Depeche Mode at The O2 | Review

Depeche Mode at the O2_Nov 2013_7040

Depeche Mode at The O2, Dublin on Saturday the 9th of November 2013

As the clocks have gone back and the nights are longer, it was fitting that Depeche Mode, with their brand of dark electro rock, made a much-anticipated appearance at the O2. It had long been sold out and a capacity crowd were in attendance, eager to see if the Mode could live up to their reputation of delivering showstopping performances. The arena certainly was ready, fit for a band of their stature, with two huge screens either side of the stage. As they entered, the flash of a thousand smart phones went off – truly the entrance of global rock stars.

The set appealed to new comers and also to Depeche Mode’s devoted fan base, with the obligatory inclusion of songs from their new album ‘Delta Machine’ but also covering the span of their career, delving back to the early 80’s. But it’s how the set is delivered is what matters and in Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode possesses a frontman who radiates enough charisma to power a small nation. Whatever Gahan wanted the crowd to do – wave their hands in the air, clap in unison, sing back the chorus; was complied with, Borg-like. If Gahan had wanted the crowd to lie on their backs and bark like dogs, he’d have got it.

Gahan was full of sexual menace, prowling the stage during Angel like a lithe matador and he scanned the crowd like they were his prey. The mic stand was getting the full on sleaze treatment from Gahan, gyrating on it like a Lothario during Policy Of Truth and hoisting it aloft like a sexual conquest on Walking In My Shoes. Most sex scenes in movies are not this steamy! Martin Gore took the front and centre for a couple of acoustic songs with The Child Inside and But Not Tonight. Gore’s fragility was a welcome interlude to directly contrast the sexual bombardment from Gahan.

As the rest of the band returned for the second half of the set Gahan sounded like a prophet proclaiming our fate during an urgent and brilliant Behind the Wheel. The Pain That I’m Used To sounded suitably like a torrid liaison while the final two monster songs Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus closed out the set spectacularly. But after teasing and toying with the crowds for so long, Depeche Mode just couldn’t kick their fans out without some more loving. There was no chance of people looking for a sneaky exit to catch an early tram. The encore begin with Gore performing another acoustic number in Shake The Disease before the raucous fun of the classic I Just Can’t Get Enough just about summed how the crowd felt about the band. I Feel You and Never Let Me Down Again rounded off an epic gig where Depeche Mode confirmed why they are one of the biggest bands on the planet with a brilliant performance which left the crowd gagging for more.