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.
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.
Johnny Marr slings his guitar at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Oct. 17, 2018. Jason Nicholson chose a picture from this show (but not this one) as one of his Top 10 of 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)
Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2018 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.
While sitting back in my chair and listening to a vinyl record is a favorite pastime of mine, there is nothing like going out and experiencing a performance live. For me as a concert photographer, the challenge is trying to capture the image of an artist you have spent a lifetime getting to know or at least your representation of what they mean to you. Here’s my Top 10 favorite photos of 2018 I had the pleasure of shooting for Parklife DC this year with a little commentary. Hope you enjoy seeing them again and best wishes for a great 2019!
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.
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.
Peter Hook performs at the Howard Theatre on Nov. 23, 2016. (Photo by Paivi)
It’s been a good second year for Parklife DC, particularly as we really improved our concert photography game.
Our little blog recruited some excellent photographers, notably Paivi Salonen, who is really quite good and sticking around with us into 2017! We also had the pleasure of working with Kristie Chua, who has moved onto other endeavors.
Peter Hook performs at the Howard Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 23. (Photo by Paivi)
Peter Hook, former bassist for Joy Division and New Order, is willing to bet that we are not soon to forget that he contributed significantly to the sound of both bands. If Hooky were a gambling man, this gambit paid off well for him indeed, as he wrapped up a successful US tour of tracks found on the Substance compilations by both bands — a tour where many stops sold out and a local visit to the Howard Theatre last Wednesday drew a very full house indeed.
Parklife DC is giving away five pairs of tickets to see Peter Hook and The Light live in DC during our next party — Careless Memories at Dodge City on Thursday! (Check it out on Facebook.) We are going to celebrate the bassist of Joy Division and New Order by playing a lot of music from both of his bands.
But for the sake of argument, let’s say maybe you cannot make it out to Dodge City (917 U St. NW, DC) on Thursday (although the next day is a federal holiday)! What might you do then? Go winless while one of Manchester’s favorite sons brings those awesomely splendid basslines to the Howard Theatre, where Peter Hook and The Light play on Nov. 23?
Well, love may tear us apart, but tickets will bring us together! In case you really cannot make it out on Thursday, we will give away a pair of tickets to see Peter Hook and The Light perform the songs of Joy Division and New Order right here on this blog.
Parklife DC is giving away a pair of tickets to see Peter Hook and The Light. To win, simply leave a comment on this blog. You can leave any comment but we would like to know your favorite song by New Order or Joy Division. (Hey, I’m also going to use your responses to inspire my playlist at Dodge City on Thursday at 8pm. Come out to hear the songs.)
For the rules of this giveaway–
Comments will be closed at 8pm on Thursday, Nov. 10, and then we’re all going to Careless Memories at Dodge City, where we will give away five more pairs of tickets in person! For this drawing, a winner will be randomly selected. The winner will be notified by email. The winner must respond to our email within 24 hours, or they will forfeit their tickets and we will pick another winner. We will email you instructions on claiming your ticket. Good luck!
Peter Hook, formerly of New Order and Joy Division (Photo by Mark McNulty)
Peter Hook and The Light are coming to the Howard Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 23, to play a lot of great songs by Hooky’s former bands New Order and Joy Division. So we at Parklife DC are dedicating our monthly party Careless Memories to Hooky, New Order, Joy Division, and Factory Records and calling it Factory Records 202. (Read more about the upcoming live show by Peter Hook.)
Celebrate with Careless Memories as we give away *five* pairs of tickets to see Peter Hook and The Light live at the Howard Theatre. You can win these tickets by showing up between 8pm and midnight to the next Careless Memories on Thursday, Nov. 10, at Dodge City (917 U St. NW, DC).
I’ll give away a pair of tickets every hour during Careless Memories — likely at 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm, and 11:30pm.
Watch Peter Hook and The Light, accompanied by a 16-piece choir, perform “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division at Manchester Cathedral on Nov. 15, 2011:
Thankfully for your Careless Memories host, the following day (Nov. 11) is a Veterans Day federal holiday. So perhaps you too can stay a little later and request your favorite New Order or Joy Division song?
At our Factory Records 202 evening, we’ll play tunes mostly by New Order and Joy Division, but we will also give some love to a few of their Factory Records labelmates — like Section 25, The Wake, The Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, and others — as well as their fellow Manchester UK bands that set the scene — such as The Buzzcocks, The Chameleons, The Fall, and yes even The Smiths.
RSVP for Careless Memories on Facebook, or simply come out that night! Admission is free. Don’t miss your chance to win a pair of tix to see Peter Hook and The Light at the Howard Theatre on Nov. 23!
Peter Hook at the Manchester Ritz on Sept. 25, 2014 (Photo by Chris Payne)
You know this man. You probably first met him in the opening chords of “Ceremony.” You definitely got to know him better in the resplendent bassline of “Blue Monday.” As an American, the Manc bassist had become one of your favorite Englishmen by the time you heard him play “Bizarre Love Triangle” or “True Faith.”
He’s Peter Hook, formerly of Joy Division and New Order, and he’s been on a quest to claim his legacy.
Peter Hook performs at Union Transfer on Oct. 24, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
