The Hives played at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on Wednesday, July 23rd. David James Young reviews.
CLAMM aren’t from around here. That’s got twofold meaning in this context: in the greater sense that they’re a Melbourne band playing in Sydney, but also the fact they’re a product of sweaty pubs rather than swanky theatres like the Enmore. Still, it’s entirely to the trio’s credit that they don’t blunt their edges for the already-packed theatre – if anything, they double down on their outsider status. And really, why not?
The band play their blend of sprawling garage rock and Motorik post-punk with both precision and aggression, cutting through the sound system and ensuring any casual onlookers have their undivided attention. Cuts from the band’s latest album Serious Acts serve as key highlights, including a belligerent and blistering run-through of ‘No Idea’ and a red-level rendition of its electronically-driven opener ‘And I Try’. Lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Summers – when he’s not barking, shredding or both – deadpans his way through the usual support patter (“who’s excited for [insert band here]?”) with a dryness that oddly seems to blend with the audience’s sense of humour, endearing them even further.
He makes a plea towards the end of CLAMM’s half-hour of power to come and see them play a headliner up the road at Waywards Ballroom on Friday, August 8th. “We’ve sold nine tickets,” he says. “If 1% of the audience here buys a ticket that’d be, what, 30 people? That would be great.” Hell, they’ve done such a good job, may as well plug the tickets here.
CLAMM – ‘And I Try’
The last two times The Hives performed in Sydney, they were not the main event. Once was in 2014, as part of what ended up being the final Big Day Out. The second was 18 months later, when they were main support for AC/DC‘s Rock Or Bust stadium tour. Yeah, it’s been that long – and yet, when the men of the hour stroll out onto stage in their ever-dapper black suits and launch into the propulsive ‘Bogus Operandi’ it feels like no time has really passed at all. They’re firing on all cylinders, all chopping guitars and clattering drums, and the crowd is going… mild?
It’s in this moment the decade-long gap between drinks starts to set in. Maybe it’s the fact they haven’t opened with a “hit”, so to speak, or maybe it’s just the nature of post-lockdown crowds in the 2020s that have forgotten how to react and respond at a rock show. Either way, there’s a considerable disconnect between what’s happening on stage and what’s happening off it – something that irrepressible frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist promptly calls out.
He taunts the Sydney audience with the ultimate insult: that the Melbourne crowd was more excited to see them. That alone is enough to unglue some feet and uncross some arms, and soon enough we’re collectively partying like it’s 2002.
As Almqvist prowls and high-kicks from stage left to stage right, rabble-rousing in the way only he can, his bandmates maintain their end of the deal by keeping the relentless energy up. ‘Walk Idiot Walk’ kicks as much arse at it did 21 years ago, with the engine room rhythm section of The Johan & Only and Chris Dangerous (their real names, obviously) pounding punters into submission, while the twin guitar attack of Vigilante Carlstroem and Niklaus Arsen push their power chords persistently through recent single ‘Enough Is Enough’.
The Hives – ‘Enough Is Enough’
With the crowd now in the palm of their hands, The Hives go for the nuclear option.
‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ was part of what was then referred to as the “garage rock revival”. Upon reflection some quarter-century later, however, this song felt less like a revival and more a resurrection from the catacombs, or even Dr. Frankenstein pulling the lever and infusing electricity into a lifeless body. It’s one of the most urgent, exciting rock songs ever committed to record – and it’s somehow even better live.
In a memorable moment from their 2011 appearance at this very venue, a fan’s night was made when they were brough on stage to play the song’s iconic bass-line. Tonight, lightning strikes twice – this time, with a fan named Jemma handed the reigns. She sends it – and, by proxy, so do we. Power to the people.
The pit goes into a frenzy for ‘Trapdoor Solution’, arms are waved high for ‘I’m Alive!’ and the makeshift choir of thousands recite the mantra of ‘Come On!’ (sample lyric: “Come on/Come on/Come on/Come on”) with gusto. By the time the fittingly explosive finale of ‘Tick Tick Boom’ rolls around, The Hives have promptly dominated and decimated in a way that only they can.
Trite as it sounds, shows like this serve as a reminder to not be too cool to dance, sing and sweat it out to a soundtrack of loud guitars. Sometimes, it’s exactly what one needs.
The final show of The Hives’ Australian tour takes place tonight (Thursday, July 24th) at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane. Final tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Further Reading
AC/DC + The Hives – Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane 12/11/15
