The critically acclaimed New Order album “Get Ready” was the feature of Peter Hook and the Light’s tour. In 2001, It was dedicated to the bands long time friend and mentor Rob Gretton and a welcomed addition to the soundscape the band created throughout their existence.
Bleak and miserable, the weather did it’s best to provide an austere backdrop to the evening but the dreariness was left at the door. For the most part, the audience was transfixed on Hooky but he would share the spotlight with his fellow band mates as they all took their turn to shine. With saltire flags draped across various bit of kit across the stage, it was a nice touch for those partisan members of the crowd. The band certainly didn’t need the addition of the flags as music transcends and everyone in the building was there to pay homage to the songs and what better way to hear them live than have Peter Hook and the Light play them.
“Get Ready” was faithfully reproduced in its entirety and the revered album got a great reception. Hooky even had “Get Ready Edie” hand painted on the back of his white shirt. A reference to playing Ian Edinburgh. Joy Division may have been the lure for the majority but going by the number of audience members mouthing the lyrics, the New Order back catalogue was an essential part of the evening. The album is a tour de force and although it might not be toted as a top 3 by the hardened New Order fans, its appeal is enduring. Right throughout the opening set, you could feel the connection with the audience. The album was delivered with clinical precision right up to the final song where David Potts stole the limelight as he almost solo’d the song “Run Wild” with just his guitar. Potts vocal is reminiscent of Bernard Sumner’s voice and gives a real feel to the songs he sings. With nearly an hour gone, the opening set ends with two more New Order songs, “Brutal” from The Beach soundtrack and “Here to Stay” both from the same era as “Get Ready”.
After a short break, the band returned to run through the much anticipated Joy Division releases. Although the band only recorded two studio albums, they have been revered by every musical generation since their inception. The opening song “Exercise One” from the posthumous release “Still” gave me goose bumps as it served as a reminder that Ian Curtis had already passed prior to the double albums release. There was “a change of speed, a change of style” with “New Dawn Fades” and the seminal songs kept coming. Peter Hook and The Light have mixed up their live set every night to keep things fresh for anyone catching multiple gigs. One of these alternate songs “Komakino” took me by surprise and it was great hearing the iconic 7″ singles “Transmission” and “These Days”, the latter being a ‘B’ side of the bands highest charting song.
The final run in of songs were predominantly from the New Order catalogue and you could feel the energy in the room ramping up. The somber songs of Joy Division were replaced with the vibrant electronic based rhythms of New Order. There was even room for “What Do You Want From Me”, the single from Monaco, the band which consisted of Peter Hook, David Potts and drummer Paul Kehoe. David Potts was very animated during the song and encouraged the crowd to sing along by cupping his hand round his ear. The lively interaction continued right to the end of the gig.
Kehoe was relieved from drumming duties when the drum machine beats of “Blue Monday” punched out from the P.A. Jack Bates shared bass duties with his father and Yves Altana, the multi-instrumentalist who tours with Hooky was on hand all evening swapping instruments to suit the backing required. Martin Rebelski’s input came to the fore during the final few songs culminating with “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and his synths drove the seminal song. The audience were at full voice singing along with the chorus.
The passion is still there and as long as there’s an audience, then Peter Hook shows no signs of slowing down. As he ripped his shirt from his back to throw to a teenage fan on the barrier, you could see the connection with the crowd still means everything to him.
November
20 – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
21 – Bath, Komedia
22 – Cambridge, Junction
27 – Lincoln, Engine Shed
28 – Lytham, Pavilion
29 – Leeds, O2 Academy
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