Depeche-Mode-Photo-credit-Erica-McKeehen

English electronic rock lords Depeche Mode (David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Andrew Fletcher) returned to Chicago on June 1st, 2018 for the second leg of their worldwide Global Spirit Tour, which officially kicked off in May of 2017 after the release of last year’s quasi-political-protest album Spirit.

A snippet of The Beatles’ “Revolution” dispelled the pre-show stillness Friday night, and quickly United Center hummed in anticipation to the first few notes of Spirit‘s “Going Backwards.” As a glitter-clad Gahan emerged on a platform set above and behind the rest of the band, suited in a silvery jacket and matching two-tone vest, levitating his sinewy, tattooed arms up and out, the audience roared in adoration and celebration. The colorful collage of paint blots splattered across the screen behind Gahan lit up the space, his glistening face, and set the stage for the buffet of eye candy to come. Quintessential to all Depeche Mode shows, the performance was curated with a collection of live footage, music videos, short films, and animated visuals and imagery from Spirit — flying flags and marching boots — designed by the group’s longtime visual guru and artist Anton Corbijn. Fans enjoyed the challenge of watching Gahan prance and pounce about the stage and following the provocative narratives on display behind him and his bandmates.

The setlist was punctuated with newer songs and more recent classics — and despite the more political outspokenness of the group over the last year, the show went on with minimal chatter from Gahan, giving the music total focus. Surprisingly, the band dove headfirst into the utter bleakness of 1997’s moderately successful Ultra‘s, with “It’s No Good,” and “Barrel of the Gun” as second and third songs. Gahan wasted no time laying down his broody and moody vocals, belting, gripping, and twirling with vigor around his mic stand, pausing only occasionally to strut, shimmy, and grab his crotch while snarling, “Do you want it?!” to a sea of adoring onlookers — all of this, of course, part of his limber lounge lizard stage repertoire.

Finally, though the group’s 80s back catalogue made only one appearance in the classicly-communistic “Everything Counts,” (sending diehards into a near meltdown before the first verse), fans showed little disappointment in the tune selection. Specifically tender, Martin Gore’s solos “The Things You Said” and “Home” — nestled neatly into the middle of the set — gave the audience pause to snuggle close and sing along to Gore’s vulnerable serenade, echoing the closing guitar refrain to “Home” well after it ended.

Depeche Mode Setlist, 6/1/2018

1. Going Backwards
2. It’s No Good
3. Barrel of a Gun
4. A Pain That I’m Used To
5. Useless
6. Precious
7. World In My Eyes
8. Cover Me
9. The Things You Said
10. Home
11. In Your Room
12. Where’s the Revolution?
13. Everything Counts
14. Stripped
15. Enjoy the Silence
16. Never Let Me Down Again

Encore:
I Want You Now
Walking In My Shoes
Question of Time
Personal Jesus

Catch Depeche Mode during the remainder of their Global Spirit Tour by checking out the schedule on their official website.