AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE QUITE LIKE YOU BEFORE

It's the morning after. I'm still buzzing.

It wouldn't be right to say it was the best ever concert I've ever been to. It might not even have been the best New Order concert I've ever been to. But it was maybe the best opening and closing of a gig that I can recall since Morrissey & Marr were in their prime.

On arrival at the Carling Academy in Glasgow, we were greeted with information that the concert was being filmed. That alone gave me hope that the boys (I can call them that now that Phil has replaced Gillian - but it still seems strange) would be on top form.

At 9pm they took to the stage. Opening 3 songs?? True Faith, Regret and Ceremony. That's right - Ceremony. I swear that Micky who was with us had tears in his eyes.

OK, it didn't quite stay at the level of magnificence. But they threw in Joy Division's 'These Days' as an early and even more unexpected treat.

One sad thing was that Hooky, early on done his back in - probably during 'Regret' as he threw his shapes. He was shouting for a 'fucking chiropractor' not long after, and was quite clearly in agony. Like a true pro, he played on....but he was a bit statuesque. Maybe the fact he is 96 years of age has finally caught up on him.

Barney and Steven were in tremendous form. It wasn't long before we got the Barney-Dance, which was particularly special during 'Bizarre Love Triangle'.

The most magical moment was the opening notes of 'Temptation.' This, quite simply, is the song I have always referred to as the best of all time. It was also the point when the younger members of the audience (ie the 18-25 year olds - and there were more there than I imagined there would be) thought they were back at Nedstock (the short name for 'T' In The Park). I blame the Trainspotting soundtrack myself....

But ignoring the sudden upsurge in lager being thrown over the audience and the dozen guys in front of us forming a huddle for a 'dance', I closed my eyes and was taken back to the days when I was four stone lighter and didn't rely on Red Bull to stay on the dancefloor all night.

What followed was just astonishing. The cheers had barely started when the band kicked into 'The Perfect Kiss'....which went straight into 'Blue Monday.' It was, as my American friends might say, awesome.

That was the end of the main part of the gig. 5 minutes later they came back on....and Hooky had obviously been given something which helped him. He was straight up to the front of the stage and he hit the bass notes for 'Transmission' He stopped and hit the bass notes for 'Shadowplay.' He stopped again. He smiled. Barney asked the audience to shout for which of the two they wanted. I would have taken either......

And so we had an encore of Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart. And at 10.45, New Order left the stage. And I walked the near 3 miles home with Rachel, a sweaty but very happy man.

There's really only one song that can get posted today. In all its original glory.

Temptation - New Order (mp3)*

*song no longer available to download

And here's a rare version. Back in 1984, the band were part of a 24-hour long music day on BBC TV and Radio. They played a short set live in a BBC Studio that went out simultaneously on Radio 1 and BBC 2. The performance was a bit patchy - you only need to hear the bum notes on 'Age of Consent' to realise that. But by the end of the 30 minutes, they were fully in their stride..

Temptation (BBC) - New Order mp3 *

*song no longer available to download


Today's cover??? Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. All the way from Cleveland, Ohio in the U S of A. I give you....

Temptation - Cobra Verde mp3 *

*song no longer available to download


Read more about, and buy things by, today's guest artist right here

I better get off to work now.