After a decade between records, New Order are back. Preforming the second night of their two sell-out homecoming shows at Manchester’s Warehouse Project, Store Street. Over the two nights, 5000 Madchester fans fill the former air-raid shelter, its dual personality as office worker car park during the day, illicit underground club at night, it’s the perfect setting for this iconic 80’s electronic band, who are currently promoting their new studio album ‘Music Complete’.
The atmosphere is tense, everyone is stunned. The awaiting band New Order, known as the reincarnation of Manchester’s Joy Division, tonight’s gig is sure to be special. The crowd are pumped following the powerful sounds of support acts; Factory Floor, ‘A Certain Ratio’ and a DJ set from Tim Burgess.
Set opener ‘Singularity’, taken from ‘Music Complete’. Frontman Bernard Sumner shuffling from foot to foot “Manchester, it’s good to be home!” the crowd of the underground car park cheer as the band move into 2001 single ‘Crystal’ followed by 2015 single ‘Restless’.
New fave ’Tutti Frutti’ featuring guest vocalist Elly Jackson of ‘La Roux’. The dancing is cracked up, bright lights flood through the hallowed arches, sadly myself and many other fans are positioned tightly between the outer of the red brick arches, desperate for a glimpse of the action on stage. Next track is another new one ‘People on the High Line’ which has everyone moving. Sumner’s vocals slightly patchy, otherwise New Order are on strong form.
‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ is when the strobe lights get going, the crowd’s response is amazing, fans losing themselves within each track. ‘Plastic’ another stand out track off the new album, its electrifying, as the chanting builds and dancing continues straight into the brilliantly extended title track from ‘Waiting For The Siren’s Call’.
Switching from ‘old’ New Order to ‘new’ New Order through-out the gig, before hitting us with three huge hit anthems; ‘The Perfect Kiss’, ‘True Faith’ where a fan shouts “best track they have ever done” and then of course ‘Temptation First’. Essential tracks to conclude the gig. Many generations of fans, all come together tonight for what is a fully charged rave. The band break down and give the crowd their time to breathe and chant, they leave the stage to prepare themselves for the encore.
Sumner, Morris and Gilbert, Cunningham and Chapman return to the stage with an encore of a Joy Division duo, ‘Atmosphere’ and ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ the crowd are once again stunned, bursting with emotion as they chant “Ian Ian Ian Ian” as images of the legend Ian Curtis and ‘FOREVER JOY DIVISION’ flash up on the screen behind the band.
Closing the gig with the biggest selling record of the 1980s ‘Blue Monday’ the band truly sound like they’re having fun. We hope the new album title ‘Music Complete’ isn’t a clue of the band’s farewell. They certainly ended tonight’s gig on a high and left a feeling of excitement to hear more.
SET LIST:
- Singularity
- Crystal
- Restless
- Your Silent Face
- Tutti Frutti
- People on the High Line
- Bizarre Love Triangle
- Waiting for the Sirens’ Call
- Plastic
- The Perfect Kiss
- True Faith
- Temptation
ENCORE:
- Atmosphere
- Love Will Tear Us Apart
- Blue Monday
