Sharp Suits, Loud Guitars: The Hives Own The Fillmore
There was a chaotic, sweat-soaked energy inside The Fillmore Detroit the moment The Chats hit the stage. The Australian trio wasted no time setting the tone, ripping through their set with a loose, reckless charm that felt straight out of another era. Their sound and attitude carried a strong resemblance to Sex Pistols raw, unapologetic, and just a little bit unhinged. It didn’t feel overproduced or polished, and that was the point. They were there to stir things up, and the crowd responded instantly.
By the time The Hives stormed the stage, the room was already buzzing, but they somehow pushed it into overdrive. Dressed sharply and moving like a well-oiled machine, the band delivered a set that was equal parts garage rock chaos and tight, controlled performance. Frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist commanded the room with nonstop charisma, bouncing between over the top confidence and tongue in cheek humor. Every pause felt intentional, every explosion of sound perfectly timed. It’s rare to see a band feel this locked in while still giving off the illusion that everything could fall apart at any second.
What stood out most was how much fun the entire night felt. There was no pretense, no overly dramatic moments just loud guitars, a fired up crowd, and two bands that clearly love what they do. The Hives didn’t just play a show they controlled the room from start to finish, feeding off the audience and throwing that energy right back at them. Walking out of the venue, your ears were ringing, your voice was probably shot, and you knew you had just seen something that felt real in a way a lot of shows don’t anymore.