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Review by special guest correspondent Angeleeta Sosnowski

We all have our musical bucket list of acts we’d love to see live. Some are simply not possible (Michael Jackson or Queen with Freddy Mercury), others we hold out hope the band can reunite despite their differences (The Smiths, Guns N Roses, Oasis). On a warm Friday evening, I was lucky enough to cross one of my bucket list bands, New Order, who chose Dallas as one of their stops on a five show tour of the United States.

As a kid growing up in the 80s, bands like New Order were the cornerstone of my musical collection. Full of thoughtful and

emotional resonant lyrics that helped my little teenage heart in rural Florida feel better. And looking at the crowd of 30 and 40 somethings on Friday, I wasn’t the only one who had worn an album or cassette tape out back in the day. Opening with the mysterious and dark “Elegia”, you knew it was to be a show of classics spanning the bands 30 plus year career. The first big crowd sing along moment happened with “Age of Consent”, the first of several songs from 1983’s Power, Corruption and Lies, followed by an almost country sounding “Love Vigilantes” from Low-Life.

The next big highlight of show came with one of New Order’s biggest US hits, “Bizarre Love Triangle” from the 1987 album Substance, the other heavily drawn from album for this show. Two songs later the other big hit from Substance (and what I was most excited to see live) “True Faith” came on and it didn’t disappoint. The final  songs of the set continued with some their most popular classics, “The Perfect Kiss”, the multigenerational hit “Blue Monday”, and closing with “Temptation”. The crowd was ecstatic with the song choices, including two 40 year old men in front of me who were jumping and signing along like it was 1987 all over again.

As a fan I was already satisfied, but when the opening strains of “Atmosphere” started for the first of their all Joy Division four song encore, I couldn’t help but get a little misty. I don’t think you can be a New Order fan without knowing the story of Joy Division and Ian Curtis’ tragic end.  ”Shadowplay” was next, followed by “Transmission”, both big sing along songs for the people in my area. It was a foregone conclusion that “Love Will Tear Us Apart” would close the show, the crowd knew it but loved it all the same. I couldn’t help but smile as I was leaving the show, blown away by the choice of encore songs.

It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a show quite as much as this one and am still smiling writing this review three days later. My teenage heart is still full of happiness I guess.