MOJO Bar - Music for the people

The Hives are a band that I have always enjoyed to listen to but have never really loved. Of that sort of post-punk, garage-esque genre there are bands that have always floated my proverbial boat more shall we say.

Anyway, when I found out that my New York trip coincided with them playing a gig at famous NY venue Terminal 5 (and the fact that my boyfriend has seen them before and couldn’t stop raving about how amazing they were) I thought we should buy tickets.

We arrived at the venue early, relaxed (and drank) our way through the very punk rock support acts, (which I have to say were nothing special) and a bit of a wait whilst the bands crew set up (who were all dressed like ninja’s may I add) to a point where we were suitably liquored up for the arrival of The Hives.

Out they came all dressed in top hat and tails to a doomy classical tune before breaking out into the first song of the night “Come on” the opening track off their newest album, Lex hives and then immediately launching themselves into another new one “Take Back the Toys.” This band are note perfect but not in an over rehearsed way it all seems to come very naturally. With lead singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist jumping around all over the stage to “Main Offender” and “Walk Idiot Walk” (two of my personal, faves) whilst expertly swinging his microphone over his head and urging the crowd to involve themselves, watching this gig was like an assault on all of your senses!

As the first half of the gig flew by in record time, I realised that I hadn’t stopped dancing around like a fool and whooping like a teenager since the band had come on. As The Hives tear through “Wait a Minute Now” and probably there most famous track “Hate to Say I Told You So” I knew this was fast becoming the sort of gig that I would never forget. Pelle kept everybody entertained with witty comments and ridiculous dance moves, moves that actually reminded me of a certain ex mojo employee Lawrence “the flounce” Diamond, until he suddenly tells everybody to just stop for a minute and SIT DOWN!?!

Now, asking 2000 people to sit down on a beer, and probably piss soaked grubby gig venue floor is a pretty ballsy thing to do but this crowd were eating of their hands, and as the band start playing “Tick Tick Boom” the crowd roar and quickly jump to there feet to dance like they’ve never danced before! I have to admit, I was knackered!!!

The Hives run off stage and after some very loud and appreciative cheers from the crowd they re-appear to introduce the band and rattle through there encore of “Go Right Ahead,” “Die, Alright” and “Patrolling Days.”

Like I said at the start, there are bands whose songs I love more, but as a live act these guys really take the biscuit! I would even go so far as saying that they are the best live act on the planet at the minute. The Hives play Manchester this December and I highly recommend you go buy a ticket right away!!!

Check out this video of The Hives live on Lettermen :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shbwokU0Y_c