The Hives

Due to the current musical climate, this gig was going to be a strange mix. The Hives, along with all the other bands on the bill today, come from a Swedish punk background, and are on the Burning heart record label. They've put out 2 albums and various ep's. And now there's a big thing for retro rock n roll whatever, people are flocking to see them before there's a chance of them blowing up and being hailed as the next messiahs of everything cool.

So the fact that the original headliners The (International) Noise Conspiracy have been displaced, and that while I'm queuing to get in some trendily mulletted NME acolytes are explaining that they haven't even heard of whoever's supporting The Hives, leaves me a bit bitter. But whatever. Its clear that this audience are going to be an opposing mix of hardcore punk fans and indie bandwagon jumpers.

Not much of a surprise then when hardly anyone gets into the first band 59 times the Pain. No frills, this band come on, defiantly garble something about getting the whole thing over with (I later realised this was due to their split soon after the gig) and play pretty strongly. The only guy who's truly affected by the music jumps on stage in the last song, grinning and air-guitaring with the band happy to have a real fan, but he's "escorted off the premises". Second band, Randy, get more of a reaction with a little moshpit forming in honour of these fat, blond Swedish guys with pot-bellies and mullets. Their music isn't amazing, but its an energetic live experience and good uncool fun. These bands didn't change my life but they are good at what they do, making soundtracks for dancing and foot-tapping.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy are amazing. From the sound of discordant piano and high pitched screams they come on stage in uniform and burst into "I Want to know about You", political and positive soulful punk music. Dennis Lyxzen, formerly singer with genre-defining hardcore band Refused, does backflips, the splits, and is constantly moving, dancing, jumping over the drums, off of speakers, singing with passion about things that matter. Going through a mixture of their first album and latest release "A New Morning, Changing Weather", They really win the crowd over with "the best protest song ever" "Capitalism stole my Virginity", and by the final song, the title track from their new album, they are standing fists raised in front of a crowd that now care a lot more.

Now is the band many people have come to see, arrogant and stylish, your new favourite band The Hives. Anyone who's seen Rocket From the Crypt's stage manner will have an idea of The Hives enjoyment of praise and overt confidence in themselves. They play pretty well, through many of their songs sound similar, all being short and high energy, but they are very cool and very endearing, as long as you don't get annoyed by them. The audience are entirely active for the first time this night, and songs like "A-K-A-i-d-i-o-t" and "Die, All right!" are great examples of high energy retro garage punk. Without the emotion and politics of The (International) Noise Conspiracy they cant really compete to me, but are a damn good band live and on record. Despite their hyperactive good time music and arrogant charm, when contrasted with the style and intellect of the previous act, The Hives just fall short in the content of their music.

If it wasn't for the most amazing support act i would have no problem at all with The Hives. But contrasted with something as positive and vital as The (International) Noise Conspiracy, it seems tragically unfair that bands can simply fall into a trend and seemingly take over with hype and music as fashion. But despite this all bands that played were either entertaining, exciting, or breathtaking.