New Order & Pet Shop Boys Unity Tour

The PSBs own European tour has been postponed again, so its looking a bit iffy for this tour taking place but there is still another 8 months or so before its due to start, I don't know how America is getting on with their vaccination programme but heres hoping shows on this scale can restart in the next six months.

Ken Doherty wrote:

I don't know how America is getting on with their vaccination programme but heres hoping shows on this scale can restart in the next six months.

that would be highly optimistic. i don't see concerts(this scale) coming back for a very long time.

It always cracks me up how people get up in arms about this kind of news. Can't even have two fuckers in a bar at the same time, what were the hopes for a fucking music festival?

' Tour put back to September 2022, with the added 'bonus' of Paul Oakenfold added to the lineup. PSB Twitter

New Order and Petshop Boys have started putting up posts (nothing too exciting, just a pink screen with some applause in the background) about these shows on their Instagram and Facebook pages, so it looks like they are finally actually happening (I have a ticket for the second Hollywood Bowl show with NO opening the show which I have had since January last year, it was supposed to be taking place on my birthday last year but is now happening two weeks before it so I guess it will be the mother of all pre-partys)

Ken Doherty wrote:

New Order and Petshop Boys have started putting up posts (nothing too exciting, just a pink screen with some applause in the background) about these shows on their Instagram and Facebook pages, so it looks like they are finally actually happening (I have a ticket for the second Hollywood Bowl show with NO opening the show which I have had since January last year, it was supposed to be taking place on my birthday last year but is now happening two weeks before it so I guess it will be the mother of all pre-partys)

If it's anything like their 2017 gig there (the best I've seen from the current lineup), you will have plenty to celebrate. I also saw them there in 1993, and even though that tour was substandard, it's such a lovely venue the atmosphere is automatically elevated.

I'm actually (pun intended) a bit disappointed (again!) with how the rescheduled dates were rejigged. I'm going to the 3 shows in California and originally, the San Francisco date (with PSB headlining) fell before those at the Hollywood Bowl. I considered the Bowl dates to be the finale to the tour, but now, the S.F. one in a basketball arena seems like an anticlimax. And then they head north to Washington and British Columbia.

One other thing, it makes sense to assume the headliner is the one listed first for each gig by Ticketmaster. But I've never seen this confirmed. Once the dates were rescheduled, the shuffled order (not using "new") meant they are no longer alternating gig by gig. I wonder if this will be addressed...

New Order have put some pictures up on Instagram and Facebook (I'm guessing also on Twitter) of their rehearsals for this, featuring Steven, Bernard and Gillian (no sign of the 'other' Other Two): I suppose its because of the fact these shows have been delayed so long already and they don't want any further postponements or cancellations at the last minute but is a bit disconcerting seeing Steven and Bernard waring face masks in the pictures.

SEP 17 2022 at Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON, Canada Setlist.fm

some "slightly" different visuals and musical arrangements (from previous tours) for this show Got 1963 but no Electronic songs 16,000 sold out

Thanks to the Ticketmaster Gods for somehow upgrading my ticket at will call from 200 level seats to GA floors.

Real nice that 1963 got an airing. Have never personally seen them play either that or Age Of Consent (they always seem to play them at gigs I don't go to).

Very 'Music Complete-lite' (only Restless and Be A Rebel), which is surprising. Judging by the length of the PSBs setlist, they were the headliners of this particular evening. I expect there'll be more MC songs when New Order headline.

perspexorange wrote: Real nice that 1963 got an airing. Have never personally seen them play either that or Age Of Consent (they always seem to play them at gigs I don't go to).

Very 'Music Complete-lite' (only Restless and Be A Rebel), which is surprising. Judging by the length of the PSBs setlist, they were the headliners of this particular evening. I expect there'll be more MC songs when New Order headline.

They both got 1.5 hours...PSB songs are shorter that's why they played more i'd have thought

Must admit a bit disappointed no new songs, I thought they were working on some new stuff per Phil C. I thought as not in uk would air a new song like they did with Singularity and plastic.

lee wrote:

perspexorange wrote: Real nice that 1963 got an airing. Have never personally seen them play either that or Age Of Consent (they always seem to play them at gigs I don't go to).

Very 'Music Complete-lite' (only Restless and Be A Rebel), which is surprising. Judging by the length of the PSBs setlist, they were the headliners of this particular evening. I expect there'll be more MC songs when New Order headline.

They both got 1.5 hours...PSB songs are shorter that's why they played more i'd have thought

New Order played last.

While 1963 was somewhat unexpected, I'm more surprised they went with Restless over Singularity to represent Music Complete (Plastic was popular, but not a better song).

Of course this was only the first gig of the tour. It's certainly possible they have rehearsed 4 or 5 more tracks over and above the 14 that were played in Toronto (they played 19 at Heaton Park). The nature of this co-headlining tour will probably result in shorter, but hopefully more varied, sets from show to show.

I'm curious to see if they alter their set based on whether they're playing before or after Pet Shop Boys on a given night.

perspexorange wrote: Real nice that 1963 got an airing. Have never personally seen them play either that or Age Of Consent (they always seem to play them at gigs I don't go to).

I just checked and was convinced i had seen them play the above tracks but no my memory is clearly going.

Live in the arse end of nowhere now so would need a special trip to see them but would happily have travelled to see this tour anywhere in the uk.

Midnight Blue wrote: some "slightly" different visuals and musical arrangements (from previous tours) for this show Got 1963 but no Electronic songs 16,000 sold out

Thanks to the Ticketmaster Gods for somehow upgrading my ticket at will call from 200 level seats to GA floors.

Thanks. How were the psb? Would have been great to have had a few electronic tracks.

SEP 19 2022 at Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA, USA

Setlist.fm

Different enough from the previous gig, though the overall structure is similar. I thought perhaps the encore might change based on whether they played before PSB or not. Not the case so far.

Academic and Plastic were swapped in for Restless and 1963.

Andy wrote: SEP 19 2022 at Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA, USA

Setlist.fm

Different enough from the previous gig, though the overall structure is similar.

Academic and Plastic were swapped in for Restless and 1963.

I'm expecting that they will play the same set every night with those two placeholders in the setlist being swapped in and out for those 4 (and maybe 1 or 2 others - maybe Crystal and Krafty?)

Gillian likes to tweet pics of the rider when on tour. So far she doesn't seem impressed.

[TWITTER]1571291685291757570[/TWITTER]

[TWITTER]1571292314483687425[/TWITTER]

[TWITTER]1571945876226187265[/TWITTER]

[TWITTER]1571945939278888961[/TWITTER]

Bloody entitled freeloaders!!

They should bring packed-lunches, like the rest of us do. A Pot Noodle or something...

prog99 wrote:

Midnight Blue wrote: some "slightly" different visuals and musical arrangements (from previous tours) for this show Got 1963 but no Electronic songs 16,000 sold out

Thanks to the Ticketmaster Gods for somehow upgrading my ticket at will call from 200 level seats to GA floors.

Thanks. How were the psb? Would have been great to have had a few electronic tracks.

PSB were great too..perhaps even better! Less theatrics, dancers and staging than their own previous tours but expected due to the logistics of this tour. Futuristic and beautiful visuals.

SEP 21 2022 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA

Setlist.fm

Vanishing Point makes it's first appearance this tour but otherwise similar to the previous show (Sub-Culture was dropped) .

You can't have an either/or between Subculture and Vanishing Point. That's just wrong!

Meanwhile Gillian is happier with the rider.

[TWITTER]1572693465053515779[/TWITTER]

From what i've read PSB seem to be getting the better reaction

It would be a good idea for them to drop be a rebel,academic,restless etc and have shellshock,sub culture,vanishing point in every set

Make it a better set for casual fans as there'll be a lot who have gone to see PSB

It's not your average new order gig....treat it most like bands treat festivals and give the crowd what they want

lee wrote: From what i've read PSB seem to be getting the better reaction

It would be a good idea for them to drop be a rebel,academic,restless etc and have shellshock,sub culture,vanishing point in every set

Make it a better set for casual fans as there'll be a lot who have gone to see PSB

It's not your average new order gig....treat it most like bands treat festivals and give the crowd what they want

Setlists are always a ripe topic of conversation for fans. If there was a clear, correct way of deciding what should be played, that wouldn't be the case.

The three Pet Shop Boys shows on this tour had identical setlists. I'm happy that New Order are mixing up theirs (even just a little bit) from show to show. There's always the compromise between what the feel they have to play, want to play and what's worth putting in the effort to also rehearse and program (not forgetting the visuals) to add variety.

One development I'm happy with is that there's fewer Joy Division tracks in the set. Whether this is down to their touring partners or not remains to be seen.

Andy wrote:

lee wrote: From what i've read PSB seem to be getting the better reaction

It would be a good idea for them to drop be a rebel,academic,restless etc and have shellshock,sub culture,vanishing point in every set

Make it a better set for casual fans as there'll be a lot who have gone to see PSB

It's not your average new order gig....treat it most like bands treat festivals and give the crowd what they want

Setlists are always a ripe topic of conversation for fans. If there was a clear, correct way of deciding what should be played, that wouldn't be the case.

The three Pet Shop Boys shows on this tour had identical setlists. I'm happy that New Order are mixing up theirs (even just a little bit) from show to show. There's always the compromise between what the feel they have to play, want to play and what's worth putting in the effort to also rehearse and program (not forgetting the visuals) to add variety.

One development I'm happy with is that there's fewer Joy Division tracks in the set. Whether this is down to their touring partners or not remains to be seen.

Yeah i really do get bored when at gigs and they play JD

I keep seeing things like 'biggest cheer of the night' 'best part of the night' about pics of ian or LWTUA

It's quite odd as i go to new order gigs with my mates....we're late 40's to 50 and there isn't one of us who's a jd fan and would like them to stop playing them

It was ok for a while when they started playing them but the novelty has well and truely worn off now

lee wrote:

Yeah i really do get bored when at gigs and they play JD

I keep seeing things like 'biggest cheer of the night' 'best part of the night' about pics of ian or LWTUA

It's quite odd as i go to new order gigs with my mates....we're late 40's to 50 and there isn't one of us who's a jd fan and would like them to stop playing them

It was ok for a while when they started playing them but the novelty has well and truely worn off now

I totally agree, and I'm a massive JD fan.

It was great back in 1998 when they started routinely playing them again. However, I'm a bit sick of the band's version of LWTUA etc. these days.

Bernard has never been a particularly great vocalist (although I obviously love his vocals), but his voice is totally shot these days. It was always going to be a big ask for him to do JD songs justice back in the 80s/90s. There's zero chance of him being able to do that these days.

Besides, if I go and see New Order, that's the band I want to see. JD ended on 18/05/80 and I don't really feel that anything more needs to be said, concert-wise.

That being said, the occasional playing of Decades, NDF or Disorder would be appreciated by me. I just get really bored of the encore being the usual rolling out of Transmission, Atmosphere and LWTUA. Let the encore be a heady mix of the band's best numbers: Temptation and TPK, for instance.

Meh, given the chance and/or choice these days i'd be more interested in seeing PSB than NO. Seen NO countless times but only saw PSB once, about 15 years ago. Would be interested in seeing them again.

I don’t mind them playing JD songs (2 max) as long as it’s not LWTUA! I always leave when that plays now, good way to beat the crush.

I love JD as well but Hooky is far better doing JD than current NO. I get my fix of JD seeing the light so NO should concentrate on NO.

JD tracks I’ve enjoyed in the past NO have played

Decades Transmission These days Disorder (there best effort) Isolation

SEP 23 2022 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Setlist.fm

More changes and Unity Tour debuts (Transmission, Tutti Frutti and Guilt is a Useless Emotion. And the intro tape was Times Change instead of Das Rheingold: Vorspiel). They may not be pleasing the hardcore but I am impressed that each of the 4 nights have had (technically) unique sets from a pool of 20 songs.

1963AcademicAge of ConsentBe a RebelBizarre Love TriangleBlue MondayCeremonyGuilt is a Useless EmotionLove Will Tear Us ApartThe Perfect KissPlasticRegretRestlessSub-CultureTemptationTransmissionTrue FaithTutti FruttiVanishing PointYour Silent Face

Andy wrote: They may not be pleasing the hardcore but I am impressed that each of the 4 nights have had (technically) unique sets from a pool of 20 songs.

Yep. Credit where credit's due. Very nice that they are mixing it up. Makes it more interesting. If you're a Viking on tour with them, it must be nice to hear a bit of variety (obviously they also need to appeal to the masses who always want to hear BM etc.).