Photos provided by The Pabst Theatre Milwaukee

Innovative and distinctive bassist Peter Hook had the fortune of not only founding seminal gothic rockers Joy Division, but also having lightning strike a second time after that act’s unfortunate demise with electronic/new wave trendsetters New Order.

The English musician may no longer be in the latter either, but is nonetheless paying tribute to both bands while fronting The Light on an extensive American tour that stopped by the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee after selling out two nights at Chicago’s Metro.

Considering he swaps out several selections at the start and encore of each evening meant there were probably more than a few repeat attendees across all three nights, and those who came out to Brew City were treated to a few New Order obscurities, including “Leave Me Alone” and “Dreams Never End.”

The group’s influence of practically every subsequent act with a synthesizer was especially apparent come “Blue Monday” to close out the all too short but sweet opening set, plus there was certainly no shortage of fans dancing in front of their seats.

Yet there was a ton more to come, dating back to 1979’s “Unknown Pleasures” performed in its entirety, which was of course the Joy Division project responsible for such underground game-changers as “She’s Lost Control” and “Shadowplay.”

It was followed up with all of 1980’s “Closer,” the premature finale of the group’s career given front man Ian Curtis’ suicide, though everything from “Isolation” to “Heart And Soul” continue to burn bright in his memory.

All the while, Hook didn’t try to mimic the “Love Will Tear Us Apart” front man or New Order singer Bernard Sumner, but rather, projected his own darker rock vocal delivery that was admittedly less familiar and iconic than the original recordings, but nonetheless did the trick and can be heard on “Joy Division: A Celebration,” out August 26, recorded during an earlier date at the O2 Apollo Manchester.

However, getting to hear Hook’s signature basslines in person was more than worth the price of admission, as was the extremely generous performance that filled the void of Joy Division no longer existing and supplementing the splintered New Order in the meantime.

For additional information on Peter Hook & The Light, visit PeterHookAndTheLight.Live.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Pabst Theater include Joe Pera (Aug. 24); The Wallflowers (Aug. 25); Fresh Coast Jazz Festival (Aug. 26-27); Neko Case (Sept. 2); Darci Lynne (Sept. 9) Small Town Murder (Sept. 10); Javed Ali (Sept. 11); Gavin DeGraw (Sept. 12); Ninja Sex Party (Sept. 13); Kurtis Conner (Sept. 17); Sibling Rivalry (Sept. 19); Arlo Parks (Sept. 21) and Lucinda Williams (Sept. 25). For additional details, visit PabstTheaterGroup.com.

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