Depeche Mode Lights Up Detroit in a Triumphant Return

Depeche Mode Detroit 2023 Depeche Mode returned to Detroit after a six-year absence and performed to a capacity crowd at Little Caesars Arena this past Wednesday November 8. The tour coincides with the release of their 15^th studio album Memento Mori.

The show began very somber with an instrumental intro of Speak to Me from their latest, Momento Mori, and then kicked off with the foreboding sound of My Cosmos is Mine, the opening track from the same. The song has a very industrial feel to it and the dramatic lighting and expansive stage with a giant M as backdrop was the perfect combination.

The 23-song set was a good mix of music from the band’s 40 years and 15 studio albums. Lead singer Dave Gahan wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue with recording a new album after the tragic death of band member Andy Fletcher early last year, but fortunately that thought didn’t last long and the band has continued on with core founding members Gahan and keyboardist/guitarist Martin Gore. Ironically the album was written and titled with a death and mortality theme, mainly inspired from the Covid pandemic and tragic events in the world.

Despite the dark and gloomy theme beginning the show, the fans in attendance were very into the performance, standing for much of the show and singing along to many of the songs, especially the more popular hits. Gahan is quite the presence on stage, constantly moving around and posing in dramatic fashion or twirling around with his arms outstretched.

Even Martin Gore stepped out and got the fans engaged during some songs, particularly A Question of Lust which he sang at the end of a catwalk and encouraged fans to sway their arms back and forth, acting like a conductor. Gore continued to give Gahan a break with the next song, Dressed in Black, performing solo also on the catwalk with only keyboardist Peter Gordeno accompanying him.

John the Revelator gave Gahan a chance to wind everyone up by asking the fans, “Who’s that? Shout it!” to which they all replied, “John the Revelator!” This was a good warm-up for the last 5 songs of the night which contained their biggest hits and got the crowd cheering loud and singing along. Enjoy the Silence ended the main set, and the 4-song encore finished the night with Waiting for the Night, which was performed with Dave and Martin at the end of the catwalk and Peter on Keyboards,, Just Can’t Get Enough, Never Let Me Down Again and Personal Jesus.

It was a fantastic show and made me a fan. I always loved songs like Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus, but I never really explored the band beyond that. I’m so glad I got the chance to see them live and discover what I’ve been missing all these years.

Opening act DIIV, (pronounced “dive”), put on a strong performance for the early crowd. They weren’t visually very dynamic, mainly standing in one place during their set, but they sounded great and Depeche Mode was kind enough to give them some decent lighting.

All photos by Dan Boshart

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