Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The second it went on sale in 2020, the “Unity” Tour sold out thanks to the unbeatable combination of the Pet Shop Boys and New Order, two of England’s finest exports who not only dominated the 1980s, but continue to set the bar for electronic artists everywhere.

Of course, the pandemic prevented it from happening then and the following year as well, but the delay only drove up demand for tickets on the secondary market and built that much more anticipation for its eventual arrival in Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island.

The co-headliners are alternating slots every show, and in this particular instance, the Pet Shop Boys got the party started with a ride to “Suburbia,” then pondered “Can You Forgive Her?” as a constant stream of strobe lights further illuminated the Chicago skyline.

Co-founding singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe maintained their innovative blend of new wave, synth pop, disco and house with the outstanding “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money),” a danceable mash-up of U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name and Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” along with the mid-tempo reflection “Rent.”

The guys and their gradually revealed band still had their finger on the pulse of programming come the current “Dreamland,” really raved it up during “It’s Alright,” throbbed through “It’s A Sin” and brought it back to the beginning of being introduced in America for “West End Girls.”

It would’ve easily constituted a complete concert, but alas, New Order was next with another 90-minutes of alternative pop, rock and electronica that rose from the ashes of seminal post-punk band Joy Division (revisited at the very end via the brooding “Love Will Tear Us Apart”).

Though his vocals appeared to be affected by the increasing wind and cold, otherwise sturdy guitarist Bernard Sumner lead the mostly complete group (aside from estranged bassist Peter Hook) through “Regret,” “Age Of Consent,” “Ceremony” and “Your Silent Face,” while smoke swirled and the figurative dance floor continued to fill.

The grooves kept building with the giant “Bizarre Love Triangle” and the relatively recent “Plastic,” both of which found the players locking firmly into beats, though “True Faith,” “Blue Monday” and “Temptation” were even more transfixing, likely satisfying fans of each act on a truly definitive double bill.

For additional information on Pet Shop Boys and New Order, visit PetShopBoys.co.uk and NewOrder.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island include The Head And The Heart (Oct. 1). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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