Goosebumps, even 18 years later

Dale

Goosebumps, even 18 years later

Posted over 2 years ago

Artist:
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Depeche Mode
Album:
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- QUEUE
101
Track:
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Everything Counts

Last week, I was slogging through a long, and not particularly enjoyable, day of work at the house. As is my custom, I have my random playlist playing in Winamp. Out of the blue, I hear crowd noise, and the unmistakeable opening sounds of the song "Everything Counts." I scooted my chair over to my desktop computer, and listen intently. By the end of the song, as the crowd sings "the grabbing hands, grab all they can", I have goosebumps running up and down my arms. I remember being one of the throng, singing along...(continued in comments)

Comments (22)

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Dale says I'll set the scene; it's June 1998. I've returned home from my freshman year of college, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. (GO CATS!) Socially, it had been a wonderful year, as I had made a ton of new friends and had lots of fun. My grades, though, had been less than stellar. All that was behind me, though. I was also turning 19 that summer, which meant I was planning on serving a mission soon, so I needed to save money. I worked Monday through Friday at my bishop's office, putting together watches, jewelry, or whatever else he needed me to do. For my first two weeks, I lived with my mother, with whom I had lived after my parents separated. However, we received word that my father was ill, and needed someone to live with him, so my mom sent me to live with him. It turns out that my dad wasn't doing a good job of taking care of himself, but with me there, he'd at least eat well. Depeche Mode, at that time, was one of my two favorite bands (the other being The Cure), and I was very excited to hear that they had scheduled their last concert of the Music For The Masses tour at he Rose Bowl, in Pasadena, CA. I was unable to talk anyone else into going with me, so I secured a ticket for the show. I had heard rumors that this was going to be a huge concert, especially given the venue, but did not find out about the other bands that were playing until the week of the show. I would have known for ages, if I had listened to KROQ in Los Angeles, as they were heavily promoting the show, but I listened to 91X in San Diego, as I got better reception, so I was in the dark. The supporting acts will be discussed later, so hold tight for a bit, k? The day of the show breaks, sunny and warm, and despite that, I'm in black head to toe, because I'm bad like that. I head out, in my father's truck, which has no stereo. I've prepared for this problem, though, by bringing along my Walkman with two cassettes: Depeche Mode's Singles 81-85 and The Cure's Standing On A Beach, which I will listen to repeatedly through the three-hour drive. This is by far the biggest concert I've ever been to, which I realize fully as I wait for a half-hour for the privilege of parking at the show. Yikes. As I waited waaaay to long to find someone to go with me, I have tickets in the nosebleed section, way in the back of the stadium. I can barely see the stage. I wonder how on earth this is going to be fun. Oh yes, no one is in my section yet, either. Super. I'm sweating through my clothes, and I won't hardly be able to see anything. I'm sitting, wondering if I made a mistake by coming, when I feel a tug on my pant leg. A young woman two rows down beckons me over. Hey, maybe this concert alone thing might not be so bad. We chat for a while, and head over to the merch table together. After picking up T-shirts, I run into a guy who was in my dorm at college, who drove up all the way from San Diego (an hour longer drive than me, crazy man). We chat for a bit, part ways, and I head back to my seat with my new friend. Alas, she isn't my friend for long, because her friends have shown up. No worries, though, easy come, easy go, and it appears my section is filling up anyway. Ah yes, it's filling up nicely; there are three young women in the seats surrounding mine, happily talking away. I ask to sit down, and they scoot over and welcome me in. Within minutes, we're swapping stories, checking out the merch tables together (found a sweater on the floor, this will become important later), and scoping the rest of the audience (one brought binoculars). And if this all seems like an opportunity to request a lesson on Concert Flirting 101 from Anna, you all know me too well. And it's time for the music to start. First up: Wire. Yup, the influential English punk/post-punk band, at the beginning of their synth-pop phase in the 80's. At this point in my life, I was only familiar with their album The Ideal Copy, which I had bought after seeing the video for "Ahead" on 120 Minutes. They start playing, but it's really hard to get into it, since they're so far away. However, the guy right behind me is having no such difficulty. He is proudly wearing his Wire T-shirt, and telling anyone that'll hear how much better they were the night before, at a much smaller club. Now, I'd be thinking, "Don't be that guy", but whatever. He's also managed to smuggle in some pot, so I'm smelling that. Good times. Anyway, after a short set, they wrap up by playing "Ahead", the only song I can recognize from this distance, the a few claps from the audience. It's obvious very few people have heard of them at all. This makes me, now, very sad, because they're brilliant. Next up is Thomas Dolby, who is more recognizable to this crowd, as KROQ has played the heck out of his single "Airhead". Given that he spends his time in front of a bank of keyboards, he pus on a really good show, getting the crowd involved as much as possible. He plays his biggest songs, and even throws in "One Of Our Submarines", one of my favorite songs. And again, after a short set, he's gone. As we're sitting waiting for the next band, one of the girls notices something on the other side of the stadium; there's a trash fight going on, and it's getting pretty big. Unfortunately, it's also headed our way, like The Wave. As soon as the trash starts flying in our section, I grab the sweater, and the girls squeeze under, until the storm is past. My gentlemanly powers, though in their infancy, save the day again. The next band to take the stage is OMD, and I do mean, they TAKE the stage. They come in, one member at a time, to the opening sounds of "Enola Gay", and put on a very high-energy show, featuring all of their songs from their greatest hits album, which they had just released. At dusk, they broke out one of their slower songs, and for the first time, I got to see lighters held aloft, throughout the stadium. When over 80,000 people are all holding lighters in the air, it's quite breathtaking. As we're swaying along, to "Joan of Arc" if I recall correctly, I notice one of the girls, a cute blonde, sliding a bit closer. Heh. Since I'm perfectly single at the time, I hold her close and sway along. This concert is getting better and better. Um, oh yeah, back to the music. OMD finish their set with "Dreaming", their current single, and depart to cheers from the crowd. After waiting a good half-hour, the lighs drop, and the unmistakable sounds of "Pimpf" start, and the crod rises as one, and start cheering. The stage, however, is still curtained, although we can see the lights going off behind the curtains. Then, the band launch into "Behind The Wheel", but the stage is still curtained. They even go through the first verse that way, but at the word "now", the curtains drop, the stage opens up, and the crowd goes NUTS. It's kinda hard to hear in the recorded version, but in person, it was deafening. everyone's jumping up and down, going crazy. I'll include the setlist, as recorded in 101, later, but the band are in fine form, Dave Gahan is spinning around like a top, grabbing his crotch, and leading the cheers. They even throw in a bone for he completists by playing "Something To Do" from Some Great Reward, not a single, but a great song nonetheless. Things slow down a bit, and the lighters come back out, for "Somebody", about mid-set. We get our first view of Martin Gore, who's shirtless, playing an acoustic guitar, and wearing a leather skirt. What a freak. Seriously, he's one of my favorite songwriters, but the dude couldn't be more of a train-wreck otherwise. And, since I'm in rant mode, what was the deal with late-80's bands and crotch-grabbing? Did anyone ever find that remotely attractive, outside of a concert setting? "Oh look, Dave's touching himself, AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" OK, rant over. The set ends with "Never Let Me Down Again", with an extended opening that ratchets up the power. It's well-extended, and Dave leads us to yell even louder than I thought possible. And then, they stop, and after a couple of minutes, the stomping begins, and then the chanting. "DE - PECHE - MODE!" After a few minutes of that, the band returns with "A Question Of Lust", a ballad. My new blonde friend grabs my hands and wraps my around her waist. Good grief, I could bounce a quarter off those abs. I shan't elaborate further. The encore continues with "Master And Servant" and "Just Can't Get Enough", and I could have left the concert happily. And then, it begins. scrape, scrape, BONG. "Everything Counts" starts. Man, I love that song. For the last 1:30 of the song, the crowd sings along, loud enough to be heard clearly, the final chant, "The grabbing hands, grab all they can/Everything counts in large amounts", as if trying to extend the concert indefinitely. Dave thanks us, and says they'll be back next summer, and that's it. The lights go on, but we're still unsatisfied. My new friends and I run down to the stadium floor, find the first security guard, and beg to get one of the huge BONG speakers that decorate the stage. We're denied. And then, after a final kiss, the girls leave, and I amble my way to the truck, alone again. And yes, about two minutes later, I'm banging my head into the steering wheel, thinking, "Stupid! Why didn't I get her number?" Before I forget, the setlist for Depeche Mode, which could be had for the asking from 101: Pimpf Behind The Wheel Strangelove Sacred Something To Do Blasphemous Rumours Stripped Somebody The Things You Said Black Celebration Shake The Disease Nothing Pleasure Little Treasure People Are People A Question Of Time Never Let Me Down (encore) A Question Of Lust Master And Servant Just Can't Get Enough Everything Counts For a long time, I thought that no concert experience would ever come close to that. I'll admit it, though, having Mew blow my mind from close range (2nd row) got really close. Watching Wire play on their latest tour, and being amazed at how much they rock at age 50, was unbelievable as well. As for sheer impact, going with my friend "Sam":http://mog.com/Gringoley to Curiosa, and watching him freak out with every hit song The Cure played, was incredible too. At that same show, watching Mogwai play a 20-minute song, and being more and more blown away every second, and then almost going deaf at the loudest finale ever, and then watching them set down their guitars while the feedback blared, and them simultaneously shutting off the effects pedals by hand, so the silence rang, was crazy. I guess, as much complaining as I do that I never get to see good shows, the shows I have seen have all been excellent, at least to me. Now, if only March would get here, so Melissa and I can go see Snow Patrol together.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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CrashPryor says ...you were in the house?...where's the continuation, yo...??? I need closure, son!!!

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says To quote Juliet, "What satisfaction canst thou have this evening?"

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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CrashPryor says ...I zigged when I shoulda zagged...it went up as I posted my grouse...play on, fella...

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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mutterimieli says Whoa..thanks for sharing Dale, sounds like a most awesome experience.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Anna says gentlemanly powers = playboy powers "They even go through the first verse that way, but at the word “now”, the curtains drop, the stage opens up, and the crowd goes NUTS " yeah, I would have gone completely crazy. Man, I missed them live, they were here this summer. Bummer. It's ok, you saw them for the both of us :)

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says Playboy powers? Surely you jest! Besides, you can't blame a single guy for being a BIT on the prowl during a show, right? And never forget, you were there with me, right here (points at heart).

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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mutterimieli says I'm thinkin' this needs to be a "featured post".

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says Let's see it get more like's and comments, and then decide.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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fairportfan says The closest to a Perfect Convert i ever attended was the Kinks in Atlanta, 1975 (my very first Kinks show). I wasn't really up to date on their then-current concept album/cabaret/multimedia thing (they were touring behind *two* albums, Preservation Act [first set] and *Soap Opera* [second set, in a multimedia/theatre setting, and including one-verse recaps of most of thier singles at one point]), but i entered as someone who thought the Kinks were really good, and left as someone who was/is a devoted follower of Kinkdom the rest of my life.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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mutterimieli says Nah Dale.. shouldn't be the quantity of the likes and comments more the quality of the contents, which I rate this one to be high quality.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says Aww, you're too kind.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Lyla says i saw them this summer and IT WAS SO COOL. this totally took me back. hurrah.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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SamTheButcher says Small correction. June 19*8*8. I was in San Diego, attending SDSU orientation. I was on our boat, listening to 91X and heard about the concert - I hadn't heard about it previously. I was jealous as hell. HUGE DM fan, HUGE OMD fan, always liked Thomas Dolby, and was just had been into Wire for a year or two as well. I think it was the first time that, instead of sitting on our boat in SD, I wished I was smack in the middle of LA. :)

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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superboredom says That is awesome. I'm very jealous, but it's very cool that you got to be a part of Mode and concert history like that. Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays (for the P.C. folk).

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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chucky says I see Sam already corrected your date. 1998 would make you a good bit younger than me. :) That sounds like it was incredible. I saw DM once and it blew. I am glad to hear that they actually did put on good shows even if I didn't get to experience one of them. :)

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says Lyla, good deal that you dug their new show; I'm scared to see them again, on the chance they'd blow and ruin my memories. Sam, you're right, it most certainly was 1988. One of the problems with writing these huge posts, and putting large chunks in the comments, is that I can't correct mistakes like that. SB, we do the Christmas thing, so Merry Christmas back atcha. Ashley, when did you see them? Was it in the midst of Dave Gahan's full-on heroin addiction in the early 90's? That would explain a lot, if that were the case.

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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chucky says My memory is hazy - it was sometime between mid 93 and 95. Heroin would explain it though. He just stood there and sang. Very lame. Oh, and where's my head: Merry Christmas Dale!

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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Dale says Bingo, Songs of Faith and Devotion tour aka Dave Gahan's Tour-o-Smack. Not a good time to catch them, for sure. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well, Ashley! :)

Permalink posted 12/22/2006
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SamTheButcher says My favorite DM concert was at Red Rocks for the Black Celebration tour. Did you see them on that one Dale? The way the show started sounded similar to 101. They had the "chugging" sound going from the beginning of "Stripped" with the lights on three keyboard risers blinking with each chug. There was a big curtain in front and you could see fog leaking out the sides. It continued as "Black Celebration" and he sang through the first slow part of the song. As soon as he launched into "I look to you...." where the song really kicks in, the curtain dropped, the fog spilled out, the crowd went crazy. Probably the best opening to a concert I've ever seen. :)

Permalink posted 12/23/2006
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Dale says No, 101 is to date my only DM concert. So then, they're apparently good at the dramatic opening thing.

Permalink posted 12/23/2006
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SamTheButcher says Unfortunately, it sounds like your dramatic opening was similar to my dramatic opening. I was hoping it was just for that tour. :) It's okay, I'll share. :D

Permalink posted 12/23/2006