LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, PALAU ST. JORDI, BARCELONA, 7 DECEMBER 2017

Following her review of night 2 in Paris, Sandrine Specia returns to reviewing duties for the Palau St Jordi gig on on 7 December. This was a home gig for Sandrine too and here she encapsulates perfectly the reasons that many Devotees see Barcelona as a must attend gig. If we get another tour (and if we do someone else can run a review project :D ) I know I'll be heading to the Barcelona show. Thanks very much for the review and pictures Sandrine.

The Depeche Mode concert at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona caused a lot of expectation among the devotees for months since the date of the concert was announced only in summer. Prior to it being announced, many were worried that DM would not come and play in Barcelona.

Obviously, DM were not going to miss Barcelona out, but the delay in announcing was definitely a concern. When the date was finally released, many began to complain that they were not going to attend because of too high-ticket price. The newly released Spirit had also received a lot of unfair critics on local fans networks from people like the usual moaners who continue to lament the resignation of Alan Wilder from the band. As far as I’m concerned, there is always an exceptional and warm atmosphere in Barcelona, with fans eager to see their favorite band. I wasn't worried about  meeting any negative and complaining people at the concert. 

For many devotees, this concert was going to be the only one they were going to attend.

When I speak of exceptional atmosphere, I can say that of the five concerts I’ve attended during the Delta Machine tour, Barcelona was the best and I did not expect anything less for this show.

Sadly, one downside was that it was another miserable experience for the EE ticket holders, but it was also a very entertaining one meeting people Some Facebook friends came especially from Israel and they were staying in the same hotel as DM. They couldn’t meet them but it was very exciting to know.

I chose to stay in the middle of the catwalk closest to the stage in front of Dave, standing with fans who have traveled all over Europe this year just to see Depeche Mode. 

Support-act Re-Tros received very little applause, people were too impatient and just wanted DM.

A big concert in Barcelona can be easily compared to a football match atmosphere before the Barça takes to the pitch at the Camp Nou Stadium. They warm up the show with "oooohe ohe ohe, ohe, ohe" until the band takes the stage. 

The crowd was excited. If I could have taken the temperature of the people, I'm sure that many would have had a fever! Nerves were in full swing.

Everyone's mobiles were ready to record or to click madly on their camera the second the band arrived on stage at the start of what was to be an epic concert.

People surrendered with all their soul from the first notes of Going Backwards by screaming, shrieking, whistling, going on before Dave to sing the refrains instead of being asked to "sing iiiiiiiiit" when Dave offered us his mic. Dave seemed very surprised but very satisfied discovering such an enthusiastic and loud audience.

The crowd did not simply sit back and listen to It's No Good, or watch Useless and its magnificent black and white video - the atmosphere was electric and Dave stepped on the catwalk more than usual for so much energy shared with the fans.

A Pain That I'm Used To was the catalyst for the long-awaited start of mass jumping around. The energy in the place was sensational.

Home, very much like the Touring the Angel version got the people in love and I must admit that it is the best audience singalong during the "oooooooooooooooh, oh, oooooooooooh" that I've experienced on this tour. We stopped when Dave returned to the stage, which surprised him with a sort of “WTF” face. He asked Peter Gordeno to play again and we continued ohoing without stopping.. Dave was at his best. When the gladiator owns his audience ... In Your Room, Everything Counts, Stripped …

Enjoy The Silence, Never Let Me Down Again and A Question of Time are the number-one songs in the Palau Sant Jordi when DM performs, all of us sing loudly the complete lyrics, causing goosebumps, Spanish shouts of satisfaction The exception to that was during Cover Me,  with Dave majestic, dancing like a swan spreading his wings, with the devotees all around the catwalk speechless, until he knelt down to touch some lucky hands caught on the fence, with people ready to drown to reach him. 

This tour, I spent my time watching the stunning video when Walking in My Shoes was performed. I'm left wordless by its esthetic, colors, story and the beautiful long-haired actor. 

After it finished, many of us were not done with this unbelievable gig. An after-show party had been arranged close to the venue, by MartyrDan Dj who’s also the DM Barcelona fan club’s president. A very long line had taken form at the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol district) as the day after was a public holiday. Lots couldn’t get a ticket, it was sold out in a flash. I met there with my best Spanish buddies and it’s always a funny encounter, re-living one of our happiest moment in life - sharing DM music till the end of the night.

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Thank you Sandrine

LIVE REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE, ACCORHOTELS ARENA, PARIS, 5 DECEMBER 2017

After enjoying my first ever Depeche gig in Paris on Dec 3 (link), I would happily have stayed on for the next show on 5 December. Sadly, the realities of life and work sometimes have to be given precedence over Depeche Mode, so I had to head back to Glasgow. Sandrine Specia from Barcelona did go however and happily she reviewed the gig for the blog. Thanks to Sandrine for this great review and for the superb pictures too.

After the Olympic Stadium in London on a sunny day, and the Stade de France in Paris on a rainy day last summer, I started my European winter-leg tour in Paris on 5 December.

I’m now aware that this exercise is gonna be a tough work for me. If I could, I would write it like a movie scenario in my head. Depeche Mode has to do with the story but it’s not just about them. The soundtrack is also ready. I know who I would submit it to: Ken Loach (if I ever could contact him). I’m unable to write it though, so I'll just tell it. To put words on feelings, my own feelings, to structure and tell a 2-hour gig, then share them, I’m not good at it. I live the moment, that’s all there is. The next one takes place. It’s impossible to go backwards and live it over and over.

It has been a long very long wait that made me think I was living a dream that would never come true. I almost lost hope. My daily routine meant that the initial energy I'd felt knowing I was going to this show started to fade.  How could it happen? As Dave stated several times through interviews, “well, you know, life is made of ups and downs”. I was down, spiritually, physically. Life and its share of sad news meant I got so depressed, I actually believed that something wrong might happen and that I would not make the gig.

It was a cold, cloudy day when I landed in Paris on Sunday late afternoon. I couldn't attend the Sunday night gig, but was there in spirit with my “French David” who was there without me. I needed to be on the spot two days before the second-winter Parisian show to soak up the upcoming moment, and strolling around the Parisian streets, losing myself again, in my homeland. I’ve been living in Barcelona for 23 years and I always go back to Paris to see them.

It might be a cliché saying it, but DM music is the soundtrack of my life, although I do understand it is for so many devotees.

Depeche Mode music is my personal drug, an intravenous painkiller injection for each listen. Some particular songs have different functions, comforting, tranquility, relaxing or just to give me a boost. Some say DM’s music is dark and sad, but I’m the kind of person who gets depressed because the sky is grey. Paradoxically, I feel comforted by Dave’s voice, so soothing, sometimes acting like an anesthetic. Indeed, an excellent and healthy anti-depressing medicine. Healing lyrics in order to relieve the pain. What pain? I don’t know … the world we’re living in and life in general.

This gig was what I deeply needed, as soon as possible. I know I’ll have my head in the clouds. I won’t be the everyday me but more myself. For two hours. I don’t know who is the real me, but she’s happy and joyous - this is priceless.

During a disappointing and fairly useless Early Entry experience, the fortunate among us spent our exciting waiting time sat on the cold floor inside the hall of the venue. DM was in the heart of all the conversations around, best live songs, number of shows attended, years of devotion, favorite tours … Once we came into Bercy, we decided to head to the end of the catwalk where Dave comes and greets some lucky fans, touching their hands. My French friend David finally joined us and all in a sudden …. I’m hanging on your words, living on your breath, feeling with your skin, will I always be here? I think he doesn’t know but he’s my Personal Jesus by just being close to me. As a die-hard fan, he’s immediately able to detect every single lyrics mistake that Dave may make. Shit happens. Dave got the words wrong during Precious. 

I had heard comments that Re-Tros would properly warm up the show. I never heard about them before. Thirty minutes of a weird stuff to my ears, a sort of experimental music.

We watched the clock so many times it felt like we were stuck in a time-warp, feeling like the moment would never end.  In reality though, thankfully, we were closer to our beloved band acting. 

How do I feel 15 minutes before DM takes the stage?

Moved

Lifted higher

Moved

My soul is on fire

Moved

By a higher love

… The lights turned off and the Beatles’ Revolution resounded, announcing Depeche Mode. The crowd welcomed the band with screams, applause and whistles.

I think I’ve been tele-transported to another dimension, with all the DM community. This is what we are. Not a random bunch of fans. We become one. 

I couldn’t yell their names, I never do. Martin, Fletch, Peter and Christian took to the stage the air filled with the shouts of joy of the Parisian room.  At this point, I cannot even scream their names as the others did, or scream my happiness (no one would hear me !!!), no, I applauded and I raised my arms up making the V of victory. As the first notes of Going Backwards rang out, I know that we will enter into communion. We all waited for the master of the place, we were all in master-slave mode.

Dave, since the beginning of the tour is generous, smiling, happy, grateful to his loyal audience. He seems totally fulfilled on stage.

I’ve followed the American tour on FB, and what a disappointment when the European tour resumed without "Heroes". I fell in love with this delicious and poignant cover, I was dying to listen to it live again.

It was a pleasant surprise for me to hear several Ultra era songs, it’s my favorite album.

Judas, performed only with piano and voice, thrilling. However, it can't beat the Devotional Tour version.

Somebody has also been skipped this day in favor of Sister of Night. Beautiful but boring. This song works far better with Dave's warm and mesmerizing voice.

Policy Of Truth doesn’t move me anymore musically speaking, but it's an opportunity for Dave to revel in his incomparable sex appeal, playing with the mic like he’s doing pole dance.

He always tries to speak few French, with "ça va?”, or "merci!" and it gives him a sort of shy mood that I like. He who always seems so self-confident.

I confess that I do not really enjoy on Enjoy The Silence on this tour. This is a hymn for us, I think it lost a lot on this tour, by dint of too many updates for each tour, it is less punchy although it still causes the same enthusiasm among fans. It is a must-have in their concerts. I am nostalgic for the version of Devotional or WVT.

A Question Of Time that had been zapped altogetherduring the summer tour was very welcome this winter, an opportunity to jump and sing it our lungs out altogether. That's what I thought. Four years ago, we all jumped in unison. The choice to perform it at the end of the concert is definitely not the most judicious, we do not have more energy after 2 hours for most of us, or the first 20 seconds, in particular for those who have been in line for hours to rush the first rows.

We left Bercy (people still call the venue by its old name) with stars in our eyes, we could have lighted on the Ville des Lumières.

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Thanks Sandrine