Peter Hook & The Light
18th May 2024
The Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand.
Photography by Nick Paulsen.
Peter Hook & The Light returned to New Zealand this week to perform Joy Division’s landmark albums, Unknown Pleasures and Closer, in full and sequential order. And as if that wasn’t enough we were treated to an opening set of New Order material beforehand!
Peter Hook, the Joy Division co-founder and bassist was part of the band for the entirety of their four-year career before going on to co-found New Order with his surviving Joy Division band mates. This tour commemorates the legacy and influence of Joy Division and celebrates a decade of consistent touring from Peter Hook & The Light.
Released in 1979, Unknown Pleasures was Joy Division’s debut album. With its now iconic, sleek, minimalist cover art and energetic yet melancholic songs, Unknown Pleasures looked and sounded unlike anything else. Songs such as Disorder, Shadowplay, New Dawn Fades and She’s Lost Control have a power that would not be denied and will not fade. Unknown Pleasures incredibly reached #1 in New Zealand and the last four decades has earned consistent praise as one of the most pivotal and influential post punk records ever. Publications such as NME, Mojo, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Spin have all recognised Unknown Pleasures as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Closer was released in 1980, two months after the suicide of Joy Division’s frontman and lyricist, Ian Curtis. Last night’s Auckland show was the 44th anniversary to the day of Ian’s death. Surrounded by tragic circumstance and with songs full of panic, passion and emotional anguish, Pitchfork described Closer as “Joy Division’s start-to-finish masterpiece, a flawless encapsulation of everything the group sought to achieve.” Tracks such as Isolation, Atrocity Exhibition and Heart and Soul saw Closer reach #23 in Australia and #3 in New Zealand. Like its predecessor, Closer has only grown in appeal and esteem and it is consistently also named as one of the best albums of all time.
Peter Hook formed The Light to keep the music of Joy Division alive and has spent the last decade performing the works of both Joy Division and New Order to sold out audiences around the world. These shows are the only way to experience Joy Division’s iconic discography performed with the sincerity and authenticity of one of its founding members.
We were very lucky to have (in our opinion) one of New Zealand’s greatest music photographers, Nick Paulsen on board to capture the Auckland show last night with his photographer’s eye – check it all out below!
Peter Hook & The Light:
Were you there at the Auckland Town Hall for this thrilling Alternative gig? Or have you seen Peter Hook & The Light perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- In a Lonely Place
- Cries and Whispers
- Hurt
- Ceremony
- Everything’s Gone Green
- Temptation
- Blue Monday
- Confusion
- Thieves Like Us
- The Perfect Kiss
- Sub-Culture
- Shellshock
- State of the Nation
- Bizarre Love Triangle
- True Faith
- No Love Lost
- Glass
- Inside the Line
- Warsaw
- Leaders of Men
- Digital
- Autosuggestion
- Transmission
- She’s Lost Control
- Shadowplay
- Incubation
- Dead Souls
- Atmosphere
- Love Will Tear Us Apart
- The Eternal [encore]
- Decades [encore]
Note: Ambient Light was provided a pass to photograph this concert. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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