The resurgence of the 80s is still going strong in 2022. Thanks to pop-culture hits like Stranger Things, Euphoria, and a dash of good old-fashioned nostalgia, tracks from the alternative 80s scene are seeing greater success today than ever before. What a shame though, we’ll never really get to see any of them live. Or so we thought before Peter Hook & The Light began their 2022 tour.
Best known as the bassist and key member of bands Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook established his new band, Peter Hook & The Light, in 2010. The band also features Hook’s son Jack Bates (also on bass), plus Andy Poole on keyboards and Paul Kehoe on the drums. They’ve seen modern success touring the world playing the Joy Division and New Order albums live, an indulgent relief for those too young to have caught the bands the first time around.
When Joy Division released the Unknown Pleasures album in 1979, they had no idea how influential it would be. The English post-punk band took the world by storm with their moody melodies and emotive take on underground punk. Though nearly 45 years old, Unknown Pleasures would become a master example of dark alternative and the rise of new wave. After the tragic suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reconfigured and remerged as a shiny, now a dancefloor-ready band called New Order. While somewhat overshadowed by the success of Joy Division and Curtis’ iconic lyrical lamentations, both bands were pivotal to the 80s alt-rock scene.
For their tour stop in Portland, Peter Hook & The Light packed out The Crystal Ballroom. Underneath the opulent eye of the venue’s Baroque paintings and historic chandeliers, fans milled about in a collage of retro band T-shirts. The Cure, The Talking Heads, and Sonic Youth, all were represented at the night’s performance.
Under the soft glow of spotlights, Hook and the band rocked through classics like “Blue Monday,” “Disorder,” “New Dawn Fades,” and many more. See the rest of Peter Hook & The Light’s tour dates here.
Check out our photos of Peter Hook & The Light below
