Live review: Depeche Mode at the Bowl

Stripped-down songs and a bundled up frontman still keep it fresh.

You needn't have read about Dave Gahan's recent illness to know that something was up with the Depeche Mode frontman Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl, where the English electro-pop outfit played the first of two sold-out shows. After all, Gahan kept his shirt (well, actually his black leather vest) on for the entire two-hour concert -- quite possibly an unprecedented event in Depeche Mode’s nearly 30-year history.

Since launching its current world tour in May, the band has canceled a number of dates as a result of Gahan's health troubles, which have included a severe bout of gastroenteritis, a malignant tumor in the singer's bladder and a torn calf muscle. Last week Depeche Mode called off shows in Mountain View and Chula Vista after Gahan's doctor advised him to rest his voice.

At press time, concerts scheduled for later this week in Anaheim and Santa Barbara were still set to go ahead.

Given those afflictions, you could understand Gahan's desire Sunday to guard himself against the chilly Los Angeles night. At one point the singer left the stage and returned wearing a sensible scarf. Yet if his wardrobe revealed that even rock stars are susceptible to the frailties of age, Gahan's dancing and especially his microphone twirling -- think of an Elvis Presley unafraid to embrace his inner disco diva -- suggested otherwise.

The frontman's singing was a somewhat different matter. More than once he ceded control of a selection's chorus to guitarist Martin Gore or to the audience, which was happy to take responsibility for its delivery. And a handful of high notes seemed slightly out of Gahan's reach. But for the most part here was a man determined not to allow infirmity to prevent him from selling a song.

Even the new ones: Depeche Mode is on tour in support of “Sounds of the Universe,” the studio disc it released earlier this year, and though Sunday's show featured the usual cavalcade of catalog hits, it also pulled surprisingly heavily from the new album, the band's strongest since the early '90s.

Indeed, Gahan and his bandmates opened with three tracks from "Sounds of the Universe," including "Hole to Feed," which reflected their still-sharp ability to build spirited dance music around thoroughly dismal themes. "This world could leave you broken inside, with nowhere to hide," Gahan crooned dramatically over a percolating industrial-rock beat.

Older material sounded fresher than you might have expected, in most cases as a result of the group's stripping down the songs to their essential parts. "Policy of Truth" zipped along atop a lean New Wave groove, while "Enjoy the Silence" had a raw disco-punk throb that demonstrated the enormous influence Depeche Mode has had on younger bands like the Rapture and Interpol.

For "I Feel You" and "Personal Jesus," Gore drew fuzzy garage-rock tones from his guitar, emphasizing the juicy contrast between his instrument's organic intensity and the sleeker surfaces of the group's computer-music rhythms.

After "Personal Jesus," Depeche Mode closed the show -- which by then had stretched to a second encore -- with a hushed reading of "Waiting for the Night," from the band's smash 1990 album, "Violator." It was an odd move, following an up-tempo take on what might be the band's biggest hit with a spacey, low-key ballad, but hauntingly effective.

--Mikael Wood

Photo credit:  Ann Johansson / For The Times

Comments

[Laetitia Lawrence]

I love that DM closed with a true catalog classic and fan favorite "Waiting For the Night" as the last song. As a longtime follower of the band, I can say that alone would have been worth price of admission. Well played, DM! Always such a class act.

[LCH]

I went to the show last night and I was so excited. When I saw that huge ball with DM on the front I cheered and clapped loudly as we all did. The band sounded better than ever. I've never seen them live but I have several of their CD's so I'm a fan. All of the songs were wonderful and I loved singing along. DM is the best of all time. Thank you DM for such a wonderful and memorable conert experience.

[Adam Chamberlain]

I don't know if this review fills me with confidence or fear. I'm seeing them tonight and I've been certain Dave Gahan would have health issues (its sods law isn't it). I've never seen Depeche Mode live...lets hope that changes by tonight.

[mark]

I glad the fans in LA got to enjoy DM. I had tickets to see them down here in San Diego last Friday but they canceled on us that morning. At least it seems like the rest did Dave good. I really hope that they can manage to squeeze us in at the end of the tour somehow.

[Lawrence]

This was the first live concert I've ever attended, and I can say that it exceeded my expectations. You could hear and see everything even from the back row (which I was seated second-to-last from, but it was well worth it.) I was kind of dissappointed they didn't play their latest two singles "Peace" and "Perfect" from the new album, but I think that rendition of "Enjoy the Silence" was just about the best one they've done yet, and I've heard the more-rockabilly rendition on YouTube, which is also very catchy. "Somebody" is probably the most beautiful song they played their. I'm glad there wasn't as much rowdiness as I heard about in their Rose Bowl show in '89.

[Mike]

AWESOME show. Depeche Mode are still incredible. Sounds of the Universe is great. Cant wait to hear their next single "Hole to Feed" on the radio!

[The Hoot]

Amazing show. Amazing.

http://www.modefan.com the ultimate SoCal Modefan site!

[Big Kahuna]

Went to see the boys last night (17th) and they were great for the mostpart.
I would of liked to see alittle less of the new album and more of the classics like
Master & Servant. Overall I was not disappointed.
I have been waiting for the opportunity to see DM for over 20 years and am now glad I have realized that dream.

K

[Maria]

They were fantastic, despite his ailments...I think Gahan did a fantastic job! I am 36 and managed to scream like a 15 year old groupie!

[George Dobbs]

Excellent concert (Sunday opening night). I will not complain about the set list but I am just surprised they didn't play more from the new album, songs such as "Peace", "Miles Away", and "Corrupt". LA Mode fans would have been fine with this I am sure since they have been the biggest fans since the Black Celebration/Music for the Masses days pretty much knowing the new material when Mode tours. Maybe it's because Playing the Angel was a better album. (You gotta love Dave's song writing, though: Hole to Feed, Come Back--great stuff)

Great concert though guys and as for Peter, Bjorn, and John: not bad. I have seen much worse opening acts. I've even downloaded a few of the songs they played at the Bowl, partially to help me remember this beautiful Sunday evening past.

[Rod]

As all fans, I've waited to see DM live. The opportunity presented itself at the Hollywood Bowl 17AUG09 and the box seats were well worth the price. Don't ever skimp on a band like this! The variation in music was exceptional and classic... took me back to being a 15 year old before the end of innocence. Awesome experience, awesome people, cool herbs in the air, simply incredible concert gents. Euphoric and ecstatic! Thank you DM!

[Some Great Reward (i hope)]

I first saw dM at a general admission show at Oakland Kaiser Center around "Some Great Reward" time period, then saw them two more times for "Black Celebration" (Irvine Meadows and Bay Area). I was looking forward to seeing them this tour as it has been almost 25 years since I last saw them, however, they cancelled their San Diego show. Having much desire to see them again, I purchased seats for their show tonight in Anaheim. After reading some of the reviews from their Hollywood Bowl performance, I do hope and pray all is well. *Fingers crossed*

[statewide van lines]

They were simply unforgettable! What a vibe!!! So much energy! It was by far my best experience of watching someone live, I just couldn't get enough. Thanks for putting up this show.

[Frankie B.]

I went to the show on Monday night after a friend of mine went to the Sunday night show. He told me how great they were and I had to go see for myself. I took my 29 year-old girlfriend. She was a little too young to really be a fan. After the performance they put on, she became a fan. I hadn't seen them in about 15 years. They were much better than I anticipated and much better than their last concert I saw. This concert has to rank up there in the top 5 I have ever seen.

Go see them if you can!!

[Patty]

I saw them at the Bowl and was not disappointed. The music was great and what caught me by surprise was when they sang "Fly on the Windscreen." In the 20 years that I've seen them perform, I don't remember it being played live and it was a nice edition. If I had the means, I would have seen them at Honda Center also. I love this band and their music. "Sounds of the Universe" is the best album yet. I wished they played for another hour.

[Victoria]

Yes, I went to the show & Anaheim show. H.Bowl we got 2 meet 2 of the band members, a blondie angel gave us tickets, a dream come true. they are the best & Dave Gahan is awesome!!! V

[becky]

loved loved loved the show even when they closed with waiting for the night , in which I got a little nervous cause last concert for pta they closed with a goodnight lovers everyone was leaving and wasn't really effective. But with waiting for the night it was a beautiful moment band and crowd I think being an outdoor venue made it seem more intimate. Wonderful show and the sound was amazing I forgot how great the sound is at the hollywood bowl. Wonderful! Even daves voice was good when he would talk he sounded hella raspy but thankfully when he sung he did it beautifuly.

[Brenda]

One word... A-MA-ZING!!!

There's NOTHING bad you can say about this band. GREAT music, GREAT performance, great E-VE-RY-THING!!!!

It's hard to please everyone, but you have to be realistic. Their show only lasts 2 hrs. and its very hard to come up with the line-up when they have so much good material. For that same reason, i DON'T CARE what songs they choose, I like their new, old and very old stuff. So no matter what they play, I'll be happy. I just want to see them and hear them live.

Good vibes for DM :)