Peter Hook & the Light. Photo by Chyrisse. VNT_1925-Chyrisse Tabone — Peter Hook & the Light. Photo by Chyrisse.

By Wendy Hunter, Journalist, and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer – Rock At Night, Tampa

Live Review of Peter Hook & the Light – Get Ready 2025 Tour – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, Florida – June 11, 2025

Peter Hook of Peter Hook & the Light. Photo by Chyrisse.

The drive to the concert was tense, given it was the first hard rain of the Florida “rainy season.” If you have never experienced this kind of weather on the road, it can only be described as the inability to see more than 25 feet ahead due to driving rain and what we call “sideways rain.” The hot and humid Florida weather cleared, then with just a touch of light drizzle that greeted Rock at Night upon entering the historic Jannus Live venue. I immediately staked out a spot near the front of the crowd in this 2,000-person standing room only outdoor venue. It is such a liberating feeling at this venue with only the sky above, a small stage area, and vendors along the sides. Given all this, the mood was palpable, with a hum of excitement and chatty people of all ages milling about. All ages made my heart glad as the music was predominantly from the late ‘70s through the ‘90s. At the merch area, people were even chattier, and I found myself talking about the background of some upcoming songs and there was laughter with perfect strangers.

Some readers may wonder, “Who is Peter Hook?” Hook, bassist and lead singer, is one of the co-founders of two English bands, Joy Division and its successor, New Order. New Order was started by Joy Division members after the tragic passing of their lead singer Ian Curtis. Tunes from both those groups are on the plate for listening consumption tonight. Joy Division, formed in ’76 in England, drew influences from The Sex Pistols, Bowie, and Iggy Pop, and their music is now considered post-punk, gothic rock, and new wave genres. New Order, also deemed post-punk, was also instrumental in ushering in electro pop, proto-rave, and Madchester (think raves, remixes, and ecstasy culture). New Order’s major influence was the underground dance club scene of New York City. Members of Hook’s new band include his son, Jack Bates (bass), Paul Kehoe (drums), David Potts (guitar and co-lead vocalist), and Martin Rebelski (keyboard). The last time Peter Hook & The Light was in the Tampa Bay area was in 2018, so that seven-year wait time made tonight’s event all the sweeter, indeed.

Tunes played during the first half were from the 2001 emotionally charged New Order album Get Ready. The band let fly with the song “Crystal.” Hook’s always distinctive bass sounds flowed along with the haunting vocals about a couple’s potential breakup with lyrics like, “I don’t know what to say, you don’t care anyway…” and, “I’m a man in a rage, with a girl I betrayed…” Well, you get the picture of how this song could be sung by many over the years. And the lyrics to “Vicious Streak” detailed a love-obsessed man, “what am I going to do…” “I keep hangin’ on, I keep hangin’ on…” awaiting and hoping for his obsession to turn into reality. It’s emotional synth-pop at its finest. Next, I couldn’t help stepping out of the pack and dancing to “Someone Like You,” with its manically lovely drum pace and precise guitar work, along with two basses working to the beat. Seeing Hook and his son, Bates, facing each other while working on the bass lines was heartfelt. The vibrations from the synth and drums made me feel abuzz, and the entire venue was alive with entranced listeners, both from the sounds and the light show.

The final half included nineteen songs beginning with Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express,” and included a personal favorite of mine, “Leave Me Alone.” The lyrics describe the alienation and detachment from society in the modern world, which rings true even more today. The brilliance of Hook’s bass technique provided a clean and bright sound while Potts’ guitar hit every note to perfection. The drums and keyboard/synth were like adding delightful ingredients to a dark tune soup with “Transmission” and that wailing guitar. “Isolation” and “Interzone,” again with deep guitar/bass sounds and also a smidge of punk, were pure Joy Division provided by Hook’s band. But, the bouncier song “Digital” with a merciless drumbeat and deep and loud voices was particularly dark and minimal. The dance tune, “Blue Monday,” was popular in alternative Tampa Bay dance clubs in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and many know the tune by just hearing the first few bars of the synth kick and opening guitar. I discovered the hit finale “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” playing in those same dance clubs.

I was fortunate to be wowed by the New Order concert in ’89 in Gainesville, Florida. So seeing Hook and his group tonight was a homecoming of sorts, evoking dance music memories and dredging up thoughts of some of the best years of my life. Well done, Mr. Peter Hook & the Lights. Come back to Jannus Live anytime you can, and we’ll listen with joy and dance through the night to your music.