Depeche Mode in Nashville: Top moments as Music City 'Just Can't Get Enough' at Bridgestone Arena

Depeche Mode stopped in Nashville as part of their "Memento Mori Tour," taking to the stage at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 19 for a lively evening of futuristic synth pop, transporting Nashville back to the 80s for the evening.

The tour comes on the heels of the band's release of album "Memento Mori" in March of this year, a 12-track project that followed the band's six year break in releasing new music and the tragic loss of their band member, Andrew Fletcher. The English electronic music band, formed in 1980, consists of Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, and past members Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke.

The band's name, inspired by a French fashion magazine, translates to "Hurried Fashion," and the band's fashion for this evening's show included glittery vests and tight pants.

Opener DIIV, a Brooklyn rock band known for songs "Doused" and "Under the Sun," first hit the stage before Gahan and Gore took it away.

The two strutted onto stage, both soaking in the audience's attention and raising their arms as they arrived to greet the crowd. Gahan, the lead vocalist, donned a black sequined suit jacket and vest with a white undershirt, black pants and white boots.

Gore, the band's keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist, wore a silver suit jacket and matching vest with black stripes down the arms and silver studs. His tight pinstriped pants and black combat boots completed the look.

The two, alongside a synth/keyboard player and drummer, gave a lively performance to a full crowd at the arena, which was comprised of a largely older, though young-at-heart crowd who rarely sat down throughout the evening. The children of the 80s were lively, dancing and singing along to the band's hits during the approximately two-hour show.

Gahan fed the crowd during the concert, showcasing his famous dance moves. The sparkling star he is, Gahan twirled and whirled around the stage at a pace that could've dizzied the audience. He shuffled his feet, he danced a waltz for one, he squatted and kicked and moved like a bird, but above all: he dazzled.

Here are the evening's top moments.

'Walking in my Shoes'

The third song of the evening, "Walking in my Shoes" kicked off with red flashing lights. At the beginning of the song, Gahan took the mic stand and hit a striking pose, knees out and back bent.

Gore, who had been on the keys until this song, traded the instrument for a bright red guitar, and both performers shedded their sparkly suit jackets for matching vests.

Gahan moved around the stage in steps, skips and shuffles, showing off his footwork for the song's title. Walking around the stage, Gahan held the microphone out to the audience, who performed the chorus alongside him, singing, "You'll stumble in my footsteps / Keep the same appointments I kept / If you try walking in my shoes."

For the last chorus of the song, Gahan emotionally sang a long note in his groovy, melodic manner and later flashed his boots to the audience, all the while twirling around the mic and its stand.

'World in My Eyes' Andrew Fletcher tribute

Andrew Fletcher, better known as Fletch, was a founding member of Depeche Mode and the band's keyboardist for over 40 years. Fletch was alongside the band for many of their key moments together, including their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

In May 2022, Fletch passed away in the United Kingdom due to a tear in one of his major arteries. The fittingly named "Memento Mori" tour, which is Latin for "remember you must die," is the band's first tour since Fletcher's passing. The band honored him during their performance of "World in My Eyes."

On the screens behind the stage, images of Fletcher played with his eyes opened, then closed, and then a hand covering one eye. The series of images showed a young Fletcher, which Gahan motioned towards after the song, noting that they had performed the tune in his honor.

Gahan sang, "I'll take you to the highest mountain / To the depths of the deepest sea / And we won't need a map, believe me."

Gore takes the mic for 'A Question of Lust'

Gore often sings backup vocals or harmonies alongside lead singer Gahan, but he took the stage himself for two songs. During his hearty performance of "A Question of Lust," the crowd cheered as Gore walked out on the catwalk to serenade his fans.

His performance was reminiscent of a power ballad, complete with vibrato, passion and vulnerability. Though Gore may not typically sing lead vocals, his ability to take center stage shone through with a calm demeanor and bellowing theatrical tone.

As gold lights flashed around him and yellow graphics played on the stage's screen, Gore sang, "It's a question of lust, it's a question of trust / It's a question of not letting what we've built up crumble to dust."

When Gahan returned to the stage, he said into the mic, "Extraordinary. The beautiful, angelic voice of Mr. Martin L. Gore."

'Enjoy the Silence'

Of course the evening came to its peak with the band's most popular song: "Enjoy the Silence." The audience had been anticipating the 1990 hit for the duration of the evening, and the band played it as their final song of the night before the encore.

The groovy, synth-heavy hit unfolded as videos of skulls played on the screens behind the stage, alongside colorful changing backgrounds. Some skulls in the video were covered in glitter, others had the word "enjoy" written on them.

The second half of the hit was sang largely by the audience, who chanted out, "All I ever wanted / All I ever needed / Is here in my arms / Words are very unnecessary / They can only do harm," as Gahan held the mic out for them.

During a drum solo, Gore shimmied towards the drum set, then took to the catwalk to play his guitar riffs as he strutted the stage. The audience clapped along while flashing purple lights filled the space, and not a soul in the arena was sitting down for this hit.

Afterwards, the encore included hits "Waiting for the Night" and "Just Can't Get Enough," where Gahan called the audience's vocal participation "so much better than Florida," as they sang along with the song's chorus and "ahhs."

The encore concluded with two more songs, "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Personal Jesus," and the 80s dance-pop evening came to close. Band members Gahan and Gore took their bows, thanking the crowd.

Depeche Mode Nashville Set List

My Cosmos Is Mine

Wagging Tongue

Walking in My Shoes

It's No Good

Sister of Night

In Your Room

Everything Counts

Precious

Speak to Me

A Question of Lust

Soul With Me

Ghosts Again

I Feel You

A Pain That I'm Used To

World in My Eyes

Wrong

Stripped

John the Revelator

Enjoy the Silence

Encore: Waiting for the Night, Just Can't Get Enough, Never Let Me Down Again, Personal Jesus

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Depeche Mode tour stops at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena | Top moments