Hives break out at First Ave
Posted on February 29th, 2008 – 10:47 AMBy Chris Riemenschneider
I can’t remember aconcert where I saw so many people smiling broadly afterward. Granted, part of the glee might’ve been over the club’s brand-new beer taps (about 10 total, at the big upstairs and downstairs bars), but mostly it was because those Swedish boys know how to put on a show. It wasn’t just “a show,” though. Themusic was genuinely fantastic, too. They may not be rewriting the book in any way but they’re reading it pretty damn well. Look for a full review at www.startribune.com/music.
For cleanliness purposes, the reviewleaves out my favorite among Howlin’ Pelle’s many great lines during the 80-minute set: “I hope you’re listening, because we’re about to [screw] you in the ears!”
Oh, and since gloating is a big part of this band, allow me to point out that the week the album came out (i.e., before the band was touring) I wrote a mini-reviewpredicting that “Return the Favour” would become their big closer. Click here for proof. You’ll see where it is on their set list from last night:
Hey Little World / Try It Again / Die Alright / A Little More for a Little You / Walk Idiot Walk / No Pun Intended / Square One Here I Come / Hate to Say I Told You So / Diabolic Scheme / Won’t Be Long / You Dress Up for Armageddon / You Got It All … Wrong / Main Offender / Tick Tick Boom
Encore: Bigger Hole to Fill / Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones / Return the Favour
10 Responses to "Hives break out at First Ave"
I was one of the AARP people there last nite, and it was a great show. I actually went and seen them backup Maroon 5, and then left when the Hives were done. It was one of the rockingest shows i’ve ever seen going back 32 years of concerts. I just wish my son was able to go last nite but he’s under 18, so no go. Rock on
The show was beyond great! Bill Plate: there were kids at that show last night who were definitely under 18. And i mean more like 12 or 13. I was surprised. But i guess they managed to slip through -with their parents it seemed. How that happens, i don’t know.
What a great show! Doubtful I’ll see a more entertaining show anytime soon. The sound was spot on last night. I probably won’t do this Howlin’ Pelle line justice, but it went something like ” today your American currency is worth very little compared to European currency. that’s right, your money is worthless to us. We are here simply because we love you!” I don’t think anyone has more moves with the mic than Howlin’ Pelle. Brilliant show!
For those who might have skipped The Donnas, they set the night up right with a blistering performance. As great as they were, The Hives simply tore the place up. A truly amazing performance by an amazing band. Howlin’ Pelle spelled it out when he said, “we make noise, and then you make noise, and then we make noise and you make noise.” They practically gave the shirts off their backs. Or at least some neckwear. Thanks for the tie, Mr. Carlstroem.
They didn’t live up to their own obnoxious arrogance. Don’t tell me to clap every 2 minutes, just shut up and play and I’ll clap if you’re any good. The whole “we’re the greatest band in the world” spiel got old after 5 minutes. And what about spitting on the audience with disdain? They’re lucky they didn’t get their asses kicked.
From First Ave’s website:
Children Rules
Children can be admitted if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, with documented proof of relationship and the purchase of a ticket for the child.
The show was fun, fast and loud, from beginning to end. The Donnas were exciting, tight, sexy and rockin’ hard. Their songs are well written with great hooks. They deserved more time, and I was heartbroken there was no encore from them. Next time I hope they headline.
The Hives were a great show band. Though I was a bit off-put by all the spitting (not sure if its a Swedish cultural thing, a reaction to too much coke [all 5 players were damn hyper] or just part of the “act”} they had plenty of grand gestures and the full rock star persona out front with Howling Pelle (though he did slight his bandmates a bit by never introducing or naming any of them.) The light show was fun, the mix was good, and the music really revved up the whole place; my ears are still ringing this afternoon. This is what rock n roll is s’posed to be. Thanks.
Keith,
it’s apparent that you take the Hives way too seriously… just enjoy the spectacle of it.
that’s too bad you didn’t like the show, but i bet about 99% of the audience would disagree with you greatly.
As good as the Hives were (about as good as it gets), first off the show was way too short….80 minutes for a headliner, and off the stage by 10:15? Oh well, my ears probalby couldn’t have taken much more, I was righ tby the speaker and didn’t regain my hearing for 24 hours. Even 2 or 3 more of their best songs like “AKA I-D-I-O-T” or “Hives Declare Guerre Nuclaire” would have blown the doors off the joint.
But for as spectacular as they were and as rabid as the fans were, for my money (and I know for my money alone based on the crowd reacton), the Donnas stole the show. They both put out new albums last year, I bought them both on the day of release, and listened to them both repeatedly front to back. The main difference was that I had the Hives CD in my car stereo for a couple weeks, I had the Donnas’ on repeat for a couple months. I thought the top 3 albums from all last year were, in this order:
3. White Stripes - Icky Thump
2. Hives- Black and White Album
1. Donnas - Bitchin’
And the White Stripes are my favorite band currently playing, so it’s saying a lot that either of these bands could have outdone them in my eyes, much less both. But I loved the Donnas’ album front to back and was thrilled that they did 9 or 10 songs (out of 14) from that album, leaving only 3 non-Bitchin’ tracks, all must plays from Spend the Night. Doing so much from this new album was a testament to its strength, and it set up the Hives perfectly. And it was a choice that made ther set far more memorable than the albeit amazing set the Hives followed with.
Donnas are great, but the vocals are often a bit too high pitched/shrill for my taste.
amazing musicians though
