Peter Hook & The Light Bring A New Order To The Gov- Adelaide Fringe Review

Governor Hindmarsh, Sun Feb 15 Peter Hook & The Light appear in the half-light of The Gov, kicking off their evening with an impressive 30-minute set of Joy Division classics. The band performs seven numbers and Hook does a great job with the vocals. Insight and Twenty Four Hours are highlights, but the entire set goes down extremely well and appears to have been a smart move on Hook’s part. The live re-creation of New Order’s third and fourth albums, 1985’s Low-Life and Brotherhood, released the following year, comes after a short break. Paradise is upbeat and powerful, and features Hook on six-string guitar. He switches back to bass for Weirdo. Hook’s guitars are almost as much ornament as they are instrument, as he leaves the bulk of the playing to the band, while he concentrates on his vocals. David Potts on guitar, Hook's son Jack Bates (bass), Andy Poole (keyboards) and Paul Kehoe (drums) admirably recreate these significant works, in terms of both technique and mood. When Hook does play, his performance is met with a kind of awed reverence from the audience. The highlight of the Brotherhood set comes with Way of Life, Bizarre Love Triangle and All Day Long, played consecutively. The Low-Life showcase features the same levels of quality, confidence and volume from The Light. It begins with Love Vigilantes, featuring Hook on melodica. The biggest audience reaction of the night comes at the conclusion of the lengthy, anthemic The Perfect Kiss; an almost perfect moment. It’s hard to top, but the band provides many more joyous opportunities for rallying fans as the album track list progresses. Face Up proves a popular closer. Returning for an encore, the band provides a couple of appetite-whetters before lifting the roof off the place with Temptation, a fitting finale to a big night. David Robinson