Oh [pause] My [pause] God.
The hype about The Hives was huge, as big as it has been for any new band over the past two years. (The Hives, The Strokes, The White Stripes, and B.R.M.C. have all been referred to using superlatives this past year and a half.) The seeming miracle is that at their First Avenue show on June 4th, the Hives lived up to the legend that preceded them. Considering how much has already been written about the Hives’ live shows, what can I add? I have been known to boldly call them “The best band in the world right now” to my friends. And in March of this year, a Q Magazine cover story called them “The greatest show on earth.” Okay already. So, given the Hives hysteria, can you believe that, not only was I not disappointed, but was actually enthralled by this show?
By a stroke of luck (and some hard work in recent months), I’m a “freelance rock hack” now. Otherwise I would simply not have been admitted to this show. I wondered a few months ago why First Avenue seemed to be giving away an extraordinary number of Hives comps considering that I expected from the start that this would be a capacity sell-out. Surely they must have realized this. However, First Ave only accepted 130 complimentary tickets before they started turning away concert-goers who hadn’t paid. I would have gladly bought my customary six tickets as I normally do when I know a show will be a huge event as I’ve never once had trouble finding friends to attend big shows with me. (I purchased six tickets to the Strokes when they were in town in the fall of 2001 and six wasn’t nearly enough.)
Tickets sold and comps accepted amounted to the most crowded First Avenue I believe I’ve ever seen. Local favorite Har Mar Superstar provided an opening set, replacing Mooney Suzuki who were originally billed on this lineup. I arrived too late to see middle act Pattern. The Hives stage was set with a marquee light set spelling THE HIVES suspended right in the middle a huge American flag rendered in black and white that was hung as a backdrop, a tongue in cheek patriotic symbol that worked very well with their over-the-top attitude. (Frontman Howlin’ Pele Ahlqvist assured us our flag actually looks better in black and white anyway.) Using their own version of the US flag helped the Hives in their implication that not only did they have their hearts set on taking over America, but in fact, they had already done so.
They opened their set with “Main Offender,” ending the song with a cool human freeze-frame thing where they all became motionless with Howlin’ Pele practically on top of the front stage left speaker (a place he seemed to like so much he kept coming back to it time and time again throughout the short set.) Then they broke into one of my favorites, “Die Alright” a short snappy number with a clever verse ending line. “We’re gonna die, but not right now.”
Pelle gave one of many crazy spittle-ridden speeches in which he called the Hives among other things “the 8th wonder of man” and the “reincarnation of Prince.”
After playing “State Control” Pele and the other band members continued to milk the crowd for applause, love, and downright obedience. Pele stood proudly on the drum kit at the end of this song and exhibited a pretty look with a profile somewhat like Dave Pirner in a better day. (Look out Winona Ryder.)
They played “Knock Knock”, and “Supply and Demand.” And forgive me; during this song that I found myself noticing that Pele has a fine ass. (For me to remark on this it must truly be fine, as I am both male and straight and this is not something I would normally comment on or even notice.)
It was a short set (too short some thought, but the average Hives song is a Ramonesesque two minutes or so), but they played at least one encore. They did play their probably biggest hit “I Hate to Say I Told You So” featured on the Spiderman soundtrack. And they closed the set with “AKA Idiot.”
My notes on this show were spotty because space was so tight most of the time there was no way I could raise my notebook up to write. At the start of the set, in fact, I was almost squashed at the bottom of the stage left stairs. Also, the energy in the room was so high throughout that I lost track of myself for a while.
As far as covert infiltration of the USA goes, perhaps America should fear Sweden’s Hives more than Afghanistan’s Osama Bin Laden. The Hives are the true terrorists, and they are taking over your country one venue at a time while you sleep. You can either be taken unawares or pay attention. It’s your decision.