THE HIVES
Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff - date unknown
Support: Von Bondies
Now, everywhere I look online, the only reference I can find of the Hives playing Cardiff around this time says the show was at the university in February. But I know we saw them at the CIA (to give it its abbreviated name at the time) and it was later in the year, possibly around May. MrsRobster has confirmed this so I'd love it if someone reading this who was also there can offer any further insight.
Anyway, we had no idea who was supporting at the show, it hadn't been advertised. But as the opening band came onstage, I recognised them instantly. “It’s the Von Bondies,” I declared excitedly as the wife nodded in approval. Once again, like they had been at the White Stripes show a few months earlier, they were raw and loud and bluesy and soulful and loud and full of energy and raw and loud. And they still had the lovely Marcie Bolen on guitar!
The Hives were great, really great. They had more energy than Sellafield and really knew how to get a crowd going. They'd released 3 albums by this point, but most of us only really knew the compilation released by Alan McGee's new label Poptones that had come out called 'Your New Favourite Band'. It's safe to say that Swedish puink bands had never really been on the British music press' radar. Hate To Say I Told You So had been a sizeable hit and their live shows were renowned, so they could no longer be ignored. And they were great fun with their identical suits and ties, and Screaming Pelle Almqvist's high-kicking delivery.
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