Manchester was mentioned a few times during the balmy night at Sydney Harbours edge. Although a lot of the audience were probably well briefed on the cross- fertilising art, music, and club scene of the northern English town in the 80s, even if they or their kids had never heard of the Hacienda, it wouldn’t have mattered too much. New Order’s music has never lost its edge, and it’s myriad remixes and continued place as a cultural touchstone, mean that everyone knows the heart- thumping classics, and is more than happy to get into the groove of the new stuff.
In 2023 the fashion label Chanel chose Manchester for its multi- million dollar Métiers d’Art show, and described Manchester as “changing the history of music.” New Order’s Bizarre Love Triangle was central to all the imagery that came out of that show, and was used to close it out, with Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris watching on from the front row. Another generation of social media attuned youth had New Order’s tracks layed down in their consciousness, even if they didn’t know it.
The night opened with the Joy Division hit, Transmission, and the captivating visuals that would carry on throughout the night. The crowd were more than happy to hear this and other hits from the band out of which New Order was formed, and many concert goers were proudly wearing their, some original, Joy Division T-shirts. Ian Curtis, the frontman of Joy Division whose passing led to the formation of New Order, was also present in the backdrop, coming up in montage clips, and even a close- up of his eyes, an emotional connection for the band back to their roots.
State of the Nation was introduced by Bernard Summer as being more relevant in these times than he would have liked, and the crowd lapped it up.
Some newer tracks followed before they brought out the big guns. In interviews before their last tour in Australia in 2016, the band had stated that requests for their game-changing 1983 best-selling 12-inch single of all time Blue Monday would be ignored. By all accounts, it still crept on to some set lists then, and thank goodness they were happy to include it at the Opera House this time round. Played alongside the timeless might of Bizarre Love Triangle, True Faith and Temptation it was like being inside one of their early years synthesisers, completely surrounded by the electronic genius of the songs that nobody can stand still to.
They closed out the night as they started, with Joy Division and the classic, Love Will Tear Us Apart, anthemically bringing the whole forecourt together in one last full moon chorus of song.
New Order have influenced everyone from The Smiths and The Cure and The Happy Mondays, to CHVRCHES and LCD Soundsystem. Unlike some legacy acts that seem to only cater to the audience that knows them from the first time round, New Order’s music continues to captivate across the generations. No doubt because it’s great. We’ll continue to hear their sounds in fashion and art and samples, and wherever someone needs a track with a guaranteed heart connection, but if you can see them live, don’t be tempted to pass up the chance.
New Order
Sydney Opera House
14th March 2025
