Depeche Mode reside at The O2 overview -

LONDON, ENGLAND - Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode performs at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu/WireImage) — Picture © Chiaki Nozu

Depeche Mode – Reside at The O2, 22 January 2024

Score: 4/5

The final time I noticed and reviewed Depeche Mode on stage, it was for his or her triumphant Twickenham gig final yr, throughout which I talked a lot about the fee that I used to be beginning to sound like my dad. I’ll not be so middle-aged this time. And in addition to, Depeche Mode in 2024 are simply so damned irresistible reside that, effectively, to hell with the money.

It is a band that has had 4 many years to hone the craft, after all, however these of us who purchased into Dreaming Of Me all these years in the past might by no means have conceived the phrases ‘Depeche Mode 2024’ being utilized in the identical sentence, not to mention seeing two of the unique lineup nonetheless knocking it out of the park all these many years later.

Intense and immense

However on stage, and even of their 60s, this can be a band that slides round its again catalogue – Dave Gahan gyrating concerning the stage like a Sixties pool hustler with Martin Gore endlessly smiling on – with a lot ease and panache that you simply’re in protected fingers from the atmospheric starting to the searing, superb finish.

Inevitably there are comparisons to be made with that gig at Twickers, however this O2 expertise has a really totally different vibe. Extra indoor and darker, clearly, and extra celebratory maybe. There are extra setlist adjustments to take pleasure in right here than we’d anticipated, too. Black Celebration is intense and immense, Strangelove is Martin Gore as his greatest, a surprisingly sensible model, as is Condemnation later when he’s joined by Gahan for the primary encore, whereas Coverage Of Fact, one other new entry, doesn’t shock when it half steals the present.

Martin Gore of Depeche Mode performs at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu/WireImage) — Picture © Chiaki Nozu

Elegant set

There are tracks which are beginning to grate, perhaps, however for each John The Revelator, there’s an Get pleasure from The Silence simply across the nook. And have I had sufficient of Simply Can’t Get Sufficient? Sure, very in all probability, however you’re not going to get that previous the various 1000’s who disagree with me tonight. Nor are they wanting to listen to Memento Mori album highlights like Earlier than We Drown, and Individuals Are Good as a substitute, like me, though I believe the latter would carry the home down similarly.

There are different highlights from that album, although (and to my thoughts one in all their strongest recordings). My Cosmos Is Mine continues to be one of many most interesting methods to open a gig, My Favorite Stranger rocks higher reside than as a recording, and Ghosts Once more is solely chic.

Imperious hits

However, let’s face it, it’s the swaying of By no means Let Me Down Once more, the emotion of World In My Eyes – now a everlasting reflection on Fletch – and the searing energy of Stripped that take us to our highest of highs. By the tip of all of it, as we stomp by Private Jesus, even the £27.50 Gordon Ramsey burger doesn’t depart a nasty style in my mouth – whoops, there I’m going once more. And as I complain – but a-bloody-gain – to a good friend on textual content about costs, he does counter with ‘no less than they’re the precise band taking part in reside in entrance of you – sooner or later you’ll pay the identical to see a tribute act or holograms’. And he’s proper, after all.

Behind the machines and imperious hits, tonight the Depeche Mode of 2024 – and sure I actually did write these phrases – are extra human than ever. Real smiles, real heat, and completely ruling over us all.

SETLIST

Communicate To Me (instrumental outro)
My Cosmos Is Mine
Wagging Tongue
Strolling In My Footwear
It’s No Good
Coverage Of Fact
In Your Room (Zephyr Combine)
All the things Counts
Valuable
My Favorite Stranger
Strangelove (Martin solo acoustic)
Heaven (Martin solo acoustic)
Ghosts Once more
I Really feel You
A Ache That I’m Used To (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)
World In My Eyes
Black Celebration
Stripped
John The Revelator
Get pleasure from The Silence