Depeche Mode A Concert Review	June 22, 2001 The Tweeter Center Tinley Park, IL A Review and Photos by The Dude on the Right

Getting to the venue it struck me a little odd that, if you work at an outdoor venue, wouldn’t you check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Sure the fans came dressed for the weather, some in full goth mode, others who just got out of work and were in business casual, but most with a light jacket or at least long pants. But there, in the venue, with a chilly breeze making its way through the pavilion, stood a shivering girl, dressed in short-shorts and a spaghetti shirt under her security windbreaker. She couldn’t even dance during the show to keep her warm because she worked there. I almost thought of offering her my jacket, but chivalry is dead and everyone’s got The Weather Channel. In any case I had my jacket on, even wore pants, and after taking care of shooting my photos I found a seat. Knowing that I wouldn’t be familiar with a lot Depeche Mode would play, I found it almost more fun to pay attention to the band/crowd interaction and wondered would the crowd like a set-list not full of the hits but rather a mix of a lot of new songs, some not so new songs but not what you might expect songs, and a few of the songs I actually knew? I think they needed to play a few more of the songs I actually knew.

From the start of the show Dave Gahan did what he could to try and keep the crowd going – he strutted, he vogued, he wiggled his butt, and he kept the crowd banter to a minimum, but for the start of the show, and I know the people were standing the entire time, but it wasn’t really until about eight songs in that the crowd really responded when "Waiting for the Night" played. Before that, I suppose maybe because most of the material was from their new album, "Exciter," but the crowd just didn’t seem to get into the groove of the show.

So the band finally got the crowd back, but then, as the crowd started getting into it, Depeche Mode decided to slow things down letting Martin Gore go acoustic for "The Bottom Line." Don’t get me wrong, it was a good song and solo, and the crowd tried to keep their spirits up, clapping along for a while, but the crowd was more respectful than excited and that carried into "Breathe" and "Freelove." But then came "Enjoy the Silence."

Finally a song I knew, but more importantly for this show a song the crowd could really get into. The lazy people got off their butts, people sang along, and this show that was starting to turn into a little bit of a downer finally kicked things up a notch. You had a song the crowd loved, even included a drum and guitar solo, and the crowd that seemed more content than happy finally had a real reason to dance. Not that the songs weren’t danceable before, it’s just that there wasn’t that catalyst, well, "Waiting for the Night" almost was it until the band slowed things down, but as Dave wiggled his butt some more, a girl offered me some of her pretzel, and the crowd frenzy actually seemed to get the boys of the band just a little more excited.

Some things slowed a little, but the fans were finally into the show, and as I was worried the sharks were going to eat the goldfish on the movie screen during "In Your Room," (this makes sense if you saw the show) well, this show finally seemed to get off the ground – it was just too bad it took so long.

"Personal Jesus" wrapped up the main set while an encore of songs the fans loved picked up a show that almost had shrug or one thumb written all over it. I really hate giving those ratings, and this Depeche Mode show was really close to getting one, but finally the band stopped stringing new songs together and kept things to songs the devoted fans really knew.

Depeche Mode tried to infuse a show with maybe a few too many new songs, or maybe one too less of their big hits. From the way things seemed to me, they strung too many new songs together instead of mixing things up a little more. Thankfully, by the end, other than "I Feel Loved", they shifted to songs the fans really knew, but the beginning of the show just lacked some of the energy I remember from the last time I saw them. I know I’m not a big fan so it’s not me they have to please, but for the start of the show the fans didn’t seem that into the band they loved. Maybe throw a "People are People" in the beginning of the show, maybe a "Just Can’t Get Enough" between "Dream On" and "When the Body Speaks," but the show just took too long to get into gear from a band that I know really knows how to do it.

I’ll give Depeche Mode TWO "Needed One More Big Hit" THUMBS UP!! By the end the crowd seemed to have forgotten the slowness of the beginning of the show and really had a good time. I know Depeche Mode doesn’t want to be a greatest hits band and I can appreciate that, but sometimes you need to play a few more of those hits to get your fans to connect with your new stuff. Just my observation.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!