LIVE: THE HIVES with SOUTHERN RIVER BAND – Fremantle, 17 July 2025

LIVE: THE HIVES with SOUTHERN RIVER BAND – Fremantle, 17 July 2025
Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
Photography by Damien Crocker

Not for the first time this year I’ve walked out of a gig thinking it may well be the best of the year, such is the irrepressible, electric and commanding nature of The Hives – arguably the best rock n’ roll band on the planet right now.

Before the Fagersta, Sweden garage punk combo take the stage in their immaculately tailored suits we are treated to local legends-in-the-making Southern River Band, who bring all the vigour, enthusiasm, energy and vitality we’d expect from a band on the verge of a global breakthrough.

Their set is razor sharp, fast and furious good time boogie overflowing with frothy Aussie attitude and the sort of rapscallion moxie that only comes from knowing your band is shit hot (all of which, apart from the boogie and the origin of their attitudes, they share in common with their headliners).

One key to the success of both bands is the gift of the gab: SRB’s Cal Kramer is down to earth as if he’s sharing a beer with his mates rather than on stage in front of twelve hundred people.

It’s a dynamite and dynamic half hour set featuring highlights Fuck You, Pay Me and Stan Qualen, and serves as Exhibit A in the case of how they’re winning new fans at every high-profile support slot. Southern River Band just keep getting better and if they have the right songs for their next album, there’s no stopping them being the Next Big Thing.

Our headliners waste no time turning proceedings up to the FRENETIC setting on the dial. Bogus Operandi and Main Offender are first, Energiser bunny frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist jumping into the photo pit to wail in the faces of those in the front rows and cajole, tease, aggrandise and banter with us like a Swedish punk James Brown, attentive roadies dressed as ninjas always scampering behind him.

Just like their support act tonight (kindred spirits in many ways) they are as watertight as a garage band should ever get, have a keen sense of humour, and are backed up by a coterie of excellent, aggressive and catchy A.F. songs – there’s no easy way to describe what a buzz it is to feel the energy of a packed club all jumping, clapping, stomping, cheering and singing to a song as deceptively primal as Walk Idiot Walk, but once you’ve felt it you will only want more, more, more.

During most recent single Paint A Picture the entire band freeze for what must have been a full minute or more, only reanimating to finish the song after the crowd claps them back to life. It’s pure theatre – the theatre of Scando garage punk n’ roll, and it doesn’t stop there, not by far. Almqvist is in and out of the crowd or climbing up on the front barrier to precariously balance, over and over; at one point he upturns a stage monitor in order to use it as a podium – or perhaps a pulpit to better deliver his rock n’ roll sermonology.

“As far as I know, we are the furthest away band to ever play Fremantle!” he claims, possibly not entirely accurately, but once again – theatre.

The crowd are as invested as we’ve seen at a show here: like sharks in a feeding frenzy, they have the taste of rock n’ roll and don’t want to let go.

The roars and chants for their return after an exhausting one hour main set almost shake the foundations loose, and sure enough they are back for more after what felt like a premature departure. Fact is, though, they cram more into an hour than most can put into 90 minutes.

First up in the encore is Legalise Living – “for the first time ever performed in front of an audience – you are so privileged,” then Smoke n’ Mirrors.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it took a while but we’ve arrived at the part of the show where I have no idea what I’m fucking talking about!”

Finally, an extended Tick Tick Boom ends the night, the chaotic frontman somehow, against all odds, convincing the majority of the crowd to sit on the floor mid song for a pep talk like a deranged puppet master guru, before dialling it back up to eleven to finish the show in a puddle of happy sweat. As he said before that last song…

“I know a few things. I know that this rock n’ roll here is the best. That’s just stats.”

He’s not wrong, and even the light eighty minute show feels completely fulfilling due to the undeniable energy from start to finish.

Gig of the year? Greatest rock n’ roll band on the planet right now? That’s an emphatic yes.

Set List: The Hives

Bogus Operandi
Main Offender
Rigor Mortis Radio
Walk Idiot Walk
Stick Up
Go Right Ahead
Paint a Picture
Try It Again
Hate to Say I Told You So
Trapdoor Solution
I’m Alive
Enough Is Enough
Come On!
Countdown to Shutdown

Legalize Living
Smoke & Mirrors
Tick Tick Boom

Set List: Southern River Band

Cigarettes (Ain’t Helpin’ Me None)
The Streets Don’t Lie
Don’t Take It To Heart
Watch Yourself (You’re Gonna Hurt Somebody)
Fuck You, Pay Me
Stan Qualen
Vice City III

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries