The Hives Show No Sign of Skipping a Beat at Troubadour West Hollywood Gig

The Hives at the Troubadour – photo by Sandra Burciaga Olinger

Fans in the know were treated to quite the spectacular and coveted performance by The Hives last night at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Playing a very small hand of warm-up shows with the recent announcement of the band’s forthcoming new album The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, The Hives showed no signs of skipping a beat since their 10-year hiatus from releasing an album.

“We left the throne for 10 years, and no one sat on it, so now we’re back,” shared frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist.

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The Hives at the troubadour in West Hollywood, May 9, 2023 — The Hives at the Troubadour

The last time Grimy Goods caught the Swedish rockers live was in 2019 at the Fox Theater in Pomona, and The Hives delivered that exact same energy and showmanship the band has been recognized for since they came into prominence with Veni Vidi Vicious.

Band members Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Chris Dangerous, Vigilante Carlstroem, and The Johan and Only were dressed to impress in their usual striking suits. This time around, The Hives donned black suites brazened with white lightning bolts, and when the house lights turned off, to our pleasant surprise, The Hives came in a new flavor of fun: glow-in-the-dark.

Performing songs with the enthusiasm of a little chap in a candy store, The Hives reclaimed their throne as the finest group of showmen in raucous, modern rock. The thing about The Hives that makes them stand out is that it is an absolute joy to watch every band member annihilate the stage right before you. Each has a unique style and stage presence, making for a total massacre of the senses.

While frontman, Almqvist, was quite the charming purveyor of stage banter, keeping the crowd amused in between songs, The Hives would ferociously roar into the next track like a tornado that wouldn’t relent. From the balcony to the floor and every crevice in between the historic Troubadour, The Hives induced a crowd frenzy thick in sweat, heat, and pure exhilaration.

Fans of all ages rocked the fuck out to favorites like “Hate To Say I Told You So,” “Tick Tick Boom,” “Come On!,” “Walk Idiot Walk,” and many more. The band even played new unreleased tracks, “Rigor Mortis Radio” and “Trapdoor Solution,” along with their recent comeback single “Bogus Operandi,” which, btw, is pure Hives vibes. The band kept that same raw, manic, and wildly blissful sound (watch the official music video below).

The Hives will follow up their, Troubadour gig with another special performance tonight, Wednesday, May 10, at No Vacancy. From there, The Hives will perform at the Glass House in Pomona on May 11 before heading to New York for a one-off show at Racket.

Naturally, all tickets to the shows are sold-out. If you are one of the lucky ones, you are in for an absolute endorphin rush fueled by indie garage rock nostalgia. But don’t you worry, The Hives will be back in the U.S. for a proper tour, but before they grace us again, the band will be shredding across Europe and UK this September and October. Euro trip, anyone?

Words, photos, video: Sandra Burciaga Olinger

Editor’s note: I was not planning on covering this show and just wanted to wild out as a fan and not work, but damn, it was so good. I had to share the experience with those of you that couldn’t make it; because Grimy Goods has always been for fans, from fans, and proudly INDEPENDENT. The words flowed out of me this morning after getting my kiddo ready for school. The show was that damn good.