The Swedish garage-rock icons continued a tour promoting their most recent album ‘The Death of Randy Fitzimmons’ at the Barras on the 1st of April.
According to band legend, Randy Fitzimmons is the mysterious (fictional) leader of The Hives. He founded the group in rural Sweden and has since written all of their songs, while providing them with spiritual guidance. Randy disappeared in 2023, and the band set off on their UK tour with the hope of finding him – believing reports of his death to be greatly exaggerated.
Appropriately, they strode out to the menacing horns of Chopin’s ‘Funeral March 3rd Movement’ in matching black-and-white, lightning bolt suits. Two roadies stood on either side of the stage and ceremoniously handed the guitarists their instruments. Instead of facing their adoring fans, however, they turned their backs and looked to the drummer, who launched into Bogus Operandi as neon lights flashed: HIVES. This is the opening track from Fitzimmons and, while the album is considerably more varied than many of their previous efforts, the song is classic Hives – simple and ferocious. The crowd chanted the infectious pre-chorus ‘Like I said, Like I said, Like I said!’ as their enigmatic frontman – Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist – grabbed the microphone and told ‘anyone who considers themselves a part of everyone’ to scream. They launched straight into Main Offender without taking a breath.
After a few songs, Almqvist introduced himself to the Glasgow audience. He recently found viral fame after his on-stage antics and loveable vanity were brought to the masses when The Hives supported Arctic Monkeys on their 2023 UK tour. Famous for his dedication to performance, Spin Magazine named him as one of their top 50 greatest frontmen of all time, and it is easy to see why. His screaming vocals are accompanied by a manic stage persona. Where Liam Gallagher hides his hands, Almqvist swings them wildly – beckoning the crowd to come closer. He apologised on behalf of his Swedish ancestors for ‘plundering your coastline in the early 900s’ and declared his love for all ‘Scotsmen and Scotswomen’, winning over new fans.
With a hint of impatience, the band’s two guitarists, Nicholaus Aurson (lead) and Vigilante Carlstroem (rhythm), then faced each other and combined brilliantly for the jumpy opening riff of ‘Two Kinds of Trouble’. This was followed by Rigor Mortis Radio and the Van Halen-esque ‘Walk Idiot Walk’ – from 2004’s Tyrannosaurus Hives. They continued relentlessly, leading the band through a setlist of new and old hits, to the constant approval of the ballroom audience. A moment of brilliance occurred when Almqvist instructed the crowd to hum the bassline of ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’. One-by-one, each band member joined the crowd and rose into a clamorous chorus.
Still without respite, the band proceeded into Trapdoor Solution, another fast track from Fitzimmons, before playing ‘I’m Alive’, which overflows with the heavy blues influences of Muddy Waters and Elmore James.
After 16 songs, Almqvist gave an unconvincing retirement speech and claimed that this was his final show with The Hives. They played the emphatic ‘Countdown to Shutdown’, before thanking the audience and exiting. The crowd waited patiently for the inevitable encore. This came in a three-song medley of ‘Come On!’, ‘Smoke and Mirrors’, and ‘Tick Tick Boom’. After that, the band said their real goodbyes and exited with Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does it Better’ booming out of the speakers.
It felt like a particularly good night for a famously energetic band. Between their powerful playing, Almqvist’s hilarious crowd interaction, and their visual swagger, the Barras crowd was spoiled for entertainment. After an uninspiring decade, this concert proved that The Hives still have an untameable creative energy.
4th-year Scots Law