Synth-Pop Trailblazers Depeche Mode Bring Their Memento Mori World Tour to Bridgestone Arena Tonight, Oct. 19

Formed at the start of the ’80s in Essex, England, influenced by the flourishing punk and post-punk scene of the late ’70s as well as the burgeoning electronic scene, Depeche Mode swiftly became a seminal fixture in the synth-pop, electronic, new wave, and goth rock scenes of the 1980s. Following some early hits, a fervent young fanbase, and well-received early records, the group really hit their artistic stride by the end of the decade, crafting one of their most beloved and mature works ever with 1987’s Music for the Masses and hitting new commercial heights with iconic, classic 1990 followup Violator (even if you don’t think you know Depeche Mode, you know “Enjoy the Silence” and “Personal Jesus”). Adopting elements of industrial, alternative, and grunge for a great subsequent run of LPs, the band continued to make resonant music and remain immensely popular throughout the ’90s, and into the new millennium, especially as a new crop of ’00s bands with an affinity for synth, industrial, and goth rock increasingly cited them as a major influence, Depeche Mode have cemented their status as deserved musical icons.

Their most recent and 15h album, Memento Mori, arrived earlier this year, the group’s first since the unfortunate passing of keyboardist, bassist, and founding member Andy Fletcher last year (they’re now officially a duo of vocalist Dave Gahan and guitarist an keyboard player Martin Gore), and might be their best work in two decades, perfectly ruminating on mortality and the passage of time, while showcasing all of the tones and influence that have made the band so legendary. In support, Depeche Mode are set to return to Nashville tonight, Oct. 19 for a career-spanning performance at Bridgestone Arena– their largest Nashville show ever, from what we can tell- after a 2017 show at Ascend, and have tapped indie faves DIIV to open. A handful of face value and numerous resale tickets are still available through Ticketmaster here. And, though we don’t generally point you to 3rd party resale sites unless as a last resort, as they can sometimes be a frustrating buying experience, we couldn’t help but notice that some seats on Stubhub are ludicrously cheap right now, especially if you don’t mind the nosebleeds.

Depeche Mode and DIIV will perform tonight, Oct. 19 at Bridgestone Arena. The show is all ages, begins at 7:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), and tickets are available here.