Re-Viewed: Depeche Mode at Allstate Arena

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 30, 2005 10:17PM

Tuesday, Chicagoist made the trek to Rosemont and then had to continue by foot because the Allstate Arena's parking lot was full, but we would not miss Depeche Mode for anything in the world. How some of us feel about Vince Vaughn, others feel about David Gahan.

The set was that of the interior of an UFO and each keyboard looked as though it was the control panel on the USS Enterprise.Dave, Martin and Fletch took the stage with Playing The Angel's "A Pain That I'm Used To" and then went into the hard pounding "John the Revelator". It pains Chicagoist to say this, but Dave's voice was a little weak during the first few songs especially on the higher notes, but he got the vocals back in check for the rest of the show. Martin Gore was wearing an outfit that resembled a raven with feathers on a hat that made him look from farther away as though he had dyed his hair black and fashioned it into a bob.

With 25 years worth of songs to choose from, Depeche Mode opted for songs about pain and suffering from every era - the truly synth-pop: "Just Can't Get Enough", "A Question of Time"; the harder Dave's ODing period: "I Feel You" and "Walking In My Shoes"; Martin's moments: "Somebody" and "Home"; or the we're getting airplay songs: "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence". The latest album's songs were sprinkled throughout to test whether or not we knew the lyrics well enough to sing along yet.

Overall, a Depeche Mode concert is a gathering of likeminded individuals, a church of sorts and we all go to commune and dance and sing (and in our case drool). Even if this wasn't the best show that Chicagoist has seen - it doesn't matter because we got to see Dave Gahan without his shirt on and all sweaty... Meow. And it wasn't too bad seeing Martin shake his booty as well (that crush was more in our formative years, but we still acknowledge it).

Full set list after the jump.

Intro
A Pain That I'm Used To
John The Revelator
A Question of Time
Policy of Truth
Precious
Walking In my Shoes
Suffer Well
Damaged People
Home
I Want It All
The Sinner In Me
I Feel You
Behind The Wheel
World In My Eyes
Personal Jesus
Enjoy The Silence
- encore -
Somebody
Just Can't Get Enough
Everything Counts
- encore #2 -
Never Let Me Down Again
Goodnight Lovers