Getting away with it

I imagine Singularity gives it a run for the money, and it hasn't appeared. It really should be the go-to track to represent Music Complete. Restless and especially Academic are pretty good live, but can't match its power.

Superheated was a welcome addition for me in San Francisco, but only selfishly as I don't think I've been at a gig where it had been played. Plastic has lost its allure for me. The acapella outro is never a highlight. The only other MC songs that they've ever performed are Tutti Frutti and People on the High Line [not on this tour], but Elly's canned vocals always made me uncomfortable. I would have welcomed Nothing but a Fool and Unlearn this Hatred, but I think that ship has sailed.

OCT 16 2022 at Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada


Setlist.fm

As it is When it Was performed for the first time since 1993.

Final tally of Unity Tour song pool is 25:


1963
Academic
Age of Consent
As it is When it Was
Atmosphere
Be a Rebel
Bizarre Love Triangle
Blue Monday
California Dreamin'
Ceremony
Decades
Guilt is a Useless Emotion
Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Perfect Kiss
Plastic
Regret
Restless
Sub-Culture
Superheated
Temptation
Transmission
True Faith
Tutti Frutti
Vanishing Point
Your Silent Face

Really good to see that one back - another one that always felt like a "Hooky number", so a big surprise

That said, it sounded like the bass was not quite ahem, shall we say played according to the record, and that ending sounded suspiciously like a mistake/collapse rather than a new arrangement

Almost like old New Order are back!

I was a bit confused at first as I was going to post the setlist on here before going to sleep (I'm in California). There was a longer than normal wait for someone to put it on Setlist.fm so I checked Twitter. The first thing I saw was someone posting about the show but including a photo of the Toronto setlist instead. It wasn't until I saw John's post of Norbert's video that things became clear. A great way to end the tour.

I know what you mean. It's arguably the most surprising track to have been played during the tour. Then again, that might be the reason. Would there be so much discussion if the final night reveal was Guilt... or Superheated?

I want to believe it's a combination of doing something for the hardcore (I imagine a large portion of the crowd were unfamilar with it) and the band keeping things interesting for themselves.

It certainly gives me hope for future gigs.

I don't get the Crystal thing at all - it's not like they haven't played it many times as a 5-piece already. It was never in the setlist for the US gigs though.

Same way as I just don't get them playing Guilt quite so often but they clearly like playing it (although, in Philadelphia Barney joked only 2 people in the audience even knew the track!)

Fair play for giving AIIWIW an airing (I don't believe PSB played any obscure(ish) album tracks in their sets?) and I guess it makes it even more special just playing it the once!

There was a couple more tracks lined up as part of the US setlist which went unplayed but nothing to get excited about.

They've had a busy few years and deserve a well earned rest now. Hopefully a few UK mega-gigs next year to keep the fans happy before they ease into retirement.

Edited by user 18 October 2022 07:45:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Exactly. But you never know, they might polish up another 35 year old song for when they next play live. Or perhaps remix Be A Rebel again. Blue Monday's 40th anniversary is coming up if they haven't thought of that one yet. Maybe some Spezial BM trainers.

Another video of As It Is When It Was in Vancouver has turned up

From nearer the stage, so you can really see what a cods they make of it. The intro is a shambles, Tom plays the bass part completely wrong on every chorus and Steve finishes 4 bars too early

Welcome back old New Order!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Co80Ht_vs

I got back from seeing them in LA last Friday then went away for a few days so am only putting my thoughts into writing now. I was at the second Hollywood Bowl show, the choice of songs in the main set was OK but there were no proper surprises for anyone who has seen NO more than a couple of times (apart from that dreadful version of California Dreaming at the end ): I was kind of disappointed to read about the shows they played after and hearing that stuff like As It Is When It Was is getting played but I've seen them play stuff like Fine Time and World in the last couple of years so I was happy enough with what we got.

Main thoughts were how into it the band seemed to be, Bernard was really getting into it, bantering with the people down the front (I was in the eighth row and wasn't tempted to go right down the front) and starting singsongs: last time I saw them was the O2 show last year and they seemed to be going through the motions, it cheered me up to see they were enjoying themselves and making a proper effort: first class sound in an outdoor venue this size as well, its probably because the Bowl has not got proper neighbours to complain about the noise but it was properly loud (without going in a MBV/Mogwai level of volume) and sounded clear. While the beers were expensive, I thought it was a top notch venue (they need to sort out the signs once you're in though) and unlike places like Wembley Arena its not in the arse end of nowhere, I was staying about a ten minute walk from there.

It was a once in a lifetime type of show, I've now seen them in LA, NYC, Miami, Paris and pretty much all the decent sized London venues and to be honest I don't know where else that they haven't played at that I would bother going to see them but hopefully it won't be too long until we get more shows in the UK.

Saw that. They left out Tutti Frutti.