Depeche Mode in DC 9.7.17

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Deena 'DeenasDays' Dietrich in Music // 1 Comment

I am not the biggest Depeche Mode fan, but they are my best friend’s favorite band so we went to see them last Thursday September 7th in DC – it was my third time seeing Depeche Mode since the 1990s. It was a fun show, despite our pushy and loud neighbors.

As usual for any event at the Verizon Center (oops now it’s the Capital One Arena) in Washington, DC we pre game / pre concert at the Green Turtle. It is connected to the arena, so we usually arrive around 4:30-5:00 and have dinner. Even though doors didn’t open until 6:30pm, we arrive early so as to avoid the DC traffic. We always take the Metro in from Greenbelt, as it is a direct shot into the Arena. A half hour drive to Greenbelt then about a half hour ride on the Metro. After about two hours of enjoying our crab dip, cheeseburgers and sweet tea (we really know how to tailgate!), we entered the arena just after 6:30pm.

After Cindy got a Depeche Mode shirt, we took our seats on the floor – 16th row dead center from the main stage and about six rows back from the catwalk on our right. The opening band WarPaint took the stage promptly at 7:30pm and played for 45 minutes. I was pleasantly surprised. They were an all female band who reminded me of a rockin Mazzy Star – very ethereal. I didn’t know there were still new indie rock bands out there – thought everything was hip hop and country.

Depeche Mode took the stage a la Zoo TV at 8:45pm and played until 11:00pm. Dave came out above the band against the screen marching like Bono during “Zoo Station.” It was good to see Dave still does his twirling across the stage and backwards butt wiggle. I only knew about half of the songs, but I still knew every word to my favorite “Somebody.” I was like the people at the U2 concerts I make fun for only knowing the hits. Even though they were both popular in the 1980s, the Depeche Mode crowd was a bit older than the U2 audience. I did not see many people in the 20s, mostly 40s and 50s – some still punked out with their crazy hair and some turned ultra preppy. For the first eight to ten songs the couple next to me argued loudly about how to get the best show of the band – meanwhile wafting her nauseating perfume. The lady next to Cindy kept bumping her while she was dancing. Despite our annoying neighbors, we had a great time and really enjoyed the show.