OTTAWA -- No longer did Ottawa fans have to contend with years of enjoying the silence whenever Depeche Mode hit the road.
Die-hards might recall that almost 11 years to the date (June 20, 1990, if memory serves correctly), the veteran British techno-pop act abruptly cancelled a Civic Centre show when asbestos fell from the arena ceiling as the group's crew was setting up their gear.
And lead singer David Gahan's mid-'90s personal woes aside, the Modies haven't touched this neck of the woods ever since. Until last night, that is, even though the event was considered a warmup date prior to tomorrow night's official tour kickoff in Montreal.
As far as the 6,000 onlookers were concerned, though, last night marked Ottawa's official first glimpse at Depeche Mode in a concert setting. Never mind that the 22-year-old band -- now featuring core members Gahan, singer-guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keysmith Andrew Fletcher, supported by Peter Gordeno on synthesizer, drummer Christian Eigner and backup singers Jordan Bailey and Georgia Lewis -- shelved many '80s centrepieces such as Just Can't Get Enough, People Are People and Somebody in favour of their latest album Exciter and other post-'80s material.
The bulk of the two-hour show concentrated on visual stimulation via a barrage of well-choreographed coloured lights and strong video images -- notably the black-and-white lines and shapes during Black Celebration, Personal Jesus' glowing crosses and an impressive water-dripping cascade as a backdrop to Waiting For The Night to Fall.
It would be remiss not to mention the athletic showmanship exhibited by frontman Gahan, as if the ghost of Freddie Mercury morphed into his every mic-stand sway during I Feel You and The Dead of Night (feedback notwithstanding), I Feel Love and closing number Never Let Me Down Again.
Even in warmup mode -- well-balanced by the trip-hop-rock of opening act Poe -- the Modies turned in an above-satisfactory performance which is road-ready for the world to see. (More on: Depeche Mode).
JAM! Rating: 3.5 out of 5
