Swedish rockstars The Hives gave an electrifying performance at Roadrunner in Boston, as part of the Death Of Randy Fitzimmons Tour, in support of their 2023 homonymous album. Joining them on tour is UK’s Bad Nerves, making for an explosive bill.
Punk outfit Bad Nerves kicked off the evening with a bang, with “Don’t Stop” and “Baby Drummer”. With their effervescent stage present and cocky attitude, the punk rockers from Essex were defiant and entertaining. Taunting the audience constantly, they’d get the crowd to light up and get more and more rowdier with each song; Bad Nerves’ charisma, dry humor and confidence was gripping and contagious, as they managed to get a little mosh pit going towards the end of their high octane set.
The energy in the room was scorching hot as fans waited for The Hives to take the stage. As the lights went down, five letters spelling “H I V E S” lit up, and the band slowly took their spots, facing away from the crowd. Frontman Pelle Almqvist took over, and the room erupted immediately with “Bogus Operandi”, one of the many new tracks that were heavily featured throughout the night. Almqvist wasted no time and got close to the fans soon after, coming down a set of steps promptly set up in the middle of the stage for him to comfortably move as he pleased. Jumping on the barricade and singing right into peoples’ faces, the charismatic singer managed to bring the rest of the band’s energy up close and personal.
“Is there a different song you wanna hear? I don’t care”, the singer jokingly exclaimed as he moved the show along, grabbing phones and recording videos after giving them right back. Despite this, he did voice his disdain for screens, as he requested fans to put their phones away and be in the moment. Funny enough, many would sneakily bring them back out: halfway through the set, the band performed one of their greatest hits, the iconic 2000’s classic “Hate To Say I Told You So”. The energy stayed elevated after that, a direct result of the band’s unstoppable charisma and stage dominance. The night went fast, as we approached the encore, leaving another classic for the end: “Tick Tick Boom”. Splitting the crowd in two, Almqvist made its way towards the middle of the floor, shaking hands and singing along with everyone he ran into. It was a fitting ending for an incredibly entertaining show, with just enough controlled chaos to satisfy everyone’s needs.
Photos and words by Maria Alejandra Mata
Keep up with The Hives: Website // Instagram // X
Keep up with Bad Nerves: Website // Instagram // X
