It's hard not to talk politics when New Order are involved – and when your better half has followed them since year dot, writes Linzi Nicholson.

The fall out between Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook is well documented with Hooky forming The Light about five years ago, initially to perform Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album live at the Factory club in Manchester (we were there back in May 2010 and later saw their performance of Closer at The Lowry), while Bernard reunited with Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert to take New Order across the globe (we’ve seen them too a few years back in Manchester and last summer at Jodrell Bank.)

Like having two young children – what you do for one, I felt compelled to do for the other.

Since then Hooky has opened up New Order’s back catalogue (whether you like it or not) taking it on tour with The Light. And, on their second visit to the Picturedrome – fast becoming the venue of choice of leading artists – a packed crowd lapped up the albums Movement and Power, Corruption and Lies.

As is the norm, The Light supported themselves with a Joy Division set – Atmosphere, Heart and Soul, She’s Lost Control and Shadowplay never failing to send a tingle down the spine.

Hooky pulls the vocals off, roaring magnificently during this serious no-nonsense rout.

His T-shirt is thrown into the crowd and while the band nip off-stage and Hooky possibly tightens his belt buckle a couple of notches to raise his vocal pitch – it’s a quick return to power through both New Order albums, played mainly in track order with special extras thrown in – and the packed Picturedrome crowd absolutely loved it.

Hooky and The Light still have massive pulling power of Joy Division and New Order fans and the gig is a great lesson in the musical evolution from one band into the other. The Light still have that irresistible pulling power to hear New Order songs live.

Vocally, Hooky’s more accomplished with Movement’s Truth, ICB and The Him but, from a personal note, when he picked up the melodica and sang on Your Silent Face – he didn’t quite cut it for me. That song really does belong to Bernard.

One thing that is constant though is Hooky’s energetic, driving bass, a weapon that he still plays in an unfeasably low-slung pose, which is both exhilarating and downright dirty.

It’s some 30 years since Power Corruption and Lies was first released and, when a crew member with more than 30 years’ association with Hooky bounded on stage to accept a quick blast of ‘Happy Birthday’ the top guy stayed on to take on the rapping role in the topical World In Motion, before the gig was wrapped up with Temptation and a mass singalong to Blue Monday.

Hooky, well aware of the Tour de France’s forthcoming presence in Holmfirth and never one to shy away from a quick quip departed stage left, with the immortal line: “My tenner’s on Wiggins!” ... No wonder he’s had money trouble in the past!

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