The Hives Concert Review - The Troubadour
The Swedish quintet returns after an 11-year break in recording to take the rock 'n' roll world by storm with their fifth studio album, "The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons." On Instagram the band declared, "We vacated the throne for a decade just to prove we could, no one sat on it, so we did, again". Those who doubt such claims have probably never seen The Hives in concert, who are regarded as one of the best live acts in the business today. During their May 9th inaugural performance at Hollywood's storied venue, The Troubadour, this reality seemed more true than ever.
The Hives delighted Los Angeles fans with two incredibly small gigs in advance of their newest album, the first of which took place at The Troubadour. Forgoing an opening act, this was the band's first non-festival U.S. appearance since 2021. As the band made their way down the stairs to the stage in their custom black and white tuxedos, the excitement in this small space ws hella high. At The Troubadour every seat in the house is a great seat, they were literally in your face and nearly eye level.
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They opened the show with their newest hit, "Bogus Operandi," an upbeat song that perfectly captures The Hives' studio skill, amid the gloomy lighting of their little stage. Famous for his on-stage theatrics, frontman Pelle Almqvist did not waste any time getting down and dirty with the crowd, jumping, interacting, and climbing The Troubadour's famous structures. Within minutes, supporters were jumping and harmonizing to the new song, filling the entire auditorium with coordinated excitement.
The band moved smoothly into their early hit, "Walk Idiot Walk," as the evening went on, and Pelle Almqvist climbed the stage scaffolding to as if to get eye level with each and every one in the room. With the help of just twelve hands, his brother and the band's guitarist, Nicholaus Arson, walked out into the crowd and started wildly strumming his guitar. With eerie lyrics and yet another catchy chorus—a signature of The Hives—the band introduced another live debut from their new record, "Rigor Mortis Radio," maintaining the album's thematic undercurrent. Pelle paused to pay tribute to the legendary location, jokingly implying that not one of the enchanted moments from its legendary past would be repeated that evening. Strangely, every song that was played simply served to emphasize how unique the evening was.
One particularly memorable segment included a series of upbeat sing-alongs, such as "Go Right Ahead," "Stick Up," and "Hate To Say I Told You So." Pelle had a strong hold on the crowd during "Stick Up," playfully pausing between the chorus and bridge to tease enthusiastic listeners. Even though "Stick Up" was a brand-new song, it had that catchy, Hives-esque aspect that makes listeners want to join the chorus. The band's raw enthusiasm was amplified throughout the night when they, obviously sweating profusely, began to take off bits of their uniforms. During "Hate To Say," when a spontaneous mosh pit erupted, it was possible that any member of the band could jump in.
With new songs like "Trapdoor Solution" and "Countdown to Shutdown" blending up perfectly with successes from their past, The Hives showcased them as some of their best work to date. The performance of the 2019 single "I'm Alive," with its ominous ambiance and lyrics of rebirth and resistance, previewed the lyrical and aural direction of "The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons," was another memorable moment. This song will definitely become a mainstay in their next live performances.
The Hives made a lasting effect on the Los Angeles audience, despite the show barely lasting an hour. With its passion, the encore, which included "Come On!" and "Tick Tick Boom," felt like the end of a three-hour stadium show. The entire space was alive with energy, with hands clapping furiously in the air. The band came together, bowed as one, and extended their hands to shake hands with as many fans as they could before leaving the stage, thanking them. This particular instance perfectly captured the timeless appeal of The Hives' rock 'n' roll—their unwavering bond with live audiences and their dedication to only producing music that lives up to their high standards. Now that the Hives have taken back their throne, it's obvious that they always had a right to it. The Hives will always exist.
