New Order performs at Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on Sept. 30, 2022.
It was a breezy, chilly night in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 30, but the dipping temperature wasn’t a problem for those at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island as New Order and the Pet Shop Boys provided the fuel for a fire that had everyone dancing all night long.
The co-headlining outing features each band playing 90-minute sets, alternating who closes each night. In Chicago, it was New Order – Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitar, keys), Stephen Morris (drums), Gillian Gilbert (keys), Phil Cunningham (guitar) and Tom Chapman (bass) – who had the honor of the final performance of the evening and they delivered a show full of their biggest hits.
Before kicking things off with “Regret,” Sumner joked about Chicago’s infamous nickname.
“We know why they call it the Windy City now,” he said, later adding, “Let’s have some fun.”
Everything about the night’s rendition of “Age of Consent” was iconic. The layering of synths, strings and rhythms satisfied the soul while Sumner sang lines that seemed to have been embedded in the collective consciousness of the crowd. Even the lake breeze complimented the performance. “Ceremony,” “The Perfect Kiss,” “Bizarre Love Triangle” and so many more songs continued to up the momentum of the experience.
Pet Shop Boys perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on Sept. 30, 2022.
“On keyboards from Blackpool, Lancashire, the one and only, Chris Lowe. My name is Neil Tennant. Chicago, we are the Pet Shop Boys. We’d like to thank you for being a fabulous audience tonight,” said Tennant midway through “Being Boring” after introducing touring musicians Simon Tellier (percussion, keys), Clare Uchima (keys, vocals) and Afrika Green (percussion, vocals). Although the legendary synth-pop duo really needed no introduction.
“Domino Dancing,” “Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)” – with Tennant giving some serious Gene Kelly vibes in a shimmering trench coat, singing while hanging on a streetlight – and “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” all made standing still impossible, but the biggest dance party came during the irresistible “It’s a Sin.”
“It’s Alright,” originally performed by Chicago House pioneers Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge, was dedicated to all the “old-school ravers” in the crowd and “West End Girls” let to a venue-wide sing-along.
The good vibes continued to flow between sets as Paul Oakenfold was on-hand keeping the energy up with his take on songs from the Eurythmics, Fatboy Slim and The Prodigy among others.
The Unity Tour is the must-see event of the fall. Click here to pick-up tickets to upcoming performances and check out photos from the Chicago stop below. More information about upcoming shows at the Huntington Bank Pavilion can be found at Livenation.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
