Depeche Mode
Marcus Amphitheater
Milwaukee, WI
June 20, 2001
Dave takes it like a man.
Story and Photo by Terry Mayer
In the late 80's music was a part of life much like it is today with Americas' youth. As the radios blasted in 1984, artists and bands such as the Dead Milkmen, Inxs, and Yaz fired the passions of the disenfranchised. "People are People" by Depeche Mode was one of those seminal songs that erupted from the airwaves and made the Violator record a must have. Their sound was new, their sound defined a moment. Fifteen years later, Michael Hutchenson of Inxs has died and few people have no idea who Yaz or the Milkmen were. Depeche Modes' sound, especially off their new Cd Exciter sounds dated and stale. The boys haven't learned to evolve.
Depeche Mode made an appearance at the Marcus Amphitheater last night to the joy of the many black clad in the audience. Depeche Mode, all of a sudden sounded great again, sounded relevant. Lead singer Dave Gahan was a master MC. Songs off the Exciter CD sounded so much better live. What was the difference? The band sensing the urgency kept the momentum moving even as the slower songs tried to bog down. "Dream On," took on a whole new life from the CD version. Were they asleep when they recorded it originally? As strains of red light slowly drifted down from the roof they creeped into a well done version of "Freedom".
Depeche Mode let "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence" and "It's No Good" bleed off the stage like molasses spilling off toast.