110% Rock and Roll: The Hives at The Belasco

words + photos by Joe Cortez | November 16, 2023

Watching Swedish rock group The Hives perform live at The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles this past Tuesday night was like watching a well-oiled machine hell bent on making you have a good time. It was an unrelenting experience that the band promised would be nothing short of "110% rock and roll" and that's precisely what was delivered. I was invited to go to the show by a good friend who had sung their praises to no end but by night's end I wasn't just a fan but a convert.

It didn't matter that I wasn't familiar with the band's entire catalog; every song was designed to get the body moving one way or another and I had no problem surrendering to the band's ceaseless wellspring of joy. I don't think I've seen many bands truly enjoy and love the act of performing as much as The Hives. That kind of energy is not only infectious but rare.

It's easy for fans and bands to become jaded and cynical, especially in a town as steeped in the music business like Los Angeles. How many performers simply go through the motions while the audience merely marks time until they hear a song they know? Not so with The Hives and doubly so on this night.

The band proudly announced the arrival of their first album in 11 years, "The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons" midway through their set. They tracks they played off this album fit snuggly into the band's existing songbook, which includes hits "Hate To Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender," showing they haven't lost a single step in the intervening years. Uncommon and eccentric to the last, The Hives are undeniably fun.





All site content copyright Joe Cortez