Editorials
[Live Review] Depeche Mode Kicks Off The ‘Delta Machine Tour’ At The DTE Energy Music Theater
Last night I went to the DTE Energy Music Theater (forever known in my heart as Pine Knob) to see music legends Depeche Mode kick off their N. American “Delta Machine” headline tour. The band, whose influences have stretched beyond what any one can calculate, are known as the most successful electronic group in the world, with over 100 million worldwide album sales. But more importantly, they are a band that I love and, until last night, had never seen live before. And with that experience now firmly tucked under my belt I wanted to share my thoughts on the show.
Make sure to check out my review of the band’s latest album Delta Machine here.
The night opened up with UK indie pop artist Bat For Lashes, an artist that I was also highly keen on seeing. Singer Natasha Khan’s ethereal voice hovered over the crowd, entrancing the audience as the group played through such tracks as “Laura”, “All Your Gold”, and “Daniel”. Unfortunately I missed the first few songs of her set, something I sorely regret. The group puts on a hypnotic show and I eagerly await their return.
Then came Depeche Mode. When the lights went down announcing the entrance of the group, the Detroit audience, comprised of adults, teenagers, and adults with their teenage children, burst into a massive roar. The group came out to a seizure-inducing amount of cellphone camera flashes, immediately entering “Welcome To My World”. Each member stoically stood their ground, their presence pulsating outwards with every beat. Singer Dave Gahan began sliding and sinuating his way around the stage, his vocals soaring into the open. The song ended with the audience erupting wildly, their joy and excitement palpable.
The band then weaved their way through the years of their music, from some of their earliest work (“Just Can’t Get Enough”) to their newest material (“Heaven”, “Soothe My Soul”, “Angel”, “Should Be Higher”) and everything in between. The night was a celebration of the band and their history, a way to connect to audiences, new and old.
Gahan’s seductive sways and savage pelvic thrusts elicited moans and screams of wonton lust. More than once, the three women in front of me grasped each other as they watched him gyrate back and forth. And when Martin Gore took the center stage to sing “Higher Love” and “But Not Tonight”, the audience ate it up, pouring out their love for him with waves of appreciation.
The stage show was fantastic, the back video screen a huge, slightly misshapen Star Of David that featured ultra crisp visuals (ranging from adorable dogs during “Precious” to a Clive Barker-esque mass of bodies during “Enjoy The Silence”). There were five light fixtures that raised and lowered throughout the night, bright bulbs that spelled “D M” on the edge.
The sound was almost perfect but there were times when I couldn’t hear Martin Gore’s guitar work (something I’m very fond of). Interestingly I could understand nearly everything Gahan sang but his chatter between songs was far less coherent.
My personal favorites of the show were “Precious”, which is one of my favorite tracks from one of my favorite albums (Playing The Angel), and “Enjoy The Silence”, which saw the crowd interacting and moving in a way I’d never seen before. Tens of thousands of arms waved back and forth as people sang at the top of their lungs. It was clear that the band was thriving on this, each of them wearing huge smiles as they saw their work loved and lauded by so many.
And speaking of the audience, thought it was only the first night, I am very comfortable in saying that Detroit has set the bar very high for the rest of the tour. The crowd was unbelievably present as they cheered, sang, screamed, clapped, danced. More than once I looked around and was just blown away by the sights of these people entirely lost in the moment.
I have been to more concerts than I can count and this easily stands as the best. While the group may be most known for the work in the 80’s, last night Depeche Mode proved that their work is timeless and will resonate and connect with people throughout time.
Depeche Mode live at DTE Energy Music Theater set list:
Welcome to My World
Angel
Walking in My Shoes
Precious
Black Celebration
Policy of Truth
Should Be Higher
Barrel of a Gun
Higher Love (Sung by Martin)
But Not Tonight (Acoustic; Sung by Martin)
Heaven
Soothe My Soul
A Pain That I’m Used To (‘Jacques Lu Cont’s Remix’ version)
A Question of Time
Enjoy the Silence
Personal Jesus
Encore:
Home (Acoustic)
Halo (‘Goldfrapp Remix’ version)
Just Can’t Get Enough
I Feel You
Never Let Me Down Again
Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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