Ladies - Gentlemen It's The Hives Live at Rock City

30 March 2024 rocknews

Punk-rock legends, The Hives, make Good Friday even better as they take to the stage of Nottingham’s famous Rock City. In a blaze of black-and-white swagger frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist is behind the controls of this musical rocket ship that is about to blast off!

Bad Nerves

At precisely 7.30pm Bad Nerves storm the Rock City stage, leaving an indelible mark on the audience. Their punk-infused energy zaps electricity through the venue, and the large crowd in front of the stage are swept up in their frenzy of raw sound and unapologetic attitude. With a nod to vintage punk with a modern edge, Bad Nerves deliver a visceral experience that left fans exhilarated and craving for more. The music stood tall without frills, and the band’s infectious presence reverbs through the crowd. You could be mistaken, judging by the crowd’s enthusiasm, that Bad Nerves are the main act tonight with their impressive explosive performance. Bad Nerves are a great live band, and their punk-rock adrenaline rush will resonate long after the final chords fade away. Can’t wait to see you guys’ next time you are in town.

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The Hives

8.30pm sees the Headlining Act The Hives Descend upon Rock City like a tempest, leaving the sell-out crowd in a state of euphoric frenzy. Their punk-rock performance, a testament to their enduring legacy reflected in the vast age range of the fans in the venue.

From the moment the lights dimmed, The Hives seized the stage with unbridled energy. To the rear of the stage the band have brought their Hollywood glamour as the now illuminated 3d “Hives” sign, with 15 feet high letters, glowed white. Frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist announced the band were starting the show at 110% and increasing! (turning up to eleven on an amp is not enough for the Swedish rockers). Pelle was a force of nature, clad in his signature black-and-white suit, commanding attention with every swagger. The band launched into their setlist, a sonic assault that blurred the lines between punk, garage rock, and pure adrenaline.

The bands initial onslaught came in the guise of the fantastic “Bogus Operandi”, “Main Offender” and “Take Back The Toys”. Pelle upends his monitor which he stands on to conduct the audience’s participation. Behind Pelle are guitarists Nicholaus Arson, Vigilante Carlstroem and The Johan And Only. All three contribute a solid performance, wielding their instruments and producing a sound that hits you like a sledgehammer from the speakers. This gig is loud! To the very rear of the stage is Chris Dangerous who isn’t missing out on the party beating his drums to an inch of their lives!

By “Good Samaritan” the band had reached a performance rating of 157% and rising. Pelle called out to the Nottingham crowd asking if they were enjoying themselves. The crowd shouts back in agreement. Pelle asks again to which the fans shout even louder. “Ask the question twice and you answer louder the second time!” Pelle says. He then jokingly asks “Do you think I’m deaf because I’ve been playing in the band for thirty years?” and with his dry humour adds “I started when I was one!”

“Hate to Say I Told You So” ignited the room, its infectious riff inciting a collective headbang. The crowd, a sea of sweaty bodies, sang along with fervour. The Hives didn’t just play their songs; they lived them. Theatricality was their weapon. Nicholaus Arson, guitar slung low, pulls faces as he poses for photos, before stepping off the stage on to the crowd rail and defies gravity by laying back with only the hands of those on the front row supporting him.

The setlist, which according to Pelle, was the second longest The Hives have ever played was a rollercoaster of hits dating back to the early 2000’s to the brilliant latest offerings from the album “The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons”. As they reached the end of the regular set, Pelle triumphally announced, the band along with the support of the “Ladies………Gentlemen……. and everyone else” in Rock City that The Hives have achieved peak rock ‘n’ roll performance and made it to 200%. Cheers rang out as the stage show climatically ended and the lights went out.

A brief pause before chants of “One More Song” came from the crowd. In front of the huge Hives sign, which is now lit red, the band members return to the stage for their encore. Consisting of three songs, “Come On”, “Smoke And Mirrors” and before the very last song, the explosive “Tick Tick Boom” Pelle informed the crowd that the band had reached a record high of 208%. “If we reach 210% a chasm will appear beneath Nottingham and suck it into the swamp” he said. Comparing the scenario to splitting the atom he shouts “let’s do it anyway! Let’s do it twice”. With the audience hyped up to the stratosphere, everyone bounced, screamed, head banged to the final song of the night in an amazing spectacle! This is addictive showmanship the frontman of The Hives, Pelle, brings to the stage!

The Hives electrifying performance at Rock City was nothing short of legendary. Frontman Howlin’ Pelle commanded the stage with his signature swagger from the start, and the crowd responded with unbridled enthusiasm cumulating in a solid, if not potentially universe breaking, 210% show. For those who attended it was a night not to be forgotten. For those reading this and didn’t make it, get yourself a ticket for The Hives next show it’s going to be out of this world!

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