Peter Hook and The Light at The Troxy, Limehouse, London (18.4.2025).
The Troxy is just a little off the usually beaten track for many London visitors – come out on the DLR or as we did, by bus (115 out along the Commercial Road).
A fabulous history since it was built in 1933, then the largest cinema in England – outlined here on the enlightening history pages of the Troxy website. It’s amazing it survived the blitz – its local customers’ houses blown to pieces. Never quite in the mainstream since its cinema and bingo hall years, it was used as a training venue for The Royal Opera House for a while and re-emerged as a venue in 2006. Capacity 3100, today found with downstairs standing and the seated balcony.
Only my second visit, the last time being upstairs for Siouxsie Sioux (clip from balcony on my YouTube channel).
A few good pubs about and with a gig on its always going to be hard to get in and get served. Me and my old Coventry mates managed to get a seat early in the Craft Beer Company pub just east of the venue.
There are a few good little boozers on square green just a few hundred yards north of there – The Queens and The Old Ship. I had a couple in The Old Ship with mate Chris earlier on – that’s the gay pub, I now know. It’s The Queens I went in last time. Both worth a try, with drag acts an occasional feature of The Old Ship if that’s your thing.
Inside The Troxy it feels huge and looks beautiful. No support tonight. It’s two sets from Peter Hook and friends. First the New Order album Get Ready – 2001. I admire the way Hooky works through different albums but this 2001 LP is one I am least familiar with. The second set is more a greatest hits collection from the New Order and Joy Division years.
We stand at the back of the lower standing area and the sound is good and view fine. There is even a long bench seat at the back of that lower area, if a grey-haired gig goer needs a rest, divided by an available barrier leaning spot, in front of the mixing desk.
Peter Hook shares the load on bass with his son, Jack Bates, and a third man on bass at times. The singing is also shared around and I honestly have no idea who anyone else in ‘The Light’ is or if the arrangements are a constant.
Personally, I prefer Hooky doing Joy Division numbers, especially Shadowplay and Transmission as a for instance. These play to the strength of the bass.
I don’t know what I can add to what everyone already knows about Joy Division or New Order. Such an important backdrop to my growing up, in the loosest sense. Indeed, what can Peter Hook add to it. I love hearing the songs I know live, but it is hard to put my finger on anything beyond the nostalgia trip, good though it is. Sometimes that’s enough eh?
She’s Lost Control is another Joy Division track that Hooky delivers so well – the vocals in a real Ian Curtis disturbed style.
So a short blog and more of a picture gallery for this one. Peter Hook is continuing with an autumn tour featuring the Get Ready album, just announced. I have built a little on my knowledge of that one but I will likely wait and see what album is toured after that.
The setlist comes from my mate bumping into someone on the way back with one. No encores or deviation. A strong string of New Order songs to finish. Blue Monday. A wonderful track. A dancing live track.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is an unavoidable finish these days…. “let’s dance to Joy Division” eh, the irony of which was observed and highlighted by that Wombats’ single.
Gigs with Ivan 