DAVE GAHAN, KENNA, Kingsbury Hall, Monday.
When your resume for the job of solo artist includes only two words — Depeche Mode — you don't have to earn a crowd's respect on stage.
A packed Kingsbury Hall audience stood from the get-go of the Dave Gahan concert Monday. Most were still standing after more than 90 minutes from Gahan and his four-piece band.
It was assumed he'd play Mode music — that's easy money for a roomful of devoted fans waving signs of adoration, singing every word and throwing flowers before it was over.
Gahan brought out the standards "A Question of Time," "Walking In My Shoes" and "Personal Jesus."
But the new songs off Gahan's solo debut "Paper Monsters" more than proved his worth as a loner. He played all 10 songs off the new CD, which could easily be described as dark, moody, intimate and at times angry.
In concert, the new stuff translated like a show made for a much larger venue than Kingsbury, particularly for a man in need of a much larger stage.
Gahan, dressed in a black vest and black pants, led things off with "Hidden Houses," followed by a long version of "Hold On."
The sweat was pouring by the new, already familiar "Dirty Sticky Floors." By the fifth song, "Bitter Apple," and several primal screams later, one began to wonder if Gahan would be able to sustain his intense energy.
Well, this is clearly not a performer on the waning side of popularity. There're the grins with nearly every song, like he knows he's still got it, even without the big name to back him.
The spinning, drama and theatrics. The prowling, jumping, kicking and punching. Gahan is clearly glad to be on his own and thriving in a spotlight all for him.
And on the 10th song, "I Need You," he couldn't resist drawing a little extra attention to the obvious when he sang the words, "This time it's all about me." Gahan punctuated the line with a sweeping gesture of his left hand and yet another Elvis-like grin.
After emptying the solo chest, Gahan gave up "I Feel You" and "Never Let Me Down Again" for the first encore. The second encore featured a huddled band for a quasi-acoustic set of "Policy of Truth" and "Enjoy the Silence," with just a little bit of "Just Can't Get Enough" thrown in.
Fans couldn't get enough of opener Kenna, whose Depeche Mode-influenced "New Sacred Cow" CD saw brisk sales after a quick six-song set.
E-MAIL: sspeckman@desnews.com