Depeche Mode played live in Oslo Spektrum today. 8 000 people made it to the venue, trough piles of snow and cold wind here in Oslo. The concert started of a little disappointing. Bad sound mix, and the band didn’t manage to connect with the audience. The stage was modern and huge, with live and processed images of the band and the audience, mixed with lots effects and video footage. Very impressive.
(Image by elle-enne, from their concert in Milano, 19th February 2006).
About half way through the concert Martin Gore and David Gahan managed to wake up the audience. Or rather, managed to communicate. As the band’s biggest hits came, people starting jumping, singing and participating. After two extra sets, Depeche Mode ended the concert with a poetic goodnight song. During the two hours, we heard all their biggest hits, and Oslo Spektrum was hot and singing the last 30 minutes of the concert.
Cold to warm
David Gahan ran around dancing, showing off his perfect body, Martin Gore sang four or five songs, and the other three on stage didn’t do much except playing their huge synths and drums. The band is a little cold on stage, and it was almost boring the first half of the concert. They turned on the heat in the end, but it was a huge contrast to Coldplay who played the same venue some months ago. Chris Martin and Coldplay managed to connect with people from song one, and had a much easier road with that.As I said, the visuals were great. Lots of realtime processing of live cameras, with overlays, distortion, graphics and video clips. One of the best shows I have seen.
If I were to give it a score, 2 on the dice the first half, 5 in the second half. 5 for the visuals. Overall: A strong 4 (of 6).
Did you see this concert or any other Depeche Mode concerts on this tour? What do you think?
BTW, here’s the Wikipedia entry on Depeche Mode.
Update: Reviews
Norwegian newspapers rate the concert as top class. Aftenposten writes “The triumph continues” and says the concert was full of both sex and spirituality. Aftenposten gives it 6 of 6.
Dagbladet gives the concert 5 of 6: “It’s close to impossible to miss with the songs of Depeche Mode, and a lead singer like Dave Gahan”. Dagbladet thinks the concert was lifted up on a higher level after “I feel you”, which is exactly the same feeling I had.
Side2 gives the concert 5 of 6 on the dice. Side2 thinks Martin Gore lacks some of the intensity Dave Gahan has, and that the concert was a “best of” with lots of climaxes.
Depeche Mode played these tracks in Oslo:
- A pain that i’m used to
- John the revelator
- Question of time
- Policy of truth
- Precious
- Walking in my shoes
- Suffer well
- Damaged people
- Home
- I want it all
- Sinner in me
- I feel you
- Behind the wheel
- World in my eyes
- Personal jesus
- Enjoy the silence
- Question of lust
- Just can’t get enough
- Everything counts
- Never let me down
- Goodnight lovers