially the final show for me on this Amazing Global Spirit Tour.

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

Thanks Rob!

LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, MATTRESS FIRM AMPHITHEATRE, SAN DIEGO, 6 OCTOBER 2017

This venue definitely wins the title of Venue Name Of The Tour - spectacular stuff. Equally spectacular is this review from Rob Rohm from Orange County, California, a man who really knows his Depeche Mode. Rob's review is a great read which I know you'll all enjoy. Thanks very much Rob for the write up, pictures and videos. Thanks too to the by now surely fed up of me stealing things gang at Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group whose pictures I've credited. Don't want to get in trouble.

October 6, 2017 - Mattress Firm Amphitheatre is the name of the venue hosting Depeche Mode on this warm fall night in Chula Vista, California. The name of the venue can cause you to do a double take. Although it's named after one of the largest mattress retailers in the US, it evokes sexual imagery and innuendo more than anything else. What better place for Depeche Mode to perform songs such as Corrupt, In Your Room, World in My Eyes, A Question of Lust, and Stripped. 

Although the venue sufficiently warned fans to get to the amphitheatre early to avoid traffic, it was truly a traffic nightmare getting in to the show. My home is located in Orange County, California. It's about an hour and a half drive south to Mattress Firm without any traffic. The last two miles took more time than that. Unfortunately for us, we trusted the judgment of Google Maps for the quickest route into the venue. It guided us to a back route in with a single lane that was barely moving. The traffic coming in the traditional entrance was heavily bogged down as well but at least they had 3 lanes of cars moving. We made the mistake of having a few drinks at our hotel with friends before we left. We left our hotel at 6:30 for what should have been a thirty-minute drive at the most. After sitting in traffic for over an hour with no end in sight, my wife and her friends suggested that I walk the remainder and meet them inside. They knew I was to review the show for The Global Spirit Tour Project. I didn't want to miss a minute of the action, so I took them up on their offer and walked over a mile to the venue in my Doc Martins (Try Walking in My Shoes! Sorry, couldn't resist).

As I walked up to the venue I heard the opening act Warpaint but by the time I got inside they were done playing. Luckily I had caught them earlier in the week at Martin's hometown gig at the Santa Barbara Bowl. This is my fifth time seeing the band on the Global Spirit tour and 41st show all-time starting back in 1986. I was lucky enough this tour to see them at a private rehearsal with 40 others in Hollywood at S.I.R. Studios in April. They only performed 10 songs for us at the rehearsal but it was there that I first saw the exact 22 song set list that they performed in Chula Vista at the base of Martin Gore's microphone stand.

Once inside the venue, I took a peek at the merchandise booth to see if there were long lines (there were) and if there was anything new. I also checked to make sure they're still selling the cool Master and Servant shirt. I bought souvenirs at their Paris gig in July but haven't bought anything yet from the shows I've caught in the States (Vegas, Santa Barbara, and San Diego). I'm hoping they open a pop-up shop in Los Angeles for the Hollywood Bowl shows as they've done in New York and select shows in Europe.

I grabbed a beer and said hello to a few devotees before heading to my seat. For this show my ticket was third row from the stage on the left side (Martin's side). I texted my wife to check on her whereabouts and they were still slowly making their way to the venue. It was too late, the Beatles' Revolution was playing and they were still stuck in traffic! It was 9pm and the band was taking the stage. 

The Spirit feet march into the show opener Going Backwards with its vibrant backdrop. This timely and relevant song is one of my favorite tracks on Spirit and a perfect way to kick things off. So Much Love and Barrel Of A Gun follow and my wife still hasn't made it into the venue yet! I'm glad to be inside watching but bummed when Peter Gordeno straps on the bass guitar and the band breaks into A Pain That I'm Used To. At the Santa Barbara show, my wife had told me that she really likes that song. It was actually a bit surprising to me that she said that but the version they perform on this tour is definitely one that you can't stop yourself from dancing to. Luckily she shows up mid song and immediately begins dancing and is quite happy with our view.

She is just in time for the Mattress Firm Trilogy: Corrupt, In Your Room, and World In My Eyes. On Corrupt, Dave's performance combines elements of hard rock, marching soldiers, and a sultry rock god all in one

In Your Room is one of my top ten favorite Depeche Mode tracks. Thankfully the band has reverted to playing the album version of the song which is a lot more powerful in my opinion. The song is accompanied by one of Anton's video creations but sitting up close my focus is on the band's performance and not the video.

World In My Eyes completes the Mattress Firm Trilogy with the crowd fully engaged. My wife commented about Dave putting his hands above his head to form the hand gesture shown on the cover of the World In My Eyes single. She mentioned first noticing him doing this in Paris.

Cover Me is accompanied by Anton's video footage used for the single release with Dave walking around Venice Beach in astronaut gear. This one is hard not to pay attention to the video. It's another one of those videos that make you question how much trust they give Anton but it is interesting I suppose.

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

I missed A Question Of Lust to make a beer run but it sounded great. I am surprised how little Martin's songs have changed this tour. Usually he mixes it up more. We did get to see Judas performed in Paris, but that's been the only set change I've seen in person so far this tour. It is rumored that there will be significant changes during the Hollywood Bowl shows. I'll be at the last 3 shows there. Home sounded great as usual and we actually had a pretty good round of ooohs going after the song was over.

Poison Heart really takes me back to the intimate rehearsal I saw in April. We were standing right in front of Martin during that performance and to watch his guitar work and emotion as he sang the backup vocals was pretty amazing.

Where's The Revolution is the fifth and final song they perform off Spirit. The visuals on this song are great as is the performance. Dave marches up the stairway to the second level stage area with his silhouette in front of socialist imagery provided by Anton.

Wrong and Everything Counts get the remix treatment and are fantastic performances and lead into my all-time favorite song, Stripped. I typically try to avoid filming too much but I did record the complete song for this one. I wanted to have a full clip of Stripped live as it may be one of the songs that gets changed up in Hollywood.

The last two songs before the encore actually elevate the show to the highest points. Besides being the classic powerful Depeche Mode songs that they are, Enjoy The Silence and Never Let Me Down Again are both crowd favorites. The audience interaction is at its best during these two songs and is highlighted by the classic waving of hands during Never Let Me Down Again. At this show Dave does not use the t-shirt cannon during the song.

Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group

The encore consisted of five songs as usual starting with Somebody performed by Martin, Walking In My Shoes featuring another Anton Corbijn video, the "Heroes" David Bowie tribute, I Feel You, and Personal Jesus.

I had a fantastic night at the show despite the pain I wasn't used to of getting into the show. I read some negative comments from some fans on social media after the show and I will say this: As with anything in life, your mode (mindset) will go a long way in determining how much you enjoy the show. The band definitely doesn't disappoint. It's amazing to see them perform at such a high level with so much energy and enthusiasm after all these years. I'm proud to say I've been a Devotee since 1985.

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

Thanks Rob!