Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour Birmingham Arena VIP EE 19th November 2017

Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour

Birmingham Arena -VIP EE

19th November 2017

 

It's almost 3 years since I seen the respected  "Gods Of Synth''  'Depeche Mode' play live,I'm here in Birmingham for their fast selling 'UK Tour' which has apparently even outsold 'Ed Sheeran'.

 

 

I don't really need to queue outside  so I get a number and come back later, I'm early entry so I'll get a place at the front no matter what there are 80+ of us in VIP tonight.

 

 

Support tonight is from 'Re-Tros' whom I seen play  'Sound City Liverpool' earlier this year  I have a good spot  in the corner between main stage and walkway, but I suspect 'Dave Gahan' will be over to the left (But I suspect wrong it turned out to be a wise move it worked out better than I first thought).

 

 

The lights went down after a short advert about Water Aid endorsed by the band,and the screen at the back of the stage set displays marching cartoon boots like on the album cover.

 

 

 Over to the right on a built up stage with steps is an array of colour on the screens behind as the band arrive ,'Andy' stands behind the Keyboards in a simple black t-shirt and trousers, 'Martin' walks on in a waistcoat and shortened trousers punky type outfit with his trademark blonde wavy hair and then 'Dave' appears dancing or sashaying atop the stage in a Black and Maroon waistcoat which displays enough of his many tattoos .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kicking off with 'Going Backwards' 'Dave' is now gesturing his arms shaping the air in the many of the funky dances he has become famed for except maybe the 'Arm flap' one.

 

 

'Andy' is doing his best to get a crowd reaction during 'It's No Good' when 'Dave' is on the main stage in front of us, he looks pleased to see the sell out crowd tonight, he pulls facial expressions at the crowd up front during 'Barrel Of A Gun' you had to see it ,it was a highlight ,he's got a very dramatic character and lots of  energy as he rises and falls to his knees across the stage with the rhythm of the music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the get go really the show just took off with hit after hit and particular attention was paid to  their 'Ultra' album tonight (its almost the 20 year anniversary of its release) another track played was 'Useless' a special rendition of 'Home' and 'Insight'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They played 'In Your Room' which I absolutely adore, with 'Dave' doing his rock god thing lifting the mic stand aloft and pole dancing with it ...something he's really good at,tonight 'Global Spirit' album is only represented by a few tracks 'Cover Me' and 'Where's The Revolution' being the key tracks, but that's because they must of known we wanted the Hits, I know I do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always great to see 'Everything Counts' even better to see my favourite track on 'Black Celebration' - 'Stripped' I was hoping they would play it, and it wouldn't be right not to play 'Enjoy The Silence' can't do a show without it really, and then the show stopper 'Never Let Me Down Again' with 20'000 people waving their arms in unison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But why oh did they have to be the latest UK band to use Nerf Guns in the middle of 'Never Let Me Down Again' to shoot out t-shirts into the crowd, I've seen it so many times it kind of slows the show down, unless you're 'Green Day' this really dosen't look cool,most bands seem to do it .

 

 

Onto the encore and a superb version of 'Strangelove' onto 'Songs Of Faith & Devotion' again for 'Walking In My Shoes', 'Dave' strolls back on the stage displaying his Red boots same colour as his waistcoat, he puts his foot over the amp showing them off to the crowd with that expression on his face the cross between a 'Naughty Demon' and Mr Bean, listening for approval before playing the song for us .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Then as 'Dave' grabs the mic stand again twirling it round for 'A Question Of Time' the whole arena is bouncing along, the band never disappoint with the energy and determination delivering the songs to the crowd the setlist never ceases to impress me tonight.

 

 

 

They choose to end with 'Personal Jesus' as 'Dave' and 'Martin' make use of the walkway to get the crowd going by the time the chorus kicks in 'Dave' is positively drenched in sweat but incredibly emotional hugging all the band including the live band he tour's with, it's clearly a triumph for them as they look on at us in awe and bow one last time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's remarkable how they still manage to attract younger fans to their back catalogue and new albums for a band that were dissed by this country in the early 80's that's not bad, not many bands can lay claim to that,what a show the boys from 'Basildon' put on ... I swear I  didn't want it to end.

 

 

They did it again !! 

 

 

 

 

 

LMi  xo

 

 

Next time...

A Gig I didn't enjoy for once..... Don't worry it's short and not so sweet .