Joy Division

Snapshots: Peter Hook & The Light @ Union Transfer — 10/24/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , , .

PeterHook_Philadelphia-17 Peter Hook performs at Union Transfer on Oct. 24, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)

If you’re a new wave lad like myself, Peter Hook, famed co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, is one of the top bassists alive. He has an unmistakable groove rooted in the glam, and I daresay even blues, of the 1970s — but one that grows and spreads forward into the digital age and beyond.

Hooky remains today a singular and unmistakable musician, keeping his work alive with Peter Hook & The Light, which kicked off a North American Tour in Philadelphia recently to pay tribute to the New Order albums Technique and Republic. Jason Nicholson took some pictures of the band at Union Transfer.

Continue Reading

Preview: Peter Hook & The Light @ Union Transfer, 10/24/19

Posted on by in Preview and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

PH&TL_DS305068-Edit_20180426
Peter Hook performs at Union Transfer on April 26, 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

Peter Hook, former bassist of Joy Division and New Order, pays tribute to both acts with a 15-date tour that begins in Philadelphia on Thursday, Oct. 24. Appearing at Union Transfer, Peter Hook & The Light revisit New Order’s Technique, the band’s 1989 album, as well as Republic, their 1993 record, in concert.

Continue Reading

Music Park: New Order @ The Anthem — 8/28/18

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , .

New Order perform at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
Bernard Sumner fronts New Order at The Anthem on Aug. 28, 2018. (Photos by Kyle Gustafson; Words by Mickey McCarter)

Songs about heartbreak are usually pretty straightforward. Boy meets girl, girl dumps boy, boy sulks. But “True Faith” by New Order fiercely subverts that paradigm. “A sudden sense of liberty,” unbidden, provides sweet perspective.

Continue Reading

Don’t Miss: New Order Night @ Dodge City, 8/9/18

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , .

New_Order_NickWilson
New Order (Photo by Nick Wilson)

We at Parklife DC are beyond thrilled that New Order, one of our all-time favorite bands, will perform at The Anthem later this month. So, we are hosting a night of music consisting of New Order, Joy Division, and their related bands at Dodge City on Thursday, Aug. 9.

Continue Reading

Snapshots: Peter Hook & The Light @ Union Transfer — 4/26/18

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

PH&TL__DSC2235-Edit_20180426 Peter Hook commands your attention at the Union Transfer in Philadelphia on April 26, 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

It may be that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts — but in the case of great bands like Joy Division and New Order, each individual part has a distinct character that is irreplicable. Such is certainly the case with Peter Hook, storied bassist for both of those seminal bands. And although Peter fell out with his bandmates in New Order, he thankfully continues to perform their songs — songs with which he left an indelible mark on modern music — with his band The Light.

Peter Hook & The Light kicked off a North American tour at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on Thursday, and our Jason Nicholson was along for the ride to shoot some pictures.

Continue Reading

Don’t Miss: Peter Hook & The Light @ Union Transfer, 4/26/18

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

peter_hook__DSC5457_20161123
Peter Hook performs at The Howard Theatre in DC on Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

Peter Hook, former bassist for New Order and Joy Division, is once again touring the “greatest hits” of both bands with a special tour featuring Peter Hook & The Light performing the Substance compilation albums from each. Peter Hook & The Light launch the 2018 Substance Tour on April 26 at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.

Continue Reading

Interview: Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (@ 9:30 Club, 3/6/18)

Posted on by in Interview, Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

OMD
Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey (right) of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)

The brilliant Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) released The Punishment of Luxury, their 13th studio album, on Sept. 1 via 100% Records subsidiary White Noise. The album fared very well commercially, hitting #4 on the UK Albums chart as well as #7 on the US Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

I had the genuine pleasure of again chatting with Andy McCluskey, vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and songwriter for OMD, as the band will launch a North American Tour with a performance at 9:30 Club on March 6, 2018. (It’s not officially announced by 9:30 Club yet, but buy your tickets online here.)

In our chat, Andy provides insights into songs on The Punishment of Luxury, shares his feelings on recent work by Gary Numan and New Order, and reveals artists (with some surprises) with whom OMD would like to collaborate (particularly as they approach their 40th anniversary as a band).

I babbled a bit more than usual because he’s a personal hero, and as such my interview covered a lot of ground. I’ve edited the order of the questions to improve their logical flow and trimmed them where necessary for brevity. (Also, perhaps read our previous Parklife DC interview with Andy McCluskey from May 2016.)

Continue Reading