Last night's gig did strange things to me. I remembered why I used to love live music and I also remember why I eventually stopped going altogether.

As soon as I walked into the Forum I was instantly transported back 25 years or so to the last time I was there for New Order's second ever London show. There is nothing like the atmosphere of a well attended London gig, and there was a genuine sense of anticipation in the air last night.

But equally, there is also nothing like queuing for an overpriced pint of lager served in a plastic glass. Or being constantly elbowed in the back by a man in a Chinese silk dress.

The band were thrilling; the setlist a mixture of the compulsory (Shot By Both Sides; A Song from Under The Floorboards) and the daringly obscure (the spoken word piece The Book delivered mid-set from a lectern, and a three quarter time medley of minor album tracks The Great Beautician in the Sky from Real Life and The Honeymoon Killers from Magic Murder and the Weather).

It made me understand the true value of nostalgia for the first time; for 90 minutes I felt fifteen years old again and it was wonderful.

The sound mix was a little disappointing. Noko's John McGeogh-alike guitar was REALLY FUCKING LOUD while Barry Adamson's liquid bass runs were reduced to a muddy rumble that swallowed much of the music's subtle complexities.

As an overall experience, it was utterly exhilerating and a little tiresome at the same time. Just as it always was and, no doubt, always will be.