Depeche Mode/Electronic - Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium
[Sounds, 18th August 1990, Words: Craig Schmidt.]
Depeche Mode planned their tour to cap out of the United States with these pivotal concert appearances in Los Angeles. Why? For Depeche Mode there is no town more important than Los Angeles, since in Los Angeles there is no show more important than Depeche Mode.
The electronic existentialists' greatest asset is their ability to lend a melodramatic importance to a quiet suffering endured by much of this adolescent audience. Fractured families, indifferent parents, and a general high anxiety for their futures is the driving force for much of the crowd's fanaticism. The typical DM song ain't saying Life Is Grand, and while the rest of the nation rots its teeth on the New Kids, Los Angeles is moving to the dance of the disenfranchised.
But tonight the disenfranchised must first witness the debut appearance of Electronic before their conquering heroes can work their cathartic charm.
Electronic begin slowly with Sumner, Marr and three others working through a couple of dance tunes, sounding not unlike to New Order. But just as dusk begins moving into some serious darkness, the Pet Shop Boys trot on stage to join the band in presenting "Getting Away With It". The mood is magical and we hardly notice Neil Tennant's endearing bald spot. The groove is good and with only a single 12-inch to be familiar with, Electronic are surprisingly adept at winning the crowd over.
It's hard to imagine anyone screaming lustily at four wee lads from Basildon, but tonight Los Angeles is not complacent about its obsession. The set kicks off with "World In My Eyes" and a dazzling light show. If bands get the audience they deserve then Depeche Mode must do a lot of charity work in their spare time to deserve this kind of audience participation.
David Gahan has become quite the showman - spinning, roving and shouting, he's a sparkplug of energy. Even more to his credit, he never once shoots a dirty look at the other three, whose activity level climaxes with handclaps over the heads while standing behind their keyboards. David's only relief comes mid-way through when Martin Gore plays two acoustic numbers on his seemingly out of place guitar.
The show's best segment comes when Depeche Mode indulge in four successive hits - "Policy Of Truth", "Enjoy The Silence", "Strangelove" and "Personal Jesus". Many of the songs are accompanied by specially prepared videos, faithfully furthering the quartet's wry 'tortured artists' image.
Two encores, and the entire show is CD perfect, the idea opportunity to witness 50,000 maniacs having one hell of a good time.
[Sounds, 18th August 1990, Words: Craig Schmidt.]
Depeche Mode planned their tour to cap out of the United States with these pivotal concert appearances in Los Angeles. Why? For Depeche Mode there is no town more important than Los Angeles, since in Los Angeles there is no show more important than Depeche Mode.
The electronic existentialists' greatest asset is their ability to lend a melodramatic importance to a quiet suffering endured by much of this adolescent audience. Fractured families, indifferent parents, and a general high anxiety for their futures is the driving force for much of the crowd's fanaticism. The typical DM song ain't saying Life Is Grand, and while the rest of the nation rots its teeth on the New Kids, Los Angeles is moving to the dance of the disenfranchised.
But tonight the disenfranchised must first witness the debut appearance of Electronic before their conquering heroes can work their cathartic charm.
Electronic begin slowly with Sumner, Marr and three others working through a couple of dance tunes, sounding not unlike to New Order. But just as dusk begins moving into some serious darkness, the Pet Shop Boys trot on stage to join the band in presenting "Getting Away With It". The mood is magical and we hardly notice Neil Tennant's endearing bald spot. The groove is good and with only a single 12-inch to be familiar with, Electronic are surprisingly adept at winning the crowd over.
It's hard to imagine anyone screaming lustily at four wee lads from Basildon, but tonight Los Angeles is not complacent about its obsession. The set kicks off with "World In My Eyes" and a dazzling light show. If bands get the audience they deserve then Depeche Mode must do a lot of charity work in their spare time to deserve this kind of audience participation.
David Gahan has become quite the showman - spinning, roving and shouting, he's a sparkplug of energy. Even more to his credit, he never once shoots a dirty look at the other three, whose activity level climaxes with handclaps over the heads while standing behind their keyboards. David's only relief comes mid-way through when Martin Gore plays two acoustic numbers on his seemingly out of place guitar.
The show's best segment comes when Depeche Mode indulge in four successive hits - "Policy Of Truth", "Enjoy The Silence", "Strangelove" and "Personal Jesus". Many of the songs are accompanied by specially prepared videos, faithfully furthering the quartet's wry 'tortured artists' image.
Two encores, and the entire show is CD perfect, the idea opportunity to witness 50,000 maniacs having one hell of a good time.