Sometimes you buy a ticket for the headline act.
Sometimes you buy a ticket for the support band.
If I’m being honest, the main reason I went to see The Hives was to see The Bad Nerves again.
I had first encountered them when they supported The Darkness and they completely stole the show. Their songs were short, sharp and packed with more energy than seemed entirely reasonable. They reminded me of The Ramones at their best, firing out one great tune after another with absolutely no wasted motion. Ever since that night I’d been looking for another opportunity to catch them live.
Thankfully, The Hives provided exactly that opportunity.
By the time The Bad Nerves took to the stage, I was already excited, and they somehow exceeded expectations yet again. Some bands lose a little of their impact when you see them a second time. The Bad Nerves did the opposite. If anything, they confirmed that my enthusiasm after The Darkness show hadn’t been a temporary case of gig-induced excitement.
They really were that good.
Watching them tear through their set only increased my anticipation for their upcoming headline show at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. I’d already decided that Emma would be joining me for that one, and standing in a small venue with a band like The Bad Nerves felt like a prospect worth getting excited about months in advance.
Of course, there was also a headline act to enjoy.
The Hives have spent decades building a reputation as one of the most entertaining live bands in rock music, and they showed exactly why. From the moment they arrived on stage, the energy levels somehow went even higher. Pelle Almqvist remains one of the great frontmen, combining charisma, humour and relentless movement into a performance that barely allows the audience a chance to catch their breath.
The band themselves were equally impressive. Tight, loud and completely committed, they delivered the sort of show that reminds you why guitar bands continue to thrive despite regular predictions of their demise.
As much as I had attended for The Bad Nerves, I couldn’t help being won over by The Hives. They didn’t merely headline the evening; they justified their reputation as one of the best live acts around.
Still, by the time the lights came up, my thoughts had already drifted forward to December.
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut is the sort of venue where bands either sink or swim. It’s intimate, unforgiving and absolutely perfect for raw rock and roll. The idea of seeing The Bad Nerves up close in a room like that was enough to keep me smiling all the way home.
Looking back, this was one of those concerts where everyone delivered. The support band confirmed they were the real deal, the headline act reminded everyone why they remain so highly regarded and I left with another gig already circled on the calendar.
December couldn’t come quickly enough.
The videos and photographs below capture some of the evening, including footage of The Hives in full flight. They rocked pretty hard indeed, but The Bad Nerves once again ensured they left a lasting impression of their own.
Roll on December when I will take Emma to The King Tuts Wah Wah Hut to see The Bad Nerves up close. Can’t wait.
The Photos
Cheers!
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