After this gig being cancelled and re-scheduled three times, we finally got to see Peter Hook & The Light at a hometown gig for them, the O2 Apollo in Manchester. I'd not seen him for about five years so was eager to watch him again.
Ordinarily, The Light don't have a support band but tonight they did, The Salford Jets. This was a band whose name was familiar to me but their material wasn't. Apparently, these were the first band that Peter Hook saw so it was nice to see them take the stage after Hooky introduced them. The singer was 74 years old but that in no way impeded him in leading the band through a solid set. They sounded a bit like Manchester's version of Half Man Half Biscuit, crossed with that original late 70's punk sound. Very tight, very professional. Stand out song for me was a track called Cops And Robbers as the chorus was very catchy and had me singing along. Their set was short but it set the tone for the rest of the evening.
As the introduction music faded and the stage darkened the band walked on to rapturous applause. The opening notes of the haunting 'Elegia' filled the venus. 'Cries And Whispers' was next and for me was one of the highlight performances of the whole evening, love this song and the band smashed it. 'Regret' was next followed by a Monaco tune 'What Do You Want From Me'. Three more New Order tracks completed the opening set, they were 'Vanishing Point', 'True Faith' and 'Perfect Kiss'. Superb. The band walk off for a short interlude, catch a beer and probably a quick wipe down with a towel. The stage is lit with an iridescent blue hue and an almost Fall-esque, industrial tune bellowed out from the speakers reminding me of Mark E Smiths classic 'Hit The North’.
This evening was all about celebrating Joy Division's two albums, Closer and Unknown Pleasures. Peter Hook recalled the first time that Joy Division played the O2 Apollo back in October 1979 and how much they were 'shitting themselves' before hitting the stage. He describes Ian Curtis saying to the band 'Lets do Dead Souls first and I'll gauge the audience's reaction’. They started tonight's set with that song and dedicated it to the memories of Ian Curtis and Paul Ryder (Happy Mondays).
'Dead Souls' was, as it turns out, to be the only track that was played out of sequence as true to his word, Hooky and the boys played the two albums as per the running orders. It’s a bleak, cold and windy representation of the clime at the time but out of the despair came beauty and it's portrayed magnificently in this melancholic but strangely happy and meaningful number. Full of polar opposites but it works. I feel only Joy Division can make such bleak music but make the listeners feel happy. 'I Remember Nothing' rather gloriously brought the Unknown Pleasures album to a triumphant ending before the band went off stage briefly.
More translucent lighting and then rolling drums and the unmistakable tone of Hooky's bass introduce the opening track from 'Closer'. That being 'Atrocity Exhibition'. A wonderful melodic dirge that is magnificently superb. This was the part of the gig that I was looking forward to the most. For me, ''Closer' is narrowly the better of the two true Joy Division albums. It contains some of my personal faves. 'Isolation', 'A Means To An End' and 'Heart And Soul' that appeared shining through, poking their heads out the dirt with a single finger raised. Joy Division weren't bothered if punters liked their material, what was important to them was that they liked it. The band..... it's only right to mention who the players are. They are Hooky himself on bass obviously, Andy Poole on keyboards, Paul Kehoe on drums, David Potts on guitar and Jack Bates on the other bass. If you're not aware, Jack is Hooky's son. His style of playing is just like his dad, bass strung low, plays the same guitars, same tone . And what a bass player! Mind you he has the best teacher, in fact all the musicians are top drawer. It must be such a buzz playing on stage with your kid. I took my 13 year old to a gig I played, he said he enjoyed it but commented to me that I looked 'awkward' on stage. Guess who I won't be teaching bass guitar to! Back to the gig. 'Closer' is rattled through with aplomb and gusto and soon the dying embers of 'Decades' fizzle out as Hooky deposits his bass and walks off stage, soon followed by the rest of the band.
Encore time. 'Atmosphere' truly is up there with one of the best songs ever written. Beautifully haunting. Folklore states that Ian wrote this so that people who suffer with depression can carry on. It is also a reminder that Mr Curtis is no longer here with us, especially as it was released in the UK shortly after Ian Curtis took his own life. Quite symbolic I feel. The band rip into 'Ceremony' and 'Transmission' before the inevitable encore of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. Nothing else needs to be said. We left happy and the mile walk back to our digs passed away effortlessly. A warm glow and fond memories made of a most excellent night.
Words: Dave Whyte, Photos: Dave Whyte/S Delaney
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