The rolodex of random thoughts

Tired though I am, I feel great having seen Depeche Mode last night.

25 years and still goin' strong...  I love those guys!

I attended the concert at the Staples Center.  My buddy, JoJo and I made the pilgrimage up to LA after having scored tickets.  That in and of itself was quite the story.  He went online the second they became available.  And what happened?  We got tickets, but had to split up across the auditorium - they went that fast.  Damn!  Oh well.  They weren't the best of seats, but they weren't the worst either.

The boys came on at 9:00 and started, as I had expected, with the obnoxiously jarring intro to "A Pain that I'm Used to."  In all, I believe they did about 5 or 6 songs from their latest album, Playing the Angel.  What absolutely suprised and delighted me, though, was their mix of old tunes.  They played songs from Music for the Masses, Violater, Exciter (surprising!), Songs of Faith and Devotion, and get this - they even played "Just can't get enough".  Erugh?  Flashback?  To 1981?  SCARY! 

Through it all, I think the most emotionally intense moments came when Martin took the microphone.  Much to my surprise, the first time he began to sing, he sang "Home" from Ultra.  peacockharpy will know why that brought about a tear to my eye, as it brought me back to a depressing time when I was just beginning my seperation from my to-be-ex-wife, while also coming out of the hospital from knee surgery.  As I listened to the song, I realized just how powerful the lyrics are, and just how much they really apply to my situation as it is currently.  Very quickly, the sadness faded, and was replaced by a sheer and utter joy.  Later on in the program, as the first encore, Marty once again took the microphone to perform a nearly a capella "Somebody."  Again, I was crying like a baby.  What a truly lovely song - written and performed from the soul.

I cannot say that they played everything that I would have liked to have heard.  Hell, there isn't enough time in a concert for that.  But they did an awesome job.  For their final-final encore, Marty and Dave came out far onto the stage to calmly lead the audience in a minimally accompanied lesser-known tune from Exciter.  How appropo it was, thinking about it, for them to end with "Goodnight Lovers":

Here, somewhere in the heart of me
There is still a part of me
That cares

And I'll, I'll still take the best you've got
Even though I'm sure it's not
The best for me

When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers

I, I can see the danger signs
They only help to underline
Your beauty

I'm not looking for an easy ride
True happiness cannot be tried
So easily

When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers

Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers

You can take your time
I'll be waiting in line
You don't even have to give me
The time of day

When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers

Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers