Sept 21: Article from newspaper (thanks to Victor V.Akishkin)
Sept 9: Article from Muscovite newspaper (thanks to Victor V.Akishkin)
Sept 8: Review of show from Sergey Ukladov - thanx
"The Honourable sentry " from the fans DM was built at hotel
"Marriot", how they have flied in Moscow. By the way, legendary DM have
appeared not so arrogant, as " Rolling Stones ": Dave, Martin and Andy have
approached on hotel by the common bus and at all in this occasion did not experience.
Martin and Andy in the first night which has been spent in Moscow have appeared in Stas
Namin's club. The Russian musicians on tradition have arrived there, that will get
acquainted with DM. This club, unfortunately has not made the special impression on DM.
But they have had fun very strongly the next evening. At first DM has set off to club
"Beefeater".
Andy Franks (the manager DM) by the end of evening has cheered up so, that shouted: "
Vodka! Vodka! " This drink from a bottle together with the Russian admirers DM also
drank. And talkative Andy Fletcher willingly talked to all wishing. Near to him the chair
was put, by which the turn was
built. By the way, he has admitted that too is not indifferent to Russian drink
propagandized by his manager. Martin has left club at the night, and Andy even later.
However musicians have gone not to themselves, and to one pleasure institution.
Dave did not occur on one of parties. But it was explained simply: Dave not one has
arrived - him accompanied the charming Jenifer. She has helped the Dave will cope with
depression and supported him in the heaviest times. Martin and Andy have told, that are
ready to make a pray on this Greek goddess. In their opinion she has learned Dave to enjoy
herself on a stage, has made him by such pleased by life. The room the happy couple has
left only two times - before a concert and being sent on survey of the Moscow sights.
When two participants DM joined cultural values of Moscow, Martin has arranged interesting
show in hotel. Staying in excellent mood, he has given the present concert - upluged. In a
concert under the applications of the admirers were both "Beatles", and David
Bowie, and songs from own
repertoir... Gore sat on a floor near to a piano, and hardly someone from the present rich
visitors could think, that this ridiculous man in jeans - one of the richest musicians of
the world.
Leaving, Depeche Mode have promised to return to Moscow still. As the concert madly has
liked not only Russian public, but also DM.
Hello ,
Well, I've just returned from Moscow show and that was just great! First time DM live for
me...
I'm very exhausted at the moment and can't think very well, so forgive me for my English
and overall style. I'll try to describe what I can remember in chronological order.
First, Purity was too loud for me. They play heavy break-beat with guitars, and they sound
too monotonous for my ear. There wasn't Bomb the Bass show as such, Tim Simenon was just
standing on the stage and kinda DJ-ing for half an hour with all the lights at
the stadium on.
And then Depeche came... After Painkiller ended and A Question of Time started, all the
people in the stadium jumped up and never sat back down. Sing-along went also quite good,
I must say, the percentage of "true fans" (for whatever that means) was quite
high. Ok, to the setlist. It was basically the same as in Estonia and Latvia.
I.e. (quick cut and paste job from Halo's Page)
Painkiller / A Question Of Time / World In My Eyes /
Policy Of Truth / It's No Good / Never Let Me Down
Again / Walking In My Shoes / Only When I Lose Myself /
A Question Of Lust / Home / Condemnation / In Your Room /
Useless / Enjoy The Silence / Personal Jesus /
Barrel Of A Gun
Encore One: Somebody / Stripped / I Feel You
Encore Two: Just Can't Get Enough
The DM show lasted for two hours, started at 8:15 Moscow time and ended at 10:15. Purity
were on from 7:10 to 7:45 and Tim was DJ-ing in between.
NLMDA was close to Aggro Mix, IYR was Zephyr Mix, there's new guitar solo by Martin in the
end of Enjoy the Silence, endings of some songs are extended (OWILM comes to mind). Martin
sand AQOL, Home and Somebody (duh!). Backing singers were Ok, they came on stage before
AQOL, I think, and remained there for the rest of the show (not always singing). Drums
were live throughout and I haven't seen Tim or whoever was playing main keyboard parts
(probably I just wasn't looking good enough).
I have to say Dave is in fine form and sounds very good at the moment. Overall sound was
also far from bad. Martin was playing guitar for the most of the show, coming to
keyboards only a few times. Andy is also in fine clapping form ;) Clap-clap-clap.
Now, for design of the stage. I know my ASCII art talent is not stellar, but what the
hell.
Stage: view from the seats
---------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | --\ ----------- | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | |\ /| | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | \/ | | | | | --/ | | | | | | | | | | ----------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------
1 is the giant blue curtain (probably not the part of DM stage, but I'm
not sure). Letters DM we about 20 (?) feet high and made of lightbulbs (don't know if you
understand me ;-)
2 are videoscreens (they were about 12-14 feet high I think). There
were 3 of them (here is the view from top):
\ / \ / \ / \----------/
Behind the letters DM and screens was the dark red curtain as wide as the stage
(blue one was such wider). The screens all showed the same thing for the people sitting on
the left, on the right and in front of the stage.
The video screens were on for a few songs only, here's what was shown:
It's No Good: a mixture of various shots from Anton-directed videos. Strangelove,
Enjoy
the Silence, ING itself etc.
Walking In My Shoes: members of DM dressed up as various pop stars. I was not very
close to the stage, so I didn't recognize all the singers they were imitating, but
at one moment there was Dave (?) dressed up like Elvis, Martin had black moustache in one
shot and long black wig in another (looks very weird), and Andy was the mannequin
from Kraftwerk shows (you know,
red shirt, black tie and pants, robotic movements. If you ask me, suits him perfectly ;)
A Question of Lust: Martin's and Dave's faces in black and white close-ups and some
naked girl shown from neck to legs from behind and front (no full frontal, just breasts
though). I might have missed some shots in this.
Enjoy the Silence: just some abstract color shapes - stripes, squares and such and
some objects like chair etc. No people in this one.
Barrel of the Gun: extracts from the black and white part of the actual video with
Dave going through the streets.
Stripped: various fruits (plum, apple, apricot etc.) whole and cut in half. No people
either and relation to the song is also unclear (stripped to the bone?). I think that's it
about background videos.
The lightning: the edge of the stage was glowing in different colours, there was also
giant lights
directed to the audience that went on at the crucial moments (letters DM also went on
brightly at some important moments). Anyway, my English at the moment is too weak
to describe it coherently.
Anyway, I'll try to remember some more and write any additional details I may have
missed.
Muscovite newspaper (thanks to Victor V.Akishkin):
The group Depeche Mode has acted in "Olympic" September 5.
Notwithstanding what for the period of sale of the tickets the jump of a rate of dollar
was came and the prices on "DM" sharply have increased, the hall was filled
completely.
To look on Depeche Mode their most devoted admirers were going which not simply knew by
heart all songs which have sounded in the program, but also learned(found out) them on the
first chords. The truth, the compositions sounded most known, as it was the first concert
within the framework of the European tour of group " The Singles 86-98 ", same
album, devoted to an output. So under the laws of a genre all songs also should be hits.
Up to long-awaited idols it was offered to the fans Depeche Mode to familiarize with
creativity of the warming up collective, brought with self, Bomb The Bass - electronic
ensemble with a female vote. While it acted, the public borrowed(occupied) the places, and
the journalists patiently crowded at an input(entrance) in a hall, where press yet did not
start up.
In the proof "hit's" of the program Depeche Mode have begun the
performance(statement) by the most shock things familiar even to those, who is badly
familiar with their creativity: " Question Of Time ", " World In My Eyes
" and " Policy Of Truth ". Scenery were laconic, but are impressive: on a
background of a scarlet background there were two huge letters "D" and
"M", between them - luminous design reminding a lantern, where the clips of
group were periodically demonstrated.
The performance(statement) Depeche Mode was divided into two unequal parts. Basic -
aggressive, which embodiment became Dave. To it corresponded(met) the basic package is
hit: " Enjoy The Silence ", " Personal Jesus ", " The Barrel Of A
Gun " etc., - and also gloomy red - fiery performance of light and clips. Other part
which has incorporated with first, - more lyrical and with Martin at the centre of events.
During solo vocal performances(statements) on a stage there came twilight cut by a lonely
beam of light, directed on Martin. The lack of illumination was compensated by the sea of
burning lighters on tribunes.
Fan's The fidelity was appreciated by the musicians and is checked up Dave. At first he
offered to repeat behind him simple movements by hands, demonstrating thus to graceful
plastic in dance. Then forced a hall to sing, and not studied here barrackings and
interjections, and whole parts from songs. Such sample of choral singing became a song
" Enjoy The Silence ", and then spectators already have shown the initiative on
" Personal Jesus ".
Upon termination of the basic program the public was ready to cause the musicians on
recurrence indefinitely, but the actors were limited to two outputs(exits), which apogee
became a song " I Feel You ". It was possible to listen all other hits, which
did not manage to be heard at a concert, outside "Olympic", as almost all owners
of the automobiles which have arrived on a concert, listened to records of favourite group
on complete loudness.