**Concert Review: The Hives at The Fillmore – A Wild Night of Rock 'n' Roll"

Swedish garage punk legends, The Hives, hit The Fillmore for an infectious night of rock 'n; roll.

On Sunday, September 29th, a packed crowd at The Fillmore in Philadelphia caught an infection – not the kind you'd need medicine for, but an exhilarating case of The Hives. Swedish rockers The Hives, known for their high-energy performances, brought the house down with their infectious blend of garage punk and pure rock ‘n’ roll swagger.

Fronted by the inimitable Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, and an equally impecible lineup including Pelle’s brother, Niklas Almqvist (Nicholaus Arson), Mikael Karlsson (Vigilante Carlstroem), Johan Gustafsson (The Johan and Only) and Christian Grahn (Chris Dangerous), the band delivered an unforgettable set that left fans wanting more.

From the moment the band launched into their latest hit, “Bogus Operandi” off their 2023 album of the same name, the room was electrified. The Hives, renowned for their live performances, more than lived up to their reputation. Pelle Almqvist, a showman in every sense of the word, commanded the stage with an intensity that drew the crowd into every note, every lyric, every movement.

Pelle, as charismatic as ever, didn’t just keep the energy on stage. In a display of his trademark connection with the audience, he made multiple ventures into the crowd throughout the night.

From shaking hands and hugging fans in the front rows to taking a long trek to the back of the venue near the soundboard, Pelle made sure no one in the room was left out of the experience. His ability to bridge the gap between performer and audience was on full display as he made his way back to the stage, parting a sea of fans like a rock ‘n’ roll Moses.

The sixteen-song set was packed with fan favorites, kicking off with the energetic “Bogus Operandi” and continuing through hits like “Main Offender,” “Walk Idiot Walk,” and the early-2000s anthem “Hate To Say I Told You So.” Each song seemed to hit harder than the last, with the crowd responding in kind, dancing and singing along with the kind of enthusiasm that could only be sparked by a band of The Hives’ caliber. The night culminated in a supercharged finale of “Tick Tick Boom,” which had the entire venue exploding with energy.

As the world continues to shake off the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a true pleasure to witness a crowd so eager to be “infected” by live music again. The Hives brought that joy in spades, reminding us all why they’re considered one of the best live acts in the business.

As their *Death of Randy Fitzsimmons* Tour gets ready to head into Mexico and South America, there’s only one piece of advice to heed: forget about the vaccines, if the come near you, go catch The Hives. You won’t regret it.

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"Hate To Say I Told You So" from the Fillmore.