Manchester. So much to answer for.

Ok, it's 5am. I haven't slept. I've been in two minutes. This is what we missed... Barney is as pissed as a fart. He stumbles on stage "It's New Years Eve" he says with a straight face, and his performance doesn't get much better.

Inside the converted Hockey Arena - jammed to the rafters for New Order and two-thirds full for Underworld, it's the friendliest crowd I've ever seen. All gurning barney alikes and disco gurls out to celebrate the fact it's a fucking freezing tuesday night. "Regret" powers its way into your heart, "Touched" bounces like a bouncing bomb, and the rest of the set is a wonderful blur. "Isolation" is as godlike as any other performance this year, and "Ceremony" reminds me exactly why your life can be changed by a mere pop group. When 8000 people erupt "oh I'll break them all no mercy shown, heaven knows it's got to be this time!"

"We've never played this before it's called Guilty Partner" Barney drunkenly slurs. And New Order play it beautifully. For about ten seconds. Barney fluffs his vocal intro, Stephen misses a beat and before the first verse is over the song has ground to a halt. Sharp glances are exchanged, Gillan giggles behind her guitar, and Barney tactfully announces "It's all part of our charm." Three minutes and no major mistakes later New Order breathe a silent sigh of relief.

"Atmosphere" is as beautiful as sunset. "Heart and Soul" is powered by Morris' wonderful gurning drum style and Barney half-heartedly playing guitar. Make no mistake, Mr Sumner is as pissed as a fart. It's great.

"Paradise" steamrollers through the crowd, as does the ever immaculate, sleek 12" mix of "Bizarre Love Triangle", aided by Barney's drunken dancing - arms out, lips gurning, in the manner you'd imagine a teddy bear would dance at a childrens party.

"True Faith" 98 is the song of the night, apart from Barney missing the odd line even with his autocue. It's amazing.

"We figure you need a break. We're off for some refreshments. Class A's of course. Or a sandwich." Temptation is too short..

One Sandwich later and Barney and the boys are back. "This is our new Jazz direction" he playfully teases as "Love Will Tear Us Apart" begins. And then "Fine Time", immaculately rejigged by Stephen Morris, turns the entire Hockey Arena into the 1988 Hacienda for ooh 4 minutes. It's fucking great. Finally, "Blue Monday" weaves into view. It's brilliant and crap at the same time. Barney keeps asking "how does it feel?" long before the vocals are meant to start, Hooky pounds the shit out of his synth pad before snagging his bass string against it, snapping it and ends up playing the sticks over his now useless bass. Throwing curt glances at a shitfaced oblivious Barney and a knowing look at Gillian, he bears the song out by dancing at the side of the stage with the Baby Hooky's who have been jigging throughout the set whilst dad was at work. About halfway through a brand new second bass line also overtakes the song that makes it sound twice as large. It sounds great and crap at once. Third best gig of the year, behind the Apollo and Reading.

Underworld play excellently. Masters of their trade, the trio tease the crowd and despite playing a set of almost entirely new material the crowd really do go for it. Surrounded by projections of Tomato graphics - - brilliant and obscure at the same time - Karl Darren and Rick looked like Kraftwerk fronted by Mr.C and the telepathic comunication on stage was incredible. Little glances and looks at each other show just how tight they are. Best live dance act I've certainly seen bar Kraftwerk.

 Unfortunately I had to leave after Born Slippy-nuxx due my lift having work in the morning, but watch New Years Eve's sold out show. It will be phoenomenal. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.

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