There is a theory that after three decades of electronic experiments, Depeche Mode have become relevant again due to the recent rise of EDM. But last night at Barclays Center, it didn't seem to ring true. There were no day-glo-wearing teenage ravers in attendance. Instead the crowd was almost entirely made up of people over 35, many of whom looked liked they'd be starving themselves for weeks to get into old pairs of leather pants that haven't seen the light of day since the mid-1990s.
The oldies they were hoping — maybe even expecting — were not quickly forthcoming. Arriving onstage at just before 9 p.m., the British outfit launched into an early slew of material from their last (and probably least) album "Delta Machine." Singer Dave Gahan must have initially wondered if anyone was in the arena at all, such was the muted response to "Welcome To My World" and the bland blues of "Angel." Luckily, the 51-year-old (who now calls Manhattan home) still has a gamut of nifty dance moves to call on when things need livening up. Judging by the screams of both men and women in the arena, the "you want this, don't you?" booty shake proved to be a particular favorite.
Forget their supposed influence on current dance music, or their lackluster run of recent albums, or even Gahan's exquisitely chiseled backside. The only thing truly relevant about Depeche Mode in 2013 is the timeless brilliance of the songs they wrote in their heyday, many of which emerged slowly but surely during the set. Both "Barrel Of A Gun" and "A Question Of Time" tingled the spine with their eternally sinister spirit and it only took the sound of guitarist Martin Gore's distinctive riff at the start of both "Enjoy The Silence" and "Personal Jesus" to give their unwaveringly loyal fans more joy in 10 seconds than they'd felt in the previous hour.
Having made much harder work of the night than was strictly necessary, the band hit high gear with an encore that featured strutting and sexy takes on "I Feel You" and "Never Let Me Down Again," both of which were belted out with impressive clarity by a still-energetic Gahan. Even with years of mileage behind them, these songs continue to weather incredibly well and ensure that there will always be a space for Depeche Mode in modern music.
Opening for the band on this tour is Natasha Khan in her guise of Bat for Lashes. The Londoner had a scant crowd, but her dark and stormy chamber pop sounded beautiful nonetheless. Clad in a striking turquoise outfit and wielding the kind of mystique that Kate Bush once had, Khan loaded "A Wall" and "Daniel" with so much drama that it was frequently impossible to look away.
Khan will be opening for Depeche Mode again on Sunday at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island, and if you have a ticket, arrive early at all costs.
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