May 03, 2002 at the Birmingham Academy in England by Richard Smirke for worldpop...4 beer jugs outta 5
The band are mesmerising, from frontman and all round indie pin-up, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist clambering all over the stage, calling out to the audience and preaching like a hyper kinetic James Brown to lead guitarist Nicolas Arson standing stage right, looking like an amphetamine-fuelled android - all jerking histrionics and Ian Curtis like intensity. Then there's second guitarist Vigilante Carlstroem and 'tached bassist Dr Matt Destruction stage left, aesthetically alone the band are mesmerising.
When combined with a seamless stream of wall to wall hits, taken mainly from last years compilation Your New Favourite Band, and you're left with the kind of gig where 'mind-blowing', 'explosive' and 'astounding' are insufficient adjectives.
From the nihilistic abandon of Supply And Demand, to the crisp punk verve of AKA I-D-I-O-T, The Hives tonight are simply fantastic - effortlessly dispatching three-minute slices of surging pop perfection. Encompassing everything from '50s rock to the fury of grunge, Howlin' Pelle and co may be playing out their retro fantasies to the full, but they do so with such brilliance and infectious desire that any backwards criticism is made redundant by one single blast of Arson's guitar.
The set's over in less than 45 minutes but it merely adds to the appeal. Having distilled 50 years of rock 'n' roll history into one furiously-paced show it goes without saying that entertainment's oldest rule - always leave the audience wanting more - is rigorously obeyed. As 2,000 fresh converts to the church of Howlin' Pelle file out of the Academy, getting another Hives fix is the only thing on their minds. Judging by the smiles on their faces it could prove to be the most addictive high of all!
HIGHLIGHT
The moment in Hate To Say I Told You So where everything stops, leaving just the bass, before one final euphoric chorus. LOWLIGHT
Leaving the venue and realising that it could be some time till you see the band perform again.
