Your new favorite band comes from Sweden and they are here to take over the world! And I’m not talking about some pop/punk boy band we see so much of these days, although their looks might suggest otherwise. All dressed in smart looking uniforms, black shirts, and trousers combined with white ties and shoes, The Hives look like a pre-fabricated band, and, as their story goes, were brought together under Randy Fitzsimmons, who manages the group and writes their songs. But that's where similarities end.

Starting out as garage rockers and becoming one of the trendsetters from 2000 and onwards, The Hives experienced their breakthrough with “Veni, Vidi, Vicious” and their third album Tyrannosaurus Hives is the best of them yet. It’s not just about their dress code; it’s about their attitude. And a sold out 013 found out during the show that they certainly have a lot of that!

Their opening act was the D4 who come from New Zealand. They started out with an EP in 1999 on New Zealand’s most popular label, Flying Nun. Their debut album saw the light in 2002 at the SWSX festival in Austin, and the whole world followed shortly after that. Their music is wild and sweaty, and it rocks. Like the Hives, they love to be on stage and play the crowd. Though they did get quite a positive reaction, it seemed like the fans couldn’t wait for the main act to begin.

So when the black and white suits came onto the stage, it was madness all around. But what else do you expect from a band whose members have names like Nicholaus Arson, Chris Dangerous, Dr. Matt Destruction, Vigilante Carlstroem and last but definitely not least, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist?

From the beginning to the end, everyone was jumping and having a good time. They replied with a loud, “YEAH!” or “NOO!” to everything Almqvist asked them, even the question if they thought the ticket was too expensive. When they shouted “No!” he laughed and said that next time they would ask a higher price. Funny guy that Pelle.

From songs like “a.k.a. I-D-I-O-T’, “Die, All Right!” and their hit “Hate To Say I Told You So” to the newer ones like “Walk Idiot Walk”, “Diabolic Scheme” and their latest single “Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones”, almost everyone was singing the words back at them. There were a lot of different people there, from 16 year olds punk rock kids in the middle to twenty-somethings hanging at the bar. I even saw a parent here and there on the balcony nodding their heads while their kinds stood in the crowd.

This show was better than the last time I saw them because a show at a smaller venue is more fun than a huge one in the open field if you ask me. The atmosphere was more intimate; well, as intimate you can get with around 2000 people.

As The Hives continue to grow in popularity, I can only guess that the next time they’ll come around, the price will be actually be higher than this time. Yet they definitely will be worth it.

Review by: Laura