Peter Hook & The Light

September 6th, Brooklyn Steel

In New York, the Salfordian – not Mancunian; there’s an important distinction – is playing both Substance albums by Joy Division and New Order in their entirety. Now that, folks, is value for money. This equates to a greatest hits package from Factory Records’ finest x2, so expect rare listens to such tracks as “No Love Lost” (check LCD Soundsystem’s version of this too – it’s phenomenal), “Leaders Of Men” and “Murder”.

So what are Peter Hook & The Light like compared to New Order live? Both are real crowd-pleasers these days, and slick – gone are the days when you never knew what sort of performance you’d get from these oft-moody Northerners. And although Hooky might maintain his group is more rock to Bernard Sumner’s electronic hard place, there’s actually a lot of crossover in their live material.

Teetotal these days, Hooky is good with his fans so don’t be surprised to see him supping a 0% wine – and who knows, you might be able to get a signed setlist.

Of course, New Order went mainstream in America before the UK, although all the money they made from sell-out stadium tours was used to plug the vast financial chasm of loss-making Manchester megaclub The Haçienda. Hooky can laugh about it now… or can he? Maybe ask him when you see him.

Lee Gale