Peter Hook Embodies Joy Division

Peter Hook and The Light performing at the Ace Hotel, LA by Jacob Alvarez

SECOND LA DATE FEATURED OPENING NEW ORDER SET FOLLOWED BY JOY DIVISION

In high school (like many), I discovered Joy Division, legendary post-punk band that prefaced synth-pop heroes New Order. Having known the latter due to radio play and my parents putting me on, it was a cool feeling to find the former all on my own. Of course, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” was something unconsciously engrained in my brain, but to hear Unknown Pleasures and Closer in their respective entireties, it was just something that suited my life at the time. Trying to figure out where I was trying to go after my schooling and just dealing with normal issues like family dynamics and love lives and so on; it was an interesting time for sure. Seeing founding member and bassist of both bands, Peter Hook, hit me with some nostalgia as well as appreciation for that time.

It was raining by the time the show started, both cold and warm inside and outside historic Los Angeles landmark, The Ace Hotel. Having been his second and last show in the city, most of Hooky’s merch was sold out with the table being utilized for opening act El Ten Eleven’s posters and records. This was my second time seeing the band but first time shooting them, and it was pretty great to have access to both the first three tracks and the first three of the third act. The show served a few special purposes such as the one I mentioned in the previous paragraph and the others being that New Order was one of my mom’s favorite bands growing up, and Peter Hook was one of the first shows I attended with my partner Paige. Having her share the night with me was amazing, and she found our seats while I waited in the aisles for the set to begin.

Peter Hook and The Light performing at the Ace Hotel, LA by Jacob Alvarez

I mingled with some photographers before the lights darkened in one of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see. The crowd cheered as the lights slowly began to brighten the stage, but not ever fully shining, staying at a dim frequency. The band entered with Hooky taking center stage, slinging on his iconically low bass and grabbing what I think was a güiro. The crowd erupted into applause, shouting various things before the synths introduced “Your Silent Face” which brought me back to college when I used the track as my end credits song for a short film starring Paige. With just the first song, I was already entranced in the heartbreaking, yet dance nature of the 80s. I couldn’t help but think of my mom and how she would have enjoyed being in the crowd. She would have been my plus one to so many. My tears became a smile as Hooky strummed the memorable bass line to “Age of Consent.” Some may find issue with Hook’s vocals as opposed to Joy Division’s Ian Curtis and New Order’s Bernard Sumner, but he honestly does a fantastic job pulling double duty.

At this point, I was moving between those sitting in the first row but I didn’t feel too guilty as everyone was dancing so I wasn’t interfering. I sang along to final track of my shoot “Crystal” then made my way back to my seat as the band went into more New Order hits such as “Temptation” and “The Perfect Kiss.” I admired how El Ten Eleven was invited on stage to help with Sumner’s vocals as everything sounded so genuine, and how could you expect any less from Hooky?

Peter Hook and The Light performing at the Ace Hotel, LA by Jacob Alvarez

The New Order set concluded and the band took a brief intermission before diving into both Joy Division records. Once Hooky and co. came back to the stage, he spoke of the world mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II and how he feels odd not being in England at this point in time. With that in mind and the fact that he was here to celebrate his friend and bandmate Ian Curtis’s life, he decided to play Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” to start the Unknown Pleasures set. It’s usually featured in the encore, but it was a touching moment that hit home for many. From then on I was back in high school, hearing “Disorder” and “New Dawn Fades.” One of my favorites, “Candidate” sounded near perfect with Hooky delivering the same dark tones and mystery that conflict with the lyrics in the best way possible. There’s so much going on in that song: “I worked hard for this, I tried to get to you. You treat me like this.” Truly beautiful.

The band continued into the last Joy Division album, Closer in its entirety which kicks off with back to back heavy hitters “Atrocity Exhibition” and “Isolation.” The latter brought me back to one of my favorite music biopics directed by Joy Division photographer Anton Corbijn, Control. With that in mind, I used some of his photos as inspiration of what I wanted to capture. The darkness, the shadows, the isolation yet warmth and of course, the blankness of eyes starring out to the crowd. The last song off the album is something I cannot even begin to think of how it came to be. “Decades” is more like three songs combined, beginning very startlingly as it diminishes with ease before exploding into madness. It’s one my dad and I have tried to think about for years, and the band played it to the highest capacity.

An encore was delivered with Hook thanking everyone for coming out. Mostly consisting of Joy Division hits “Digital” and “Transmission,” the band did play everyone’s favorite wedding track and one I clearly remember having on repeat in high school, “Ceremony.” It always makes me tear up since my brain tethers it to memories of my late mother. It was a beautiful performance that was followed by “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” The night acted as a method of therapy that expanded the positive thoughts in myself while silencing the more aggressive ones. In honor of my mom, I was happy to get so close to a piece of her favorite artists. Check out the set list here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!