It’s becoming pretty popular for bands to celebrate the anniversaries of pivotal records in their catalogue by playing those records in full on tour. I’ve never seen anyone do it more than once, but from what I can tell, this is Peter Hook’s third time doing this. As a founding member of Joy Division and New Order, he’s kinda spoiled for choice! After tours of 1989’s Technique and 1993’s Republic, this time it’s the turn of 2001’s Get Ready.
Thankfully, I know this in advance thanks to Peter’s website, so I spend a good few days hammering that record in preparation. But I can’t help but feel bad for those who come to the show unaware. Indeed, Peter doesn’t actually introduce the record at any point during the run-through, nor does he even talk to the crowd until after the 10 songs of the record are done. It might go some way to explaining a few of the blank faces during that part of the show, each likely wondering why they don’t know any of the songs!
Having been able to focus specifically on the Get Ready record, I quickly realize it’s a solid album, and certainly worthy of being aired in full. The 5-piece arrive on stage bang on 8 p.m., and Peter himself heads to the front of the stage to detonate that mammoth bassline to start “Crystal.”
Interestingly, there’s a second bassist (Jack Bates) on stage throughout who is charged with the more subtle, ‘mundane’ basslines, while Peter himself busts out the flashier, more recognizable riffs. It works a charm on “Turn My Way” and “Vicious Streak.” Guitarist David Potts covers Bernard Sumner’s vocal parts perfectly, especially on “60 Miles an Hour” and “Primitive Notion”—he honestly sounds exactly like him! His phenomenal guitar solo to close out “Rock the Shack” is a thing of beauty too.
If many of the crowd are indeed unfamiliar with the Get Ready record, as I suspect, it doesn’t show in their response, which is loud throughout. Indeed, spontaneous clap-alongs form around the floor on “Vicious Streak” and “Someone Like You,” as well as on “Here to Stay” to round out the first hour of the set.
After a 10-minute intermission, we get to the main event that everyone came for: the greatest hits section. Peter pays tribute to former Joy Division bandmate, frontman Ian Curtis, who passed away 45 years ago last Sunday. He gets Ian’s vocal absolutely spot on too, especially on “Insight” and an unreal “Disorder,” which elicits an enormous singalong at the outro, the floor howling “FEELING FEELING FEELING!!!” as the song winds down.
“Leaders of Men,” “Heart and Soul,” and “Twenty Four Hours” bring the quintessential moody, downbeat Joy Division vibe, before “Transmission” brings back the ferocity, Peter barking “DANCE TO THE RADIO!” to all corners of MTELUS.
The electronica beats of “Your Silent Face” signal a transition to the sound of New Order, which is received every bit as well. When Peter rips out the intro riff of “Ceremony,” the floor section starts to pogo with delight—it still sounds timeless and absolutely anthemic.
I am immediately transported to my youthful days of recording mixtapes off the radio thanks to 1987’s “True Faith,” 1993’s “Regret,” and even 1997’s “What Do You Want From Me?” by Monaco, the side project of Peter, David, and drummer Paul Kehoe from the late ’90s. So hey, now I can say I’ve finally seen Monaco too!
“Everything’s Gone Green” sounds so much like a spin-off of “Blue Monday,” tantalising the crowd a little, while the slap bass and electro beats of “The Perfect Kiss” lead into another massive singalong. The crowd declares “LET’S GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN!” when prompted, before the song culminates in a huge extended outro.
A thunderous “Love Will Tear Us Apart” closes out the set with another raucous sing-along, the band dropping in volume at a breakdown to let the crowd sing the chorus over and over. It’s loud, and even Jack is impressed, grabbing his phone to film the scene. Peter throws his shirt onto the balcony as he leaves the stage, and MTELUS is in a state of euphoria.
With 20 minutes still to go until curfew, there’s plenty of time for an encore, and everyone is pumped to finally hear “She’s Lost Control,” or at least “Blue Monday,” one of the most important songs in alternative music history. Looking at recent setlists online, I know it’s possible. The crowd is roaring everyone back, but there’s almost a gasp as the lights come up, house music starts playing, and roadies start unplugging equipment.
Are you serious—no encore at all?! But that’s really it. It’s a bit of an anti-climactic conclusion, to be honest; everyone is kinda bummed as they filter out into the soggy Montreal night.
A great night for sure, but it could have been truly amazing.
Setlist
- “Crystal”
- “60 Miles an Hour”
- “Turn My Way”
- “Vicious Streak”
- “Primitive Notion”
- “Slow Jam”
- “Rock the Shack”
- “Someone Like You”
- “Close Range”
- “Run Wild”
- “Brutal”
- “Here to Stay”
- “Insight”
- “These Days”
- “Disorder”
- “Leaders of Men”
- “New Dawn Fades”
- “Heart and Soul”
- “Twenty Four Hours”
- “Transmission”
- “Atmosphere”
- “Your Silent Face”
- “Dreams Never End”
- “Ceremony”
- “Regret”
- “What Do You Want From Me?”
- “Everything’s Gone Green”
- “The Perfect Kiss”
- “True Faith”
- “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
Review & photos – Simon Williams
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