Hooky!
by uniqueIdentifier on 9/22/11Paradise Rock Club - BostonOverall, this was a great show, an opportunity to hear wonderful songs performed by one of the original writers. Peter Hook was surprisingly energetic and obviously putting a full effort into his singing. My only criticisms would be that the performers sounded more like 'Peter Hook and his back-up band' than a cohesive creative group. That may have been the result of a mix that kept all of the instruments at about the same level instead of increasing the guitar or bass to match the lovely mixes from Joy Division and New Order shows that I've listened to. It could also be the fact that this was Peter Hook and his band... Also the songs from Closer came across as a bit less natural than the others performed. I think perhaps the slower pace and more atmospheric quality of that record was less comfortable for the musicians. Regarding the opening act, Andre Obin, I suspect his performance may have actually been a Master's Thesis on the limits of human politeness. Getting on stage with just a laptop, microphone and synth - or whatever that was over there - takes courage and deserves respect... but... the affected English accent, the tired lyrics, the predictable and outdated electro pop, the uncomfortable hip gyrations and complete lack of rapport with his audience, made it a great time to step outside for a cigarette. I'm not saying this to bash a kid who obviously loves what he does, but I would certainly encourage him to try working with a band for a while, adding some diversity and a bit of self-regulation.