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Story and photos by Andy Argyrakis Every once in a while, a Joy Division tune or two pops up in its offshoot act New Order's set lists, but until Peter Hook's current tour, fans of the late great Ian Curtis and company were largely left with mere memories. Thankfully though, that's all in the midst of changing as the legendary bassist for both of those bands heads to the microphone to unveil the classic *Unknown Pleasures* in its entirely on tour, coupled with a handful of the post-punk heroes' most influential tunes.From the onset of early cuts like "No Love Lost" and "Digital," Joy Division's swirling atmospheres, icy keyboards and menacing percussion came back to life thanks to Hook and his newly formed band The Light. While the leader's vocals left a lot to be desired (almost like a weathered mash-up of Billy Bragg and Jim Morrison), there was no denying his iconic bass lines and the band's overall proficiency, amped up all the more by a packed Double Door ready to celebrate the group's lauded past. Despite the seminal Unknown Pleasures being released over thirty years ago, tracks like "Disorder," "Insight" and "Interzone" sounded like they were up to the minute current. Of course, cuts like "She's Lost Control" and "Shadowplay" are practically present tense (popping up in the flick 24 Hour Party People and being covered by The Killers respectively), serving as obvious crests of the evening. Yet the true highlight was an encore segment where Hook and company strayed beyond the main event to dust off two of the group's most popular cuts "Transmission" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart." Both of those epic renderings were chanted loud and proud by the audience, while the man who was there during their conception and his backers beamed proudly that Curtis and Joy Division are far from forgotten. |