I went to see New Order on Friday

Philly_Q · September 2023

I don't see many threads about gigs, but this was the first live show of any description I've been to for quite a few years so I felt inspired to, er... mention it.

I know New Order have been around forever but I've never followed the band so I only recognised about six songs (by either New Order or Joy Division), and to be honest I felt a bit detached from the show, but it was nice just to look around the O2 (my first visit, at least for a music event) and see the crowd.

New Order are not the most lively of bands... Gillian Morris, in particular, was almost motionless and expressionless for the entire show. If it wasn't for the screens frequently showing her hands on the keyboard I'd have wondered if she was doing anything at all. And I was surprised to see Bernard Sumner only plays guitar for about half the set, the rest of the time he wanders around being the least frontmannish frontman ever.

However, the bass and drums were good and loud, the light show and backing videos were entertaining, and whether I knew the songs or not, it was good to experience some live music again.

Litterick · September 2023

Still crazy after all these years.

relic245 · September 2023

@Philly_Q I'm curious what prompted you to go to see a band that you're not an avid fan of.

Going to see bands is not a cheap night out.

RocknRollDave · September 2023

They’re decidedly average live, not least because the guy can barely sing in tune.
The gig I saw them at was immortalised on a DVD….except for the song where Barney was singing the verses where the chorus should be and vice versa, studiously ignoring Hooky who was gesticulating wildly at the autocue to try and get him on track.

Quite like a lot of their stuff, but they’re not cut out to be a live band.

merlin · September 2023

You must've had True Faith to go and hear them, I didn't give it to Temptation. I'm glad you didn't Regret it.

Philly_Q · September 2023

relic245 said:

@Philly_Q I'm curious what prompted you to go to see a band that you're not an avid fan of.

Going to see bands is not a cheap night out.

It was a free night out.

My firm has done their accounts and tax advice for many years, so my boss was given five guest tickets and brought her husband, me and two of my other colleagues.

So I couldn't really say no, really. Although that's not strictly true, if it was a band/artist that didn't interest me at all, I wouldn't have gone.

Offset · September 2023

RocknRollDave said:

They’re decidedly average live, not least because the guy can barely sing in tune.

Philly_Q · September 2023

RocknRollDave said:

They’re decidedly average live, not least because the guy can barely sing in tune.
The gig I saw them at was immortalised on a DVD….except for the song where Barney was singing the verses where the chorus should be and vice versa, studiously ignoring Hooky who was gesticulating wildly at the autocue to try and get him on track.

Quite like a lot of their stuff, but they’re not cut out to be a live band.

I've definitely seen worse live shows. Much worse. True that Barney's not the greatest singer or frontman - when he was guitar-less I was constantly thinking it looked like the actor Phil Davis was wandering the stage - but again I've seen worse.

And actually the additional live musicians - bassist and guitarist/keyboard player, I'm afraid I don't know their names** - helped with the energy levels. The songs without Barney's guitar were some of the better ones. Although I have to say the bass player seemed to be either out of tune or in the wrong key on Blue Monday.

(**Edit: Tom Chapman and Phil Cunningham. I have actually heard of them, I just didn't realise it was them!)

prowla · September 2023

How does it feel?

RandallFlagg · October 2023

prowla said:

How does it feel?

Warm like a dog 'round your feet

RocknRollDave · October 2023

Philly_Q said:

RocknRollDave said:

They’re decidedly average live, not least because the guy can barely sing in tune.
The gig I saw them at was immortalised on a DVD….except for the song where Barney was singing the verses where the chorus should be and vice versa, studiously ignoring Hooky who was gesticulating wildly at the autocue to try and get him on track.

Quite like a lot of their stuff, but they’re not cut out to be a live band.

I've definitely seen worse live shows. Much worse. True that Barney's not the greatest singer or frontman - when he was guitar-less I was constantly thinking it looked like the actor Phil Davis was wandering the stage - but again I've seen worse.

[RnRDave’s note: Not sure why it’s writing this inside the quoted area but hey]

Yeah, that’s why I said ‘average’, not atrocious.

Philly_Q · October 2023

RocknRollDave said:

[RnRDave’s note: Not sure why it’s writing this inside the quoted area but hey]

It just does that sometimes.... which is why I rarely post from my phone, because it's so much harder to edit!

Funkfingers · October 2023

Sumner has been on a hiding to nothing ever since he, Gretton, Hook and Morris jointly decided not to replace Ian Curtis with anyone from outside their immediate social clique. (Let's face it. Who could replace Curtis?) Hence, Gillian Gilbert being co-opted - initially to play guitar or keyboards whenever Sumner was vocalising.

Sumner's assumption of control of New Order is comparable to Roger Waters in post-Syd Pink Floyd. Somebody had to take the initiative. Later, cocaine-fuelled megalomania led both to imagine that they were the personification of their respective bands.

The gory details are laid out in the autobiographies of Hook and Morris.

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I went to see New Order on Friday

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