All the best gigs start on a rainy evening it seems, I mused as I darted across the city to The Hatchet (the oldest pub in Brizzle) before The Hives Sold out show at Bristol’s 02 Academy.
Tonight the Hives were celebrating their 6th studio album The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons released after a ten year hiatus. The Hives are a band I’ve been a massive fan of for as long as I can remember, one of the first gigs I ever went to in Bristol was at the O2 in 2007. I also used to unashamedly dress up as Singer Howlin’ Pelle and go to my local rock night in Penzance. To say that I was hyped for this gig is somewhat of an understatement.
First up in support Tonight were Bad Nerves. I had listened to 10 seconds of ‘Can’t be mine’ before the gig and decided I liked them. The crowd were crammed in early to see them too or maybe they were just trying their best to avoid the astronomically priced £7.80 for a pint at the bar. Lead singer Bobby Nerves is a bundle of joyous energy, during the speedy ‘Baby Drummer’, he exhibits every rock pose imaginable, complete with leather jacket, shades and microphone swings, “Do you like fast music?!” he screams as the band play continuously with very little hold up. “This is music for people who like fast as fuck music!!”, the band launched into every song and don’t hold back.
They are clearly huge HIVES fans as Bobby admits “we’ve stolen a lot from the Hives”, before hurtling into ‘Radio Punk’ which is so ‘Hives’, it’s untrue, and great! It was great to see a band that are clearly as in love with The Hives as much as the crowd are. They cram so much into 30 minutes, it’s hard to keep track of. With a blend of high speed power pop punk without brakes, they fizz and skid to an abrupt ending with the crowd even more excited for The Hives than when they arrived. This is THE perfect support band to get the crowd warmed up for the main event!
The Lights go down and H.I.V.E.S lights up the stage in huge lettering, which is bold and to the point, just like the band themselves. The crowd have whipped themselves up into a frenzy by the time Howlin’ Pelle graces us with his presence ‘Bogus Operendi’ hits us in the chest and everyone goes nuts. Im surrounded by bouncing souls of all ages letting loose. Smashing straight into ‘Main Offender’, I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach of a potential stitch and my voice is already straining after just two songs! I caught myself wondering how am I going to make it through this gig, in much the same way I probably felt the same back in 2007.
The band play as if they are literally playing to 95,000 people. The Hives whole modus operandi is they are the best band in the Universe and we are lucky to be watching them. It’s tongue in cheek but its true! Charismatic and none sensicle singer Howling Pelle is the king of the world, he literally owns the stage, he owns every soul in the crowd. So much so we sing Happy Birthday to him 2 months after his birthday. He’s perfected every part of the world in which he performs.
“11 out of 10 is where the Hives begin and by the end of this song we are hoping to reach 13!” shouts Howlin’ Pelle before launching into ‘Walk Idiot Walk’, I would have said that it took them to at least a 15.5/10. The circle pits commence and I fall into friends I didn’t know were at the gig only to perform a forward roll in the centre of said circle pit. I grabbed my hat as the crowd launched into a melee of flailing limbs all around me.
A huge shout out to a member of Coral Palms whom I met in the crowd who hoisted me up on to his shoulders to then launch myself up onto the crowd and go for a surf during ‘Die Alright!’ . I then saw a drum stick flying in my direction, as I jumped to grab it, another fan did the same, we decided instantly to snap it in half and share it!
‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ goes off like it’s the first time anyone has heard it. It was akin to throwing a punk rock grenade into the crowd and watching the debris fly. As Pelle puts it, “We want complete audience obliteration”…
The encore provides us with a little rest before they come back screaming the terrace-esque ‘Come On’, quickly followed by an epic 16 minute version of ‘TICK TICK BOOM’. The sweat flying around the audience is matched by the band on stage. Those trademark fabulous black and white suits look like wetsuits by now, shining, sweaty and more than likely stinking! Howlin’ Pelle breaks half way through the song to jump over the barrier and walk directly towards me and thrusts his groin in my camera as the crowd are left in hysterics (footage @batthewmarnes on insta) and I move aside to let him have a chat, down a pint and whip his microphone lead at the crowd before ending the show with everyone wanting more. An absolute class act.
You’d be hard pushed to have as much fun at another live show, put simply, THE HIVES are EASILY the best band in the universe right now!
Words and Pictures by Matthew Barnes.
