The Hives

The Hives are a band your ears want to get fucked by — with a little foreplay in the middle, if you’re into that sort of thing. They certainly seem to think you should be. Commanding a room like no other band from the early 2000s garage rock age, The Hives are almost fascist in their dominating, intimidating, infuriating approach to stage presence. With overwhelming self-accolades and an atomic exertion of energy, no amount of adoration could compensate such reckless and self-destructive giving. Yet the bold, cocksure claims of Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Vigilante Carlstroem, Dr. Matt Destruction, and Chris Dangerous could not have been harder earned through almost 20 years in the game. Despite falling off the radar for much of the past decade, future generations will know of their legend…if today’s Hives have anything to say about it. (Appearing at The Vic on June 30) –text: Phil Forsyth