WORDS AND IMAGES PAUL EVANS
Nestled between the North West’s musical behemoths of Manchester and Liverpool, the historic Warrington Parr Hall is to be the epicentre tonight for a bands musical journey through post-punk and new wave history. Peter Hook and The Light are more than just a band though. They are a living embodiment of the Joy Division and New Order legacy that spans decades, genres, and some of the most iconic music ever created. Fronted by the legendary bassist and co-founder of both Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook and The Light are dedicated to celebrating the music of Hook’s past and tonight they are to deliver a mammoth set of not one but two of the most important British albums of the last 40 years. Substance by Joy Division and Substance by New Order. Albums, which only saw the light of day because, Factory Records impresario, Tony Wilson wanted to listen to the songs on the new CD player in his car.
Parr Hall is sold out with fans from multiple generations standing shoulder to shoulder in the main hall or packed in the balcony seats. It’s a reminder that for many, this isn’t just a concert, it’s a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage to hear songs that define a generation and still resonate today with their haunting melodies, throbbing basslines and groundbreaking fusion of post-punk grit with electronic innovation. Since their formation in 2010 the band have garnered praise for their intense and emotionally charged performances, often described as cathartic experiences by the audience and Peter himself. This should be good.
With his bass slung low, Peter’s presence is immediately commanding as the band arrive on the dark, blue stage. “Dreams Never End” from New Order’s debut album, Movement, immediately creates a mesmerising atmosphere as cheers and applause erupt. The song, one of the few tracks originally sung by Peter, is a nod to the transition between Joy Division’s emotional intensity and New Order’s more melodic feelings. “Procession” explodes, a swirling, ethereal soundscape of emotive basslines, delicate guitar, keyboards and metronomic drumming, before “Cries and Whispers” brings a darker, more brooding energy to the room. Its haunting melodies and driving rhythm creating a tension that always underpins New Order, a tension that Peter captures perfectly with his guttural vocals and intense bass playing.
I feel a collective sigh of recognition as the familiar bass and guitar introduction of “Ceremony” echoes through the hall followed by a swell of voices as the audience join in. It’s a song that’s as much a Joy Division song as it is a New Order track. Written shortly before Ian Curtis’s death, it remains one of the most powerful pieces of music from either band straddling grief and rebirth and tonight is simply stunning, resonating more powerfully than ever. While it might seem unusual for a legendary bassist like Peter Hook to hand over bass duties to someone else, having another bassist on stage allows him to focus more on vocals, a decision that opens new dimensions in his performance. Both basses growl beneath the shimmering guitars and perfect drums of ‘Ceremony’ and while Peters voice is a rougher, grittier contrast to Bernard Sumner‘s, it brings a new dimension to the song’s introspective lyrics. It’s intense, emotionally raw, and electrifying.
From here on in, the energy soars even more as the band navigate through New Order’s early forays into electronica with the relentless drive and pulsating synths of ‘Everything’s Gone Green’, the bass providing a darker undercurrent to the otherwise bright electronics tonight. ‘Temptation’ has the crowd completely enthralled. The infectious beat, coupled with Hook’s rumbling bass, creating a perfect atmosphere for the audience to lose themselves in. The chorus, “Oh, you’ve got green eyes, you’ve got blue eyes” echoes, arms are raised and it feels as if all the voices of the packed crowd are joining in unison. As the unmistakable electronic drumbeat of ‘Blue Monday’ begins, the crowd erupt into dance and I’m a little shocked to see Paul, the bands drummer who I’ve just been photographing on stage, walking towards me in the crowd. Smiling, he says he’s not needed for the next few songs.
There’s no unnecessary chatter between songs, the band are obviously here to let the music speak with ‘Thieves Like Us’ providing a brief, but beautiful respite in the set. It’s dreamy, romantic qualities washing over the venue, showcasing the softer, more introspective side of New Order’s music. As the song unfolds, there is a sense that tonight is just as much about emotional exploration as it is about celebrating these seminal works. By the time ‘The Perfect Kiss’ and ‘Sub-Culture’ arrive, the audience is in full swing. The basslines, standing out, reminding everyone just how vital Hook’s playing is to the New Order sound.
The shift in tone is immediate as the second set of Joy Division’s Substance begins and it’s clear that this portion of the night would be something entirely different from the New Order set. The atmosphere becomes more introspective, heavier, as if the weight of Joy Division’s legacy can be seen in the air. “Passover” arrives like a dark cloud, heavy and contemplative. The haunting lyrics, “This is a crisis I knew had to come,” carrying a weight that seems to resonate even more in the modern world. Hook’s vocals, capturing the existential dread that Joy Division so often explored. “Insight” and “Colony” further explore that sense of isolation and alienation, with Hook’s basslines feeling like a heartbeat pulsing through the venue. “Insight” in particular, with its sparse arrangement, allowing the audience to focus on the depth of the lyrics.
Peter’s deep, brooding vocals cut through the sparse instrumentation of the Joy Division set, giving each song a chilling edge and from the very first note with bass the dominant force , driving the melodies. The audience listen in rapt thoughtfulness and reverence before the propulsive rhythm and frenetic energy of ‘These Days’ brings the post-punk intensity of Joy Division to the forefront. Peter delivering the song with an aggression that captures the rawness of Joy Division’s music, the crowd feeding off the dark energy. ‘Digital’ and ‘Isolation’ with their dark, minimalist rhythms are delivered with an intensity that is almost overwhelming before the hypnotic rhythm of ‘Transmission’ creates an undeniable energy that has everyone moving.
The night ends with two of Joy Division’s most iconic songs. ‘Atmosphere’ and’ Love will tear us apart’. ‘Atmosphere’ with its mournful, elegiac tone, brings a sense of reflection and solemnity to the evening and is dedicated by Peter to Liam Payne. The haunting melody and Hook’s tender delivery creating a moment of quiet introspection, as the audience stand in silence and reverence, absorbing the emotional weight of the iconic song. ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, the song that needs no introduction, follows. The crowd erupt in cheers as the opening chords ring out and from the first note to the last, it’s a communal experience. Hook’s voice, though different from Curtis’s, bringing its own unique emotion to the song, the crowd sing along with every word, their voices filling the hall. It’s a cathartic moment, both joyful and bittersweet, played perfectly and a fitting end to an extraordinary night.
Peter Hook’s role as a custodian of Joy Division and New Order’s legacy is undeniable. For Peter, tonight’s performance seemed more than just nostalgia; it was a way of keeping the spirit of these bands alive. Not only was tonight notable for faithful renditions of classic songs but also for the raw emotion Hook pours into his performances. Peter Hook and The Light serve a unique purpose in the world of live music: they act as a bridge between the past and present, preserving the legacy of two of the most influential bands in music history while bringing a new audience on the journey. It’s a journey you really need to get on board with.
SETLIST:
Set 1-New Order
1/ Dreams Never End
2/ Procession
3/ Cries and Whispers
4/ Ceremony
5/ Everything’s Gone Green
6/ Temptation
7/ Blue Monday
8/ Confusion
9/ Thieves Like Us
10/ The Perfect Kiss
11/ Sub-Culture
12/ Shellshock
13/ State of the Nation
14/ Bizarre Love Triangle
15/ True Faith
Set 2-Joy Division
1/ Passover
2/ Insight
3/ Colony
4/ Warsaw
5/ Leaders of Men
6/ Digital
7/ Autosuggestion
8/ Transmission
9/ She’s Lost Control
10/ Shadowplay
11/ Incubation
12/ Dead Souls
13/ Atmosphere
14/ Love Will Tear Us Apart
FOLLOW PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT
I’ve loved music since forever. Graphic designer, photographer and artist at painted.papillon.smile (www.ppsdesign.co.uk)
