The Hives - live at the Electric Ballroom, London - Tiscali Music Reviews

07/06/2004

The Hives, Electric Ballroom, 3 June

"Last time around, people thought we were some kind of joke. This is to show we're not."

So says Pele, lose-limbed genius frontman of The Hives, as he introduces new song No Pun Intended half way through this tunnel-visioned, ground-shakingly brilliant set.

Two facts for you. One: The Hives are never going to make a really good album. Two: this matters less than Geri Halliwell's views on international democracy.

The Hives are back, they're live and they sound as fresh as ever.

It's their first time back in the UK since Hate To Say I Told You So propelled them into the big leagues alongside The Strokes, The White Stripes and The Vines.

What could have been an uncomfortable return turns out to be a triumph - The Hives sound more vital now than ever before.

Current single Walk Idiot Walk cranks up the volume and opens a set that rockets from A-B with barely a pause for breath. Looking resplendent in white suits and black shirts, Pele leads his surreal-looking troupe (is that John Goodman on bass?) through hit after hit with garage rock soul-boy stomps, jerky swings of the mic stand and a sense of humour that would charm the pants off a nun.

New songs like The Missing Link - "The Holy Grail of rock'n'roll," says Pele - and No Pun Intended frottage with old favourites like Main Offender and Die, All Right like kids discovering three-chord love for the first time, while Hate To Say I Told You So, pulled out just before the encore, sends a visceral shock through the Electric Ballroom.

In short, cack-all variation, zero clever lyrics, no step forward. But hell, are The Hives fun. As they say, it ain't what you've got, it's the way that you do it.

Ed Wood