Live Review: Peter Hook & The Light

Eschewing an opening act, Peter Hook & The Light - featuring his son Jack Bates on bass - filter on stage as Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express plays over the venue sound system. We're treated to a smattering of New Order and Joy Division favourites and rarities before the main performance. "It's been a while since we've played this one so bear with me," Hook says before the joyful odyssey Age Of Consent. The bass throbs during Cries And Whispers as the synths drive the pulsating percussion to its melodic finale. In A Lonely Place broods with intent before Peter Hook & The Light's stunning first-set closer Ceremony.

The second set is a live performance of Joy Division's claustrophobic second album Closer. Lyrically dark yet full of irresistible rhythms, Hook and co breathe life into this iconic album. Isolation becomes a tectonic dance number, Colony a droning rock'n'roll brainbuster and A Means To An End provides a future glimpse into the New Order sound. Heart And Soul takes things down a notch before Hooky has people grooving during a stunning rendition of Twenty Four Hours - it's clear watching Hook perform that he's as passionate about this music as ever. Hook barely acknowledges the crowd as he stays in the zone doing his best Ian Curtis impersonation. While lacking the frantic intensity of Curtis, Hooky delivers the lyrics in a similar speak-sing fashion that doesn't diminish the original arrangements he had a hand in crafting. Guitarist David Potts is front and centre all night and has people doing their best Curtis dance moves as he rocks out during She's Lost Control.

Unknown Pleasures is one of the greatest albums of all time and the opportunity to see one of Joy Division's original members perform it in full is not lost on those in attendance. People yell out, "Hooky!" all night with the odd, "I love you!" also thrown in as phones are held aloft to capture the action. One pissed-off punter has enough and instructs another during Shadowplay, "Put the fucking phone down!" He doesn't. Disorder bristles with cathartic energy, elevated by Paul Kehoe's sinister drumming. Hook points to the crowd during Insight as Martin Rebelski's probing synths infiltrate every corner of the venue. Bates stays to the side and out of the limelight, allowing his bass to do the talking during the high-octane Interzone and album closer I Remember Nothing.

With both albums done and dusted there's time for a few surprises. Hooky dedicates the chilling Atmosphere to Las Vegas and Tom Petty before stand-alone single Transmission has everyone dancing "to the radio". The opening notes to Love Will Tear Us Apart receive a huge roar, as expected, but Hook can't even make it through the first verse before screwing it up. Much to Hook's amusement, he steps on his son's lead and forces the band to restart the song. Hook and co then perform an extended version of this  absolute belter of a track, which is a fitting end and Curtis tribute. Ripping his shirt off and throwing it into the crowd as is custom, Hooky then takes to the microphone one last time, declaring, "Good night, god bless and for fuck's sake take care of yourselves out there".