Depeche Mode @ Bell Centre▪

Before tonight, Depeche Mode hadn’t performed in Montreal in more than five years. This would certainly help explain the significant pre-show buzz that was present on Wednesday 12 April, at the Bell Centre.

Fans waited in long lines for band merchandise. They cheerfully greeted former high school and college friends as they eagerly awaited the arrival of the boys from Essex on the epic Memento Mori Tour. The band made the most of the opportunity to present 24 songs in just over two hours on stage.

Depeche Mode, which now consists of vocalist Dave Gahan and the multi-talented Martin Gore, has been around for more than 40 years, and most of its best-selling records were released decades ago, but they operate in a very non-legacy-like manner by consistently introducing new material into their setlists rather than concentrating solely on the hits.

“My Cosmos Is Mine” and “Wagging Tongue,” the first two tracks from the recently released “Memento Mori” album, served as the opening act for a mesmerizingly evening of music. This tour is the first since the passing of founding member and keyboardist Andy Fletcher in 2022. Now members of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the band continued with “Walking In My Shoes” from 1993’s “Songs of Faith and Devotion,” as well as “It’s No Good” and “Sister of Night,” both from 1997’s “Ultra.”

Gahan was as captivating and theatrical as ever, playing the frontman role of a cross between Mick Jagger and Goofy as he pranced around the stage, wiggled his backside for the crowd, and flailed his arms around wildly when he wasn’t working the mic stand. His voice was canyon-deep and naturally transitioned from melancholy to something resembling delight when he sang standouts like “Everything Counts” and “Wrong.”

Gore, the group’s primary songwriter, alternated between playing guitar and keyboards, the former role getting the majority of his attention. While Gahan was offstage, he sang “A Question of Lust” (from 1986’s “Black Celebration”) and “Soul With Me” from the new album with his customary flair. I’ll admit here that, despite being a huge Depeche Mode fan, I’m not a fan of Gore’s vocal style at all, and, for me at least, these songs were the weakest section of the show.

Gahan benefited from the rest, as well as possibly from downing a few Red Bulls, as he charged through “Ghosts Again,” which ended up being the most powerful song from a new album performed that night, and then followed it up with an equally fervent performance of “I Feel You” from “Songs of Faith and Devotion.”

“World In My Eyes” acted as a beautiful tribute to Andrew Fletcher and sounded iconic. Another “Violator” track, “Enjoy the Silence” served as the band’s go-to song to end the main performance and was absolutely sublime. I may have even got a little teary from the nostalgia.

During the four-song encore, the band returned with even more hits, highlighted by the upbeat new wave of “Just Can’t Get Enough” and the unrelenting force of “Never Let Me Down Again,” before leaving the faithful congregation with the magnificent “Personal Jesus.”

Depeche Mode will return to Montreal this November. If you’re unsure about purchasing a ticket, perhaps due to rising ticket prices, I assure you it’ll be worth every penny.