The Hives

Wolverhampton Civic – Saturday 30th March 2024 

Review - L A Morrall 

A packed out Civic Hall erupted as Sweden’s finest rock n’ roll band hit the stage tonight. Support band Bad Nerves had warmed up the Wolverhampton crowd with their Ramones-inspired punk rock, and despite a muddy, bass-heavy sound they got their vibe across. Then it was The Hives time to shine. 

The band opened with newbie “Bogus Operandi”, from their sixth album “The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons”- with its massive RATM-like power chords. Nicholas Arson, Vigilante Carlstrom (both guitars), and John Gustafsson (bass) stood with their backs to the audience as drummer Chris Dangerous crashed his cymbals, before Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist hit the stage to a rapturous reception. Howlin’ Pelle got the punters involved early on, holding his mic stand out into the crowd, and then taking the mic off and throwing it aloft (Roger-Daltrey style) before (usually) catching it.

 They were quickly into garage rock masterpiece “Main Offender” from their breakthrough album “Your New Favourite Band” from back in 2001, and the Civic was already sold as Howlin’ Pelle went down into the fans for an early meet and greet. Back on stage and the singer was standing on the monitor at the front addressing the fans - and before you could blink he was back amongst the bodies shaking hands during “Rigor Mortis Radio” as the other Swedes added staccato grooves, backing vocals and stage shapes. During “Go Right Ahead” Pete had the venue clapping and chanting the chorus while directing the crowd like a southern evangelist, whipping them up into a religious fervour – pretty much his shtick for the evening. 

After Pelle’s trademark refrain of “Ladies...Gentlemen...Ladies and Gentlemen” they were into their trademark tune “Hate To Say I Told You So” as Pelle’s brother Nicholaus slammed out the familiar riff in classic punk style and Vigilante, Johan and Chris added plenty of their own charisma - never to compete with their front man of course. One of the night’s highlights was intense non-album single “I’m Alive” with its dramatic, almost industrial rhythm and persuasive refrain, which was lapped up by the fans. After more garage anthems Chris Dangerous laid down a tribal beat which was soon joined by the steely bass and crashing chords of “Come On!” from album “Lex Hives”. During new song “Smoke and Mirrors” Nicholaus was given an opportunity to add his dynamic, clipped guitar solo. At times strutting about like a gurning peacock, he was quite the force of his own. 

The crowd were getting close to Howlin’ Pelle’s goal of “100 percent rock n’ roll” and we were treated to new instant Hives classics “Countdown to Shutdown” and “Trapdoor Solution”, with an extended encore in which Pelle simply did not want to leave the stage.

 The man loves to give –not only shaking fans hands, interviewing fans in the crowd during songs, addressing his masses in every direction, it seems he wants to leave no one out and would gladly take everyone out for a beer. With talk about Viking invasions of old, and the name origins of Wolverhampton (sadly lost with most of the local crowd), the man was the epitome of a “crowd pleaser.” The guy may have added a few pounds since his lean and mean days of old, but he’s also gained more than a few fans of late I’m sure. The band are clearly influenced by garage R&B of the 1960s and 70s as much as punk rock - but where the original punks often had (or at least feigned) a disregard for their fans, The Hives are very much showmen who love their craft. I’m quite sure, as Howlin’ Pelle said, they will be back again like conquering Vikings - taking men, women and children with them.

Photography - Stuart Walton