Photos and Review by Raven Divito
@rockinshots

The Hives – Ace of Spades, Sacramento, September 19, 2025

Off their brand-new album The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, Sweden’s garage-punk legends stormed the stage at Ace of Spades and promptly turned Sacramento into their kingdom for the night.

Opening duties fell to Nashville’s Snõõper, whose chaotic punk barrage set the pace. Their short, jagged set buzzed with breakneck riffs and wild energy—perfect fuel for what was about to follow.

Even before The Hives appeared, the spectacle had begun. Black-clad stagehands—dubbed “ninjas” by fans—darted across the stage, resetting gear with mysterious precision. Behind them, massive balloon balls spelled out HIVES, teasing the chaos to come.

Then the lights dropped. The band strode out in their trademark tuxedos, as sharp as they were sweaty by the end. Within seconds, frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist transformed the venue into his personal playground. He leapt from risers like trampolines, clambered onto the barricade to scream inches from fans’ faces, and at one point balanced on the front rail, supported only by the crowd’s hands. He was part preacher, part ringleader, and all chaos.

His brother, guitarist Nicholaus Arson, matched the madness, contorting across the stage while ripping jagged riffs. Together, the brothers created a spectacle few modern bands can rival.

The setlist was a high-voltage mix of new cuts and old favorites. Fresh tracks like “Enough Is Enough,” “Bogus Operandi,” and “Countdown to Shutdown” slotted seamlessly beside classics “Main Offender,” “Walk Idiot Walk,” and the nuclear “Tick Tick Boom.” At one point, during “Paint a Picture,” the band froze motionless mid-song for nearly a minute before detonating back into the riff—half prank, half theatre, all Hives.

Almqvist’s control over the crowd was absolute. He demanded louder screams, orchestrated mass sit-downs, and commanded jumps on cue—and the fans obeyed gleefully. The feedback loop between stage and floor was relentless: the harder the crowd went, the harder the band pushed.

What makes The Hives stand apart isn’t just the music—it’s the total commitment. Over three decades in, they still play like every show could be their last, wringing sweat and joy from every note. Even with a new album that doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel, the live experience more than justifies their legend.

The night closed with “Tick Tick Boom,” stretched to the breaking point before exploding into absolute bedlam. And when the encore wrapped with “The Hives Forever,” it felt less like a boast than a prophecy.

The Hives are still what they’ve always been: impeccably dressed, high-class hooligans on a runaway rock-and-roll train. The difference now is that they’ve mastered the art of turning chaos into theatre without losing an ounce of danger.

Long live The Hives. Forever, forever The Hives.

For the latest tour updates and news, visit The Hives’ official website at thehives.com