Depeche Mode - Almost Acoustic Christmas (2021)

SUPERB XMAS SHOW PERFORMED ON DEPECHE MODE’S PLAYING THE ANGEL TOUR • Almost Acoustic Christmas is an annual concert run by the Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. The first show was held in December 1989, though then it was simply called the KROQ Xmas Bash. In 1990 the show became bigger and attracted increasingly popular alternative rock bands and singers. • In 2005, the event featured, on night one, System of a Down (headliners), Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice and Rise Against. On nigh two, Depeche Mode were headliners, with Coldplay, The White Stripes, Jack Johnson, The Bravery, Death Cab for Cutie, Hot Hot Heat and Nada Surf in support. • Shortly prior to this xmas show, the band released their 11th studio album Playing the Angel. Produced by Ben Hillier, the album peaked at No. 1 in 18 countries and featured the hit single ‘Precious’. The first Depeche Mode album to feature lyrics written by Dave Gahan and, consequently, the first album since 1984's Some Great Reward featuring songs not written by Martin Gore. • To promote Playing the Angel, the band launched ‘Touring the Angel’, a concert tour of Europe and North America that began in November 2005 and ran for nine months. During the last two legs of the tour Depeche Mode headlined a number of festivals including the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the O2 Wireless Festival. During the first leg Depeche played aforementioned K.R.O.Q Acoustic show, now featured in its entirety on this new CD for the first time.