The Hives, The Grates @ EnmoreTheatre, Sydney (29/7/11)

Mon 1st Aug, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Iis there be a better feeling in the world than rockin it out with your favourite band up close and personal on stage at the Enmore Theatre? Tonight it was a dream come true for one lucky bloke at the The Hives gig in Sydney, when one Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist granted the wish of a fan to babysit Dr Matt Destruction’s bass during the finale of Hate To Say I Told You So. A simple request on a piece of paper handed up to the band during the set became the elated fan’s reality as the special guest rocked it with The Hives like a kid in a candy store.

The Hives were also here tonight to grant the wish of everybody as they lived up to their job description as ‘true showmen’. For those who have seen them in the flesh before, and to those who lost their Hive-virginity this evening; it needs to be said that nobody left the Enmore feeling unsatisfied or unloved.

For such an energized live band, it was great to see them equally matched in the ‘get up and go’ with local supporting band The Grates. Ms Patience Hodgsen refused to stand still, treating the stage like a trampoline at Magic Kingdom. The Grates certainly didn’t play like a supporting band, tonight they were eager to gain the comradely and support of the audience from the get-go; thus again proving that they are indeed a headliner act in their own right.

Patience tonight interacted personally with members of the crowd, with both eye contact and beer delivery. It was a treat to see her have the courage to crowd surf in a half empty dance floor and hand deliver a schooner of beer to a Hives fan. The daring gesture could have failed miserably, but the crowd appreciated her dedication and ensured it was a safe return journey. Indeed, The Grates showed this evening that they are all about having fun, and genuinely enjoy what they do. And when Patience highlighted that The Hives were an amazing band to tour with, the theatre was ready to share the experience.

Bless The Hives; their ninja attired roadies were an onstage spectacle in themselves. And their backdrop image of front man Pelle as a smiling madman set the scene of a Vincent Price horror film. The band’s black and white attire with top hats and tails made you feel like you were part of a George Melies silent film, well, that is until the music started (am sure that Melies wouldn’t have approved).

C’mon was an appropriate hello and was reciprocated with an instant moshpit. Blonde Swede Pelle controlled the room with great James Brown confidence, his scissor kicks and flamboyant idiocies was a great spectacle. His mission throughout the night to have 100% of the theatre raise their hands was almost fulfilled, though a little tedious in the constant requests. His charismatic brother Nicholaus cannot be overlooked either; with his Errol Flynn good looks, his long blue-eyed stares and flirtiness with the crowd did not go unnoticed as he forcefully plucked at his guitar strings and licking his guitar picks as he flung them to smitten women and men alike.

The Hives proved to be a generous band, if you were one of the few in the crowd who didn’t get hit in the head with a fleeting drumstick then you may have had your foot trodden on by an eager Nicholaus, who traipsed through the theatre like he was Ferris Bueller skipping school.

The garage punk infused frenzy this evening at the Enmore was simplistic yet ever so entertaining. The band chose to break the familiarity of well known songs ( Tick Tick Boom and Hate To Say I Told You So ) with tracks from their forthcoming album. Of course the new songs didn’t receive as much love as the older tunes but I dare say many in the room would be back to sing them when The Hives return for another Australian visit.