Depeche Mode Shakes Miami

It was a couple of months ago that I was buying tickets for a show that I knew would truly mean something in my life. Depeche Mode isn’t just another band, they have been the soundtrack to my life on and off for years, and in the past year or so, they grew even more in me. Songs like Stripped or Condemnation were written with such sensitivity that I knew it would be amazing to hear them live. From their early work in albums like Construction Time Again or Some Great Reward, to a more developed sound in Violator (which featured hits like Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence), to heartfelt writing in the album Songs of Faith and Devotion… Depeche Mode has lived on through the decades and evolved their sound with later albums such as Exciter, Playing The Angel, and the latest, Sounds Of The Universe.

There is no way to explain how influential they have been throughout their careers… and I knew that having the possibility of seeing them perform all the songs that I love was unique. Who knows if I’m going to get a second chance to experience it? Also, knowing the opening act, Peter, Bjorn & John, it was something no one would want to miss out on.

Depeche Mode has been touring the globe for the release of their latest CD, Sounds Of The Universe. The tour went under the nam

e Tour Of The Universe (how appropriate), and it took them everywhere from Europe to North America, South America, and back to Europe again. The band is sch

eduled to finish the trip around the end of February, adding the dates that were cancelled a couple of months ago.

The possibility of the show at Bank Atlantic Center getting cancelled was the big scare. Lots of dates had to be postponed due to healt

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es, leaving a certain degree of worry in my mind. I don’t know what I would have done with myself if I was left without a show. Luckily, no band members were injured or sick… and I got my show.

Day-of was here and we drove up to Weston to  pre-game and to later head to the arena all together. We turned out to be a crew of 10 people, from which only Ray had already seen the band perform. He told us that being a first-timer in a Depeche Mode show was like not being born yet. We drove to the arena and I soon began to appreciate the magnitude of their success: fans gathered from all areas; there wasn’t an appropriate age or gender, and I could finally see for myself just how there wasn’t just one type of fan, but a mass of mainstreamers, grown up goths in their forties, loyal fans in their thirties, hipsters in their twenties, and even ten year old kids.

I can’t really put in words how the show was. Amazing would not be enough. The enthusiasm that the band exuded was the biggest gift they could have given us, as we danced, screamed, and sang along with Dave. I know I will never forget that night, there are no need for pictures as reminders of what I experienced. For those who were not there or simply want to know what they played in order, here is the complete set-list:

In Chains
Wrong Hole To Feed
Walking In My Shoes
It’s No Good
A Question Of Time
Precious
Fly On The Windscreen
Little Soul
A Question Of Lust Miles Away / The Truth Is
Policy Of Truth
In Your Room
I Feel You
Enjoy The Silence
Never Let Me Down Again

Encore #1
Shake The Disease
Stripped
Behind The Wheel

Encore #2
Personal Jesus (here is a clip from the show)