NEW ORDER: SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE

Review: Greg Phillips. Photos: Jason Rosewarne.

There really isn’t anything better than attending a concert at Melbourne’s outdoor amphitheatre, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on a warm, tranquil night. It’s especially the case when it’s to see Mancunian dance rock champions New Order, who had unfinished business to deal with here in our fair city. The band had played a fabulous gig here at the Bowl in 2021 and were due to play again at The Forum, only for the world to lockdown due to the covid pandemic. This scribe was left holding a ticket stub for that very gig and I’ve been waiting for their return ever since.

An array of DJ’s pumped out music incessantly prior to the main act tonight, which depending on your bent was either a blessing or a curse. The final deckmeister played without respite right up until the main act was due on stage.

Vision of divers in slow motion, backed by the soundtrack of Wagner’s Das Rheingold signalled the beginning of the show, as the band strolled onto to stage and launched into Joy Division’s Transmission. Ironic really considering the sound being transmitted out into the audience was atrocious. The crackling speakers which we had to endure for the first few songs seemed like they were on the verge of exploding and frontman Bernard Sumner barely had a level on his vocal mic. Whether the band knew what the audience was hearing or not, I’m not sure. The crowd in response booed and many signalled crossed arms above their heads to cut the show and fix the problem. They wanted those great songs (Crystal, Ceremony and Age of Consent) back again, they wanted what they paid good money for. An international gig of this scale that is afforded ample soundcheck time, needs to do better. The warm up DJ’s sound was perfect, so why not the band? It was a vibe killer of the highest order.

Historically the band has had to overcome adversity and are no strangers to obstacles. Tonight they fought hard to resurrect a gig which in its early stages seemed doomed. Luckily for the band, the crowd was juiced up and ready to dance and waiting on the first signs of quality audio to latch onto and get back into the spirit of the evening. By song five, Isolation, another Joy Division track, the sound guys had resolved the issues and we were back in the game.

By now aware of the problems, Sumner began to goad and rouse the crowd, urging them to raise their hands and clap, which they did instantly. The band dug in their heels, gave their all and were emerging out of the murky sonic mist triumphantly. Love Less from the band’s Technique album brought smiles to the faces of longtime fans, this was apparently the first time the band had played the song since 1989. In another treat, they dug out Player In the League, a b-side from 2002 which was being performed live for just the second time ever. Perth got the debut!

As the sound was further tweaked, the musical nuances came to the fore and the lighting and visual production became more elaborate. The euphoria in the crowd was rising immeasurably. There was now separation between Phil Cunningham’s guitar and Tom Chapman’s bass and we could fully appreciate Gillian Gilbert’s iconic keyboard lines. Of course, nobody was working harder than drummer Stephen Morris in the engine room, driving the band on to greater heights.

Be A Rebel, a newer song the band released in 2020 gave guitarists Sumner (on a cherry red Gibson SG) and Cunningham (red Gibson ES-335) a chance to duel it out, while the unabating beats of Sub-Culture from their 1985 album Low Life, ignited a singalong and upped the dance ante in the crowd. Morris then laid down a fierce solid beat, as Sumner urged the crowd to clap along while Gillian Gilbert hung on a single note, building the drama before kicking into the iconic opening lines of Bizarre Love Triangle, the song much of the crowd had come to hear. A full on dance party erupted from the front row seats way back to the outer perimeter fences. This was the communal jubilation we’d all come to experience together. Without a pause, BLT merged into 1989’s Vanishing Point, with it’s Georgio Moroder style beats and incredible laser show to match, then kicked straight into a pulsating Plastic.

As expected, two of their legendary dance hits, True Faith and then Blue Monday had us dancing manically like nobody was watching. Out of the ashes of Joy Division, forty years down the track, New Order are proving to us all to be as powerful and relevant as ever. Temptation was a perfect follow up for an audience already out of minds and now almost out of voice as we’re encouraged to sing some more.

After a quick breather off stage, they returned with a dramatic Atmosphere, reminding us all where it began, displaying the words Forever Joy Division and featuring footage of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis projected behind the band. Then slinging on a jumbo acoustic Bernard strummed the chilling opening chords of the great Love Will Tear Us Apart and we did in fact all fall apart, amid the collective grins, tears and gratitude for a band which has meant so much to so many for so long. Long may you live New Order.

SETLIST
Transmission (Joy Division)
Crystal
Ceremony
Age of Consent
Isolation (Joy Division)
Love Less
Player in the League
Your Silent Face
State of the Nation
Be a Rebel
Sub-Culture
Bizarre Love Triangle
Vanishing Point
Plastic
True Faith
Blue Monday
Temptation