Depeche Mode in Antwerp or " Happy Birthday, Mr.Gahan!" / 09.05.2017

It was so hard to stand up the next morning, because it was very early. But I have to work at the afternoon, so we caught a train to Cologne.

Arrived in Cologne only one hour left to prepare for the work day. My travel mate Thomas rested at my home, he made a home office day. 

In the evening I was happy to enjoy a great dinner with my kids and Thomas.

Next day normal work day. Then I picked Thomas up and we met a friend, which drove by car to Antwerp and took us with him. We arrived in time at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, where I saw Depeche Mode a several times. We bought a beer and I took a pic of the stage trucks. Only six stage trucks.... no wonder... the stage is so small. I find this really ok, all this cost, I like it small and ecologically friendly, you can make a great show without this crazy technical grandiloquence. But there's one problem this time, the band save the money for a bigger stage though they hiked the ticket prices. Take a look on the prices in Latin- and Southamerica. Unbelievable. More than 150$ for a front of the stage ticket. How can it be ?

How you see, this time we had seats, no standing. We were far away from the stage but with a good view head-on to the stage. At the beginning we sat like all the others.
Depeche Mode went out, same procedure meanwhile.... we were coming in a tour mode, like the band themselves. A good start with the two new songs. The audience was in a good mood, I think because it was the birthday of Mr. David Gahan. 55 years, wow! He looks still great. He is a little bit skinny, but in a good shape.
After the band ended with the first 2 songs and Mr. Gahan welcomed the audience with " Good evening Antwerp", the audience tried to sing " Happy Birthday"!

Maybe a radio station spreaded a kind of plastic light sticks in orange and blue to all the fans. As ordered at the kit the fans shaked it after the second song and started now with the Birthday song, but the band started with the next song " Barrel of the gun".

That was strange, really strange. 

Ok, but now the sticks were packed out and all people in the arena shaked them the whole time. They glowed in the darkness and it looked wonderful. Most of the people at the seating area stood now. Very good atmosphere. 

The lightshow worked much better from far away, now you discover a lot, you can't see, if you stand very close. And the sound was very good in this distance. We were really surprised.

No setlist changing, "Barrel of the gun", " Pain, that I'm used t", "Corrupt".

I don't like "Corrupt", to heavy, to deep for the one-third of a concert.

" In your room" with the dance screening. This time Thomas and I enjoyed it more, because we had the evening before the crazy idea, that we both will reset the screenings. We looked at every move of the pair in the video, because in a few weeks we have to dance together like them....not really, because they are professional dancers but we will give our best.

After "World in my eyes" came " Cover me".

I like this song more and more, it's such a quiet song but it work unbelievable good as a live song.

Dave came out on the catwalk and got a huge applause, the birthday child.

In Dave's break I needed a break myself for buying beer and looking for the lavatory rooms, because before the concert there were to many people had the same wish.....meanwhile Martin L. Gore performed " Home" and " Question of lust".

I was back in the arena with Dave and now the band, speciallyMartin L. Gore and Peter Gordeno sang finally " Happy Birthday" to Dave with all the fans together. It was a very touching moment. I can't remember as I was ever on a Dave Gahan Birthday gig before. Several time at Martin Gore's birthday, but Dave ? I have to look on www.setlist.fm

If you don't know that, I'm touring with Depeche Mode since 1982 and saw really many concerts.

Here you can see how far away we were from the stage and now you see, how less you can see the band. Some screenings are great, but they divert the view from the band. The band looks like Lego characters. 

But despite this, it was a good concert. In my opinion the band isn't still in the mood of past tours, but there is an development in the right way.

"Poison heart, where is the revolution, Wrong": all good songs but topped by " Everything counts". 

All the people sang: " the grabbing hands grab all they can, everything counts in larger amounts"!

Hope you all will see it at least on time on this tour. 

" Stripped" was better than the first 2 concerts, maybe because the sound in the arena is very good and I heard some minimalist differences to older live versions and I liked it really.

I'm didn't manage it to watch the screening of " Enjoy the silence".

I noticed that the audience got first very excited as they recognize the song, but it didn't gain momentum. But " Never let me down again" rocked the arena. A jubilation went through the arena and Dave did a very good show.... you all know his moves here until the great and all time best moment when he comes on the catwalk and waves his arms.

Love!!!!

Here are my last pictures of this show, Martin sang a soft " Somebody" and Dave came back to perform " Heroes". I wasn't still ready for this. That's the unbelievable luxury of my situation. I have planned to visit many concerts of the Global Spirit Tour, so I can do it in my speed. And this time I do it slow. I walked out to drink a beer. Cheers Mr. Ziggy Stardust!

I was back to "Walking in my Shoes" and " I feel you".

And finally " Personal Jesus".

After the Amsterdam show I came to a decision. Maybe the band is now a little bit to old for a fast and furious show as in past times, but me not. And so I did my " Personal Jesus" performance like I always did.  And it worked very well. The people besides me were in the beginning a little bit irritated because my wild dancing and singing, but then they let themselves infect and sang and hop with me.

We ran out of the arena while the fans shouted at the encore and applauded frenetically, because we had an appointment with Manuel, our driver. 

It took a while to get from the car park and nearly 3 hours later we were back in Cologne.

Totally tired but happy. 

First concert of three which made me happy and so I slept very well.

Thank you all the fans at Antwerp for the great show!

Thank you Manuel for driving us safely back and forth!

Depeche Mode in Amsterdam 07.05.2017 or "Born slippy"

On Sunday morning we flew with a small aircraft of SAS airline to Amsterdam. 

We was very tired, because in the last night we met some other devotees and came back to our hotel very late. If you ever come to Stockholm, the Courtyard by Marriott, Kungsholmen is a great place to stay. Near by the bus to the airport, there's a subway station and you can walk to Gamla Stan at the waterfront. Spacy rooms, very clean and friendly stuff. If you book a good time in advance they have  fair prices.

But what you see in the next picture is now Amsterdam, a view of our hotel there, Ibis at the centralstation. Small but clean rooms, a nice bar and so close to the satin, perfect for a short stay. Look at these bicycles.... I love the dutch people for hiking so much. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world, so open minded, so beautiful with all the canals and bridges, great pubs, museums, restaurants....

Here I met my friend Martin. We traveling together since 2001 and in paris 2014 we saw our last Depeche Mode concert together. at that time I couldn't now, that there's coming a new tour and I was really sad, because I thought, maybe we will have this fun again together. We live in the same city and have lots of other fun together but it's a special kind of fun to visit a Depeche Mode concert.

We are a well-rehearsed team and I was happy the play starts again. So we made a short walk through the red light district, had some beers and a good Thai meal, vegan of course.

I ate not enough the last days because it was so easy to find good vegan options at Stockholm.

After a short stop in our hotel to dress us up, we drove to the Ziggo Dome. Here is the stadium of Ajax Amsterdam, and because we both are big football fans in general, we took a picture in front of this.

Next stop Ziggo Dome, a multi functional arena. Well organized with lockers for your jackets and other stuff. so we bought some merchandise and lock it while the concert.

After another few beers we came into the standing area. Wow so many people inside this arena....

Unluckely there was only the screening in the middle because the arena is not wide enough for the side screenings, but on the side screenings the band was filmed while the show and now we will miss that. Hard if you stand far way of the stage like we did  as this evening.

Ok, with the first show I wasn't totally happy like you read in my last post. But I want to give all the give them a second chance and to have a great evening specially with Martin, because it's his first show of this tour. So we decided to have a drop beer before the show is starting. This is a special ritual between Martin and me, buy a beer and then drink it off the reel. Special kind of fun, you know?

Depeche Mode came out.... same game like in Stockholm, the audience didn't see Dave and as they discovered him on his podium a murmur went though the masses.

The audience was in a good mood and many of the people around us danced like us. The setlist was the same. No wonder, it's the 2.concert. The crowd liked the first two new songs....and in the beginning of " Barrel of a gun" they sang with the band, but it is a downer, it didn't work good live. 

"Cover me" was the first highlight, it is such an quite song but a wonderful live song, Dave sing it very insistently. Because the absent screens we didn't see so much of the band and we listened to the music and so I can say, Dave singing very well, maybe better then ever before.

He was very concentrated on the singing, he didn't cheer the audience like otherwise. And I think that's the reason because the general mood isn't like every time. But give him time...it's the second concert. The crowd like the screenings, most of the people near us enjoyed it, I remark it.

 In the middle Martin L. Gore performed first " Home". He came on the catwalk and the audience sang with him. I like this version very much and had my fun, too.
After "Question of lust" Dave sang " Poison heart", a song he written for the new album. I like it very much on the album, but live it  has not the same depth like "Cover me".

And than "the train is coming", very good screening. The audience like the song and clapped their hands as the dictator stood on his podium, very funny.

"Wrong" and "Everything counts" pushed the show very hard, good choice to play them one after the other. So after that " Stripped" bubble the good mood down, because you didn't see the band very good and the screening is boring, to be honest.

Ok, and again one of my favorite songs of all times and maybe the best song Martin L. Gore has ever written: "Enjoy the silence". 

I couldn't accept the screening and many people react like me, maybe because different reasons, but this screening is a atmosphere killer. First all scream and sang, but it became quiter and quiter, that's a pity. 

" Never let me down" worked against it very well. It is the hymn of Depeche Mode, the one and only song if you could choose only one.

Ok, it's the second concert, please give me more time. I'm still not arrived at the new tour. So I couldn't here " Heroes" this evening. My friend Martin came out a little bit later and he reported, that many people didn't identify the song. It would be better Dave would make an statement, but it's not his way, how we all know. 

Outside I spoke with many fans and I'm very happy to hear, that's many of them are very happy about the concert. This pair came from Germany and was very content with it.

For me it's so important to meet other fans. I like to talk with them all. I'm a blatherskite...

To " Personal Jesus" I was back into the standing area and enjoyed my " Personal Jesus".

Outside we met many more fans from all over Europe. And we hearda snipped of "born slippy" by Underworld. And we looked where it came from and beside the Ziggo Dome was a stylish bar and there was a great and funny Aftershowparty. They plaid great songs of the 80ies: Human League, Billiy Idol, Madness, New Order. Fantastic. I didn't like Aftershowparties with only Depeche Mode, specially when I heard them live a few minutes before.

At 1.00 o'clock a.m. it ended and we took Taxi to the central station. I felt into my bed like a stone and slept deep and dreamless.

Depeche Mode starts the Global Spirit Tour in Stockholm at 05.05.2017 or "Where is the revolution?"

Hi dears, I'm very late with my blog for the first 3 concerts of the global spirits tour. But from last Friday on ( flight to Stockholm, first concert, the many impressions of the concert and the city, the meeting of all the devotees and the beers I drank....) I was so busy.
From Stockholm to Amsterdam, next morning back to Cologne, working, next evening after working to Antwerp by car, back to Cologne in the night and working again next morning. Today I had to do such a lot things and now I'm sitting here to start writing. Tomorrow morning I will fly to Nice, to see my 4. concert of the Spirits Tour.

So I had to keep it short, please understand. From Nice on I will post every day after a concert, be sure. Hope you will follow me inspire my late start.

Here is a picture of the last tour. It is my favorite picture. My name is Schulzi.

This is Stockholm, is my 3.time in this city. I like it, but it's not my favorite town in Scandinavia.

For us it's a very expensive town. A pint of beer cost about 10€.

Stockholm are many islands in an archipelago and so you see the water everywhere, that's very beautiful.

But at Friday we arrive in the late afternoon so we have to go to the Friends Arena, a stadium with a roof, where Depeche Mode start their Global spirit tour.

on our way

                     .....and here is the Friends Arena. Beside is the Scandinavia mall. There was a store specially for the concert day, a Depeche Mode merchandise store. But we were to late to find him. I hope I will find it next time ( it will be in a few cities again).

 Here with my travel mates. We were so excited.....yeah, first show!!!

 Inside I met a lot of devotees from all over the world. First people I saw were a american couple which I knew since 12 years. We met 2005 in San Jose at the "Playing the angel tour" the first time.
That's one of the best when you meet everywhere crazy people like yourself are.

And with a few people you'll becoming good friends and so I'm very happy to meet this guy again.
You will see him often on my blog, because he will be my main travel mate .

I had "Front of the stage" tickets, very spacy this time with an own bar, so very comfortable for us.

I was excited to hear the DJ Set.... but some things will come later at the tour, there are enough concerts left to discover all the small specials of the tour.

And then it was time, the lights turned of and we heard a snippet of " Revolution" of the Beatles. LOL

Can't remember what was the incoming music... maybe a part of "where is the revolution" ? I was to excited.

And then.....the screening starts and the band came out: Martin Gore, Peter Gordeno, Christian Eigner and Fletch walked to their places on stage.... but no Mr. Dave Gahan..... I got a little bit nervous.... then he walked on a podium over the rest of the stage. The podium is integrated in the screening, so he walked over the screen. The audience screamed so loud as they all discover him finally.

First song " Going backwards" from the new album "Spirit".

Meanwhile Dave walked down to his microphone.

Followed by " So much love" of Spirit swell. Both new songs worked very well live.

Then Dave said " Good evening, Stockholm!" What a great moment, an unbelievable feeling to be part of another Depeche Mode Tour again, I can't believe, I'm such a lucky one to have the possibility to live this dream.

Later on my blog, be sure, I will write more about every song, but the first concert is a very special film, once started the end is coming quicker as thought.

So here is the complete setlist.

I hope there will e a few changes, I want o hear more of their unbelievable back catalogue. 

Until " Cover me" we heard to be honest nothing new.

Here a picture of the screening of " in your room".

I have to think about it.

The most screenings by Anton Corbjin I didn't understand this time. Anton did not such a good job, because the screenings took to much place, sometimes you couldn't see the band because they stood in the darkness....and if you far away you can see only the screenings.

I said to my travel mate : hey Thomas, why we have to see this old unknown couple dancing to in your room ? We both paid so much money for the tour, why made Anton not a film of you and me both, dancing together ? It would be make more sense!"

Dave's last song of the first part was " Cover me", a song he wrote for "Spirit".

Here I like the screening. A film about an old astronaut plaid by Dave himself. An old man sitting on a bench in his astronaut's suite and thinking about his past, his exciting job as a astronaute. At the end  he's taking hois helmet and walked to the ocean....didn't understand the meaning, but it was a beautiful film, shoot in black and white, you saw every wrinkle in Dave's old but beautiful face. It made me a little bit sad.

As every time Dave walked out for 2 songs and martin sang " Home " in the very good album version and " Question of lust"

Then " Where is the revolution" with a refreshed Mr. Gahan.

He gaves a little "Mao" at the podium in front of the screenings with flags and legs.....

But I started to call me " where is the revolution?"

Then " Wrong" and now finally a song for the fans for singing with the band " Everything counts" ....in a larger amounts. The audience woke up a little bit.

And the rest of the film.... you have to wait until my next post's, because I don't want to write to bad things here. The rest of the first concert my friends and I started to discuss.... the screening of "Enjoy the silence" wasn't funny we found and it was such a downer, we went a little bit aside to speak and drink together. After the break Dave sang " Heroes" of David Bowie. It's a sacrilege for me and you will hear more about this.

First summing-up 4 years went down in our life's since the last tour, but 4 years are 4 years, the band are now in the mid fifties and maybe the wild days are gone ? 

I hope not and I will give them a chance in Amsterdam and Antwerp.

We pent the evening in town and as I stood on a street near the central station in front of a bar, 3 balloons flew across the street... I caught them.... what kind of sign was this ?

The whole saturday we walked trough the sunny city and later we met some Kiss fans on their way to the telekom Arena where Kiss plaid at the evening.

It was a wonderful stay in this friendly beautiful city.

So enjoy some picture and excuse again my late posting. Stay tuned, tomorrow I'll try to post Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Have to sleep to be fresh in Nice tomorrow.