December 12, 2000 at the Hot and Grape in Manchester, England and reviewed by junkrock
The Hives are definitely one of the most exciting bands to come out of Sweden for some time. Forget your Volvos, Abba or Ace of Bass, Sweden has a more exciting export to shout about. Ranking along sides with the Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters etc. These guys have a different style and feel of Junkrock. Clean shaven and stylistic they resemble a mod/ska band but their songs in comparison are modelled around the sixties garage punk sound of "The Sonics" and "The Seeds". Frontman "Howlin Pelle Almqvist" had the charm and panache of one "Lux Interior" from The Cramps seducing the audience with his boyish looks and controlled banter.
Promoting their new album "Veni Vidi Vicious" they powered through a short set as the opening act for the Hellacopters. As they brought the crowd to a climax unfortunately they withdrew backstage leaving the audience gasping for more.
Make a date with The Hives the next time they buzz into your town, you wont be disappointed.
