Sunday, July 09, 2017

Depeche Mode At NOS Alive


Yestarday I went to see one of my favourite bands again, after some years. Depeche Mode played at the critically acclaimed festival NOS Alive.
Before the British band there was Kodaline and Imagine Dragons, good concerts, not really my type, but they did created a fantastic atmosphere with the public. 

Well, first of all, although NOS Alive has always the best line up (and it really has) the location is a little poor. It's not big enough for everyone, the toilets are all located in only one place, there's no grass, always cement, and  everything is at the same height, there's no little valleys like there is in Paredes de Coura or Primavera festival. This valleys really contribute to a better sound.
Also, I probably was unlucky but I watched the concert from a place where the sound was not very good. Christian Eigner bass drum was too loud and it kinda drowned the rest of the sounds.

However, the band, as always were great! The set was a little bit shorter than usual (because it was on a festival). They started with Going Backwards, their new single. Here, and also during In Your Room and Barrel Of A Gun, the bass drum killed the songs, which was a pity. One of the best moment for me was, surprisingly, Wrong, the lead single from Sound Of The Universe. I always liked the song but their new live redemption gives a lot to the song. More aggression, more despair, it was perfect. Stripped, I Feel You and World in My Eyes were very enjoyable.
The sing-a-long in Never Let Me Down, Everything Counts and Enjoy The Silence was good and showed a good chemistry between the band and the public. Martin's songs were Judas and Home, both of them great, and Home is much better as a full band than acoustic, 
Cover Me, from the new album was the most atmospheric song, worked very well with the film in the background. 
Personal Jesus was obviously the perfect song for the end, a stadium anthem.

It was the birthday of Andy Fletcher, and people sang Happy Birthday To You with the melody of Judas, that was beautiful!

In resume, Depeche Mode are always great, however, the festival didn't help to make the best of the concerts. Set-list reduced, too full (but not only with DM fans), sound was not perfect. 
Still, something I will take with me forever but, I am hoping for a winter show announcement in a closed arena, tat would be perfect! 

The full concert is available online here:

No comments: