As a member of Joy Division and New Order – two of the most important bands in British rock history- Peter Hook has been the purveyor of one of the most unique bass sounds and playing styles for the past twenty years.
So respect to the bear-sized man hunched nonchalantly over his instrument tonight, his knuckles typically nearly scraping the floor as he plucks out those melodic, melancholy, so familiar basslines.
But as the Peter Hook Appreciation Society gather at the foot of stage in their New Order T-shirts and take photos, spare a thought for David Potts, singer/guitarist and the other half of the Monaco songwriting partnership.
This is the man who, rumour has it, was offered a place in Oasis when Bonehead left. A fine singer in the Bernard Sumner tradition, his contribution to Monaco is somewhat overshadowed by the man with the silver cropped hair and the history. Not that he seems to mind tonight. He seems used to seeing his mate bathed in the limelight.
Monaco -though often dismissed as New Order-lite, or something to keep Hooky amused in between his proper band's albums- have a fine line in driving, sunny pop songs. And while they'll never achieve success of New Orderly proportions, there's enough here to keep the discerning pop fan amused.
The sound is a little fuzzy and the band's performance is jaggedly shambolic, losing the subtleties of good production as they dip into new album 'Monaco' and 1997's 'Music For Pleasure'. And every now and then you get the feeling that motions are defintely being gone through.
Whether he's had a bit too much to drink or whether he always sings like that, Hooky's voice is a gruff, tuneless mumble when he takes over the microphone for the like of 'What Do You Want From Me' an otherwise fine song. But when Pottsy takes charge of the vocals, things sound more like they should. The beautiful 'Shine', 'A Life Apart' and 'I've Got A Feeling' are all highlights tonight.
Ultimately though, no matter how good the gig, you get the feeling that a collective curiosity has been satisfied tonight. People came to see that bloke out of New Order up close and personal. Wonder if they noticed the other geezer too.
