A Performance as Sharp as their suits
Half an hour before the doors opened at this sold out gig at the Manchester Apollo, there was a queue around the venue, forcing the door to be opened early. The dress sense of the crowd tended towards smart in an attempt to copy their heroes, whom they had flocked to see in droves.
This band have come a long way since they formed in the Swedish town of Fagersta, in 1993. The Hives have slowly worked their way around Europe, building a cult following. Now they are riding a crest of a wave, as they hit Manchester with their latest tour.
From the moment that the band first took to the stage in their sharp crisp suits, the crowd went wild. Resplendent in their trademark black and white costumes, the band are rather static, all except Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist. Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist is rather like a younger version of Mick Jagger, complete with jumps, who has a great swagger and fantastic stage presence.
Almqvist worked the crowd well throughout the show, not afraid to jump into it, and get down to the moshing at the front. There was so much energy in his performance it is as if he is using the rest of the band’s energy to complete the set while they in the main remain static.
The band performed well, showing off their new songs below a big Las Vegas-esque, bearing the band's name in what looked like showgirl lights. A pulsating and a high octane performance, which fired through tracks. The crowd, recognising tracks, jumping higher and higher for songs such as ‘A Little More For Little You’, ‘No Pun Intended’ and ‘Hate To Say Told You So’.
This really was an audience with The Hives' Pelle Almqvist, who reminded the crowd “We play – You applaud”. The crowd joined in singing when The Hives launched into ‘Dead Quote Olympics’, ‘Supply and Demand’. Which they ended the show with before they came back to encore with ‘Diabolic Scheme’ and end with ‘Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones’.
Even after the show, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist worked the crowd, by waving to them all from the dressing room window. This is one show if you have the chance, you should catch. This is pure high octane, fast moving rock, that is worth every penny spent on the ticket.