The Hives Are As Ferocious As Ever At The Hammersmith Apollo

by | Apr 16, 2024

It’s the first real day of spring in London, and crowds seem to flock in thousands to Hammersmith station, sharply dressed in black and white. There is only one good reason for this type of migration: we are all on our way to see famed Swedish rock outfit The Hives perform at the Hammersmith Apollo as part of the UK tour for the release of their latest (and soon award-winning) album The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons.

This time, we start early at The Distillers (the local Hammersmith Fullers pub) where we meet The Hive Fives who are part of The Hives’s official franchise contest. This franchise is a very simple concept encouraging people to form a Hives cover band and perform, celebrating our favourite band (if you say you don’t like The Hives, you are lying to yourself) all over the world. The Hive Fives are rocking out in the upstairs function room, together with dozens of other Hives fans taking turns on stage for the karaoke, while official merch is being sold downstairs. The pre-party ends with a cover of Hate To Say I Told You So sung by 10-year-old rockstar Owen. He has as much stage presence as The Hives’ own Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist and loves to show it by jumping around and rolling on the floor, putting us all to shame. He’s clearly no stranger to this, as he is the leader of another official franchise band called The Main Offenders, with his dad on the bass and his little brother on the drums

The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London - 2024.04.13

The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)
The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)

The party continues 200 metres up the road at the Hammersmith Apollo. Announced as sold-out, we can tell the house is going to be packed and we love the venue’s decor and stage set up. Bad Nerves open the show. If, like me, you were born too late to see the Ramones, you’re in luck as Bad Nerves sound and look a lot like the Ramones … if they came from Essex! They deliver a short but explosive power punk set, starting most songs with the classic “1-2-3-4” with barely any breaks between the songs. Singer Bobby Nerves tells the crowd “we nearly quit, but it is our destiny to be the second best band in the world”, and you best believe they are well on their way to fulfilling their destiny! Every song sounds like it could become a hit soon, particularly Don’t Stop, Baby Drummer and Can’t Be Mine. They even treat us with “fast and loud songs we’d never heard before”, and leave us begging for more. This is exactly what was needed to prepare for the chaos that was about to ensue.

Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13

Bad Nerves @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)
Bad Nerves @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)

The Hives returned with an explosive bang a little less than a year ago with the release of their new single Bogus Operandi, and subsequently their brand new album: The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons. It was the first record from the five-piece in over a decade and we welcome them on the Hammersmith stage like old friends tonight. Marching in to the tune of Chopin’s famous funeral march before breaking all hell loose with Bogus Operandi, Main Offender and Take Back The Toys. You can’t miss them, as the big lit-up letters behind them spell H-I-V-E-S in bright white (and sometimes red) light. Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist owns the audience and when Howlin’ Pelle tells us to scream, you bet we scream. This show is performed with such finesse and precision, like the best oiled machine you’ll ever see. Their ferocious energy is contagious as ever!

The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13

The Hives @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)
The Hives @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)

We love hearing their new tracks and they already sound familiar for a lot of us (hands up if The Hives were first on your Spotify Wrapped?) as the crowd noticeably sings along to new album cuts Two Kinds Of Trouble and Rigor Mortis Radio. Then it’s back to basics with Walk, Idiot, Walk from Tyrannosaurus Hives. But no one is going to feel left out tonight, and they manage to include the best songs from almost each album, coming back to Lex Hives with Go Right Ahead. Howlin’ Pelle’s stage antics take a much bigger form on a massive stage like the Apollo, and his microphone flies around the room like there’s no tomorrow while Nicholaus Arson moves with the crowd, giving us his signature death stares. Stick Up comes on, quickly followed by classic Hate To Say I Told You So. Howlin’ Pelle takes a short break to catch his breath to ask us “ladies, gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen and everybody else… Do you feel alive?”… Sir, we have never felt so alive! We shout back. “Coincidentally, this song is called I’m Alive” he continues, in his distinctive dry tone of voice.

The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13

The Hives @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)
The Hives @ Hammersmith Apollo, London (Pauline Di Silvestro)

Howlin’ Pelle’s command of the crowd remains impeccable throughout the show. In the last year, we’ve seen him command small venues like The Fleece in Bristol, massive stadiums while touring with Arctic Monkeys and even owning Glastonbury Festival’s Other Stage. They’ve travelled the world and know exactly what to do to get us to do whatever they like. Bigger Hole To Fill is a surprise, this isn’t a track we’re used to hearing live, and it feels so good. They keep surprising us with Try It Again, aka the catchiest song in the universe (The Black & White Album might be my favourite!), and Countdown To Shutdown to see us through to the encore. It felt like decades before Chris Dangerous returns to the stage to greet the crowd before hitting the unmistakable drumbeat of Come On. Smoke & Mirrors from their latest record and Tick Tick Boom close the show and, while we all try to understand what just happened to us, you can’t help but smile as Carly Simon’s classic Bond tune Nobody Does It Better rings out across the PA. But I’ll tell you what happened… Not only did we just witness The Hives on stage, but we witnessed The Hives on stage in London playing one of their best shows ever… But then again, that’s something I say every time I see The Hives. Don’t we all?

  • The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hive Fives @ The Distillers W6, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • Bad Nerves @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13
  • The Hives @ Eventim Apollo, London - 2024.04.13

Live review & photography of The Hives @ Hammersmith Apollo, London on 13th April 2024 by Pauline Di Silvestro

Oh! Gunquit Searing Garage Rock Rampage At The Lexington

Sabrina Carpenter (Press)

Sabrina Carpenter Unveils Full Star-Packed Line-Up For Sold-Out BST Hyde Park 2025 Shows

American Express presents BST Hyde Park has announced the full supporting line-up for pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter’s sold-out headline debut on Saturday 5th July, as well as her follow-up performance on Sunday 6th July. The eagerly anticipated shows mark a major milestone in Carpenter’s meteoric rise, as she joins a coveted roster of BST Hyde Park headliners for 2025.

Taylor Swift @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Taylor Swift Triumphs: Pop Icon Buys Back Rights To Her Original Master Recordings

In a landmark move sending shockwaves through the music industry, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the rights to her original master recordings, marking a triumphant and deeply personal victory in her years-long battle for artistic ownership. The deal closes a turbulent chapter that has fuelled global conversations around creative control, artist rights, and the power dynamics of the modern music business.

Santana (Press)

Carlos Santana Teams Up With Grupo Frontera For Norteño-Rock Fusion ‘Me Retiro’ — Ahead Of UK Tour Dates

Rock legend Carlos Santana has surprised fans yet again—this time by merging his iconic guitar-driven rock sound with...
Blink-182 @ Reading Festival 2024 (Nick Allan)

Reading Festival 2025 Preview: Glitter, Guitars & Glorious Chaos Incoming

Hold on to your bucket hats – Reading Festival 2025 is about to blow the roof off Richfield Avenue from August...

Iggy Pop’s Raw Power Hits Ally Pally

There’s some shows you just can’t miss in good conscience. Iggy Pop, the godfather of punk, last hit the UK for Dog Day Afternoon with Blondie two years ago, and he’s back for a short run of dates. When other punks from the same era are slowing down, settling into nostalgic anniversary shows or stately home summer shows, Pop is sticking to what he knows best: his iconic back catalogue, spread out across a full band, tied together with hypnotic charisma.

Chesney Hawkes (Press)

Chesney Hawkes Announces 2026 ‘Smash It To Pieces’ UK Headline Tour Following A Triumphant Year

Chesney Hawkes, once dubbed the quintessential British pop prince of the early ‘90s, has proved he’s more than just The One And Only. With a creative fire that burns brighter than ever, Hawkes is celebrating a year of musical and personal triumphs as he announces his 2026 Smash It To Pieces UK headline tour — a bold new chapter in a career that continues to evolve far beyond its nostalgic beginnings.

James Morrison (Tom Oxley)

James Morrison Announces Long-Awaited New Album ‘Fight Another Day’, UK Headline Tour This September

BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter James Morrison returns this autumn with his most personal, soul-stirring work to date. His sixth studio album, Fight Another Day, lands on 3rd October 2025, marking his first full-length release in six years — and with it comes a UK headline tour this September, including dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Calva Louise (Henry Calvert)

Calva Louise Walk The Edge Of The Abyss With Cinematic New Single ‘Impeccable’

If the edge of reality had a soundtrack, Calva Louise just wrote it. With new single Impeccable, the genre-fluid...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing