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For a band that’s been on my radar since their second record stormed the US way back in 2000, it took me nearly two and a half decades to see if their much vaunted reputation as a crackerjack live band was still applicable. Signs pointed to yes early, when UK neo-punkers Bad Nerves stated that as an opening band for The Hives, it’s the toughest job in the world.
My lack of live Hives in my life wasn’t entirely my fault, since aside from some opening stints for Foo Fighters and, uh Pink (?!) and a one-off show at the tiny confines of The Sinclair last year, they hadn’t done a proper headlining show in Boston for over a decade. Verdict? Yes, the band can certainly still bring tons of energy to the stage.
Riding the momentum of last year’s strong The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, the band came out on stage with massive HIVES lights behind the backline, and the band decked out in bespoke black suits with white zig zags festooned down the trouser legs, sleeves and jacket front. Oozing supreme confidence from every pore, the band purposely strode out stage and kicked off with “Bogus Operandi,” – the fuse was light!
“Fuck days off. I want to sing on this stage forever.” Despite being hobbled with a knee injury, singer and de facto leader Pelle Almqvist covered every single inch of stage, as well as all available real estate on the barricade. Hell, at the end of the show he decided to claim the floor as his own too, marching back to the soundboard, and parting the crowd in two as he made his back to the stage.
Taking equal inspiration from garage and punk icons such as Johnny Thunders, The Ramones and Dead Boys, a full volume helping of no-nonsense was smashed right into our collective faces. And as this demanded full attention, one on of the forays Almqvist made to the stage, he wasn’t a big fan of electronic barriers between performer and audience. His solution? He grabbed a couple of phones from people videoing him up close and casually tossed them on the stage. I don’t think any phones were damaged and he did come down a few songs later to make sure the right phone made it back to its owner but I’m sure many performers would love to do the same thing.
If you’re feeling a bit listless and want a kick in the pants to get you up and moving, attending a Hives show should be at the top of your list. I’m not sure why Sweden has a disproportionate amount of great bands relative to their population, but I’m here for it.
Londoner’s Bad Nerves have been making some noise since their debut dropped in 2020 and there were a fair number of people at the rail who were there solely for them. They certainly looked the part, clad in black jeans and leather jackets, Ramones and Television shirts on display, Chuck Taylors as preferred footwear, they managed to hold up their promise on the sonic end as well. The ensemble had the proper mix of snottiness but managed to couple it with the ability to forge memorable hooks and songs in a genre that’s been done six ways to Sunday, and that’s no easy task. If you missed them this time out in Boston, you’re in luck as they are coming back on October 10th, opening for Nothing But Thieves
