Spring Break
The Hives deliver high-energy performance
Josh Fluegel Contributing Writer
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The dimly lit stage was set immaculately.
Black and white guitars were propped upright next to black and white amplifiers reading the names of their players. The black and white drum set center stage seemed to anchor the spectacle together with the displayed "H" emblem on the bass drum.
Accompanied by the rambunctious howl from the crowd, the performers, dressed in black and white school uniforms bearing the "H" crest, briskly strutted out from behind stage and armed themselves with their instruments. Lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist grabbed the microphone stand with the swagger of a disgruntled pimp.
"I have an announcement to make … we are The Hives," Almqvist said, followed by a wall of music declaring the beginning of the show.
The Hives dominated the House of Blues in Dallas Wednesday leaving the crowd dazed and wanting more. The show was part of a tour that began in 2007 promoting their newest studio release of the same year, "The Black and White Album."
The Hives are a garage band from Fagersta, Sweden. Unlike many bands, The Hives had a very vocal plan to be the best in the world. This quest led them to leave behind their native tongue of Swedish from the start.
"We pretty much started singing in English right away," guitarist Nicholas Arson said. "There were bands that we liked that sang in Swedish, but they couldn't really tour. They could tour in Sweden and maybe do one or two shows in Norway."
The Hives display none of the expected traits of the garage band genre they were lumped into. Instead of the typical shredded jeans and worn flannel shirts, they wear matching black and white outfits that change from album to album. For "The Black and White Album," they sported tailored schoolboy uniforms with The Hives crest on the breast pocket.
The Hives' music is described as fast, loud and hopelessly catchy. Though not considered the most progressive sound in music today, they have earned respect from many loyal fans spanning from Sweden to Texas.
Black and white guitars were propped upright next to black and white amplifiers reading the names of their players. The black and white drum set center stage seemed to anchor the spectacle together with the displayed "H" emblem on the bass drum.
Accompanied by the rambunctious howl from the crowd, the performers, dressed in black and white school uniforms bearing the "H" crest, briskly strutted out from behind stage and armed themselves with their instruments. Lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist grabbed the microphone stand with the swagger of a disgruntled pimp.
"I have an announcement to make … we are The Hives," Almqvist said, followed by a wall of music declaring the beginning of the show.
The Hives dominated the House of Blues in Dallas Wednesday leaving the crowd dazed and wanting more. The show was part of a tour that began in 2007 promoting their newest studio release of the same year, "The Black and White Album."
The Hives are a garage band from Fagersta, Sweden. Unlike many bands, The Hives had a very vocal plan to be the best in the world. This quest led them to leave behind their native tongue of Swedish from the start.
"We pretty much started singing in English right away," guitarist Nicholas Arson said. "There were bands that we liked that sang in Swedish, but they couldn't really tour. They could tour in Sweden and maybe do one or two shows in Norway."
The Hives display none of the expected traits of the garage band genre they were lumped into. Instead of the typical shredded jeans and worn flannel shirts, they wear matching black and white outfits that change from album to album. For "The Black and White Album," they sported tailored schoolboy uniforms with The Hives crest on the breast pocket.
The Hives' music is described as fast, loud and hopelessly catchy. Though not considered the most progressive sound in music today, they have earned respect from many loyal fans spanning from Sweden to Texas.
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