Concerts Reviews
The Hives Turn the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver Into a Garage-Rock Circus
The Swedish rock ’n’ roll circus that is The Hives stormed into the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC on September 16, leaving no doubt that their reputation as one of the most electrifying live bands on the planet is still intact. What unfolded over the course of their 90-minute set was a full-contact spectacle, equal parts chaos and choreography, all wrapped in black suits that looked absurdly sharp for how sweaty things got.
First on the bill was Nashville’s Snooper, a punk band with a chaotic edge and plenty of energy. Their set was fast and noisy, perfect for waking up the crowd. With a mash-up of garage riffs, breakneck drumming, and a lead singer who couldn’t stop bouncing around the stage, they gave the room a jolt of raw adrenaline.
Shortly after 9pm, The Hives kicked off their set with “Enough Is Enough” before slamming straight into “Walk Idiot Walk” and “Rigor Mortis Radio.” The opening trio alone set the pace: relentless, fast, and loud. Frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist wasted no time scaling the barricade, leaning into the crowd like a rock preacher daring his congregation to scream louder. Spoiler: they did.
By the fourth song, “Paint a Picture,” the band pulled one of their signature tricks: freezing mid-song, standing motionless for what felt like a full minute before detonating back into the riff. It’s part theatre, part prank, and exactly the kind of chaos that keeps a Hives set from ever feeling routine.
The crowd lost it for “Main Offender,” one of their oldest and most enduring anthems. Almqvist, drenched in sweat but still impossibly charming, decided this was the moment to poke fun at Vancouver’s reputation. “You’re too Canadian, too polite,” he teased, before demanding more volume. Later in the night, with sweat dripping from his brow, he deadpanned: “I didn’t know Vancouver was in the tropics!” The joke landed, because honestly, the Commodore felt like a sauna.
That back-and-forth between Almqvist and the audience is the lifeblood of a Hives show. He doesn’t just sing at people, he works them, like a carnival barker crossed with a punk-rock dictator. He ordered people to clap louder, scream harder, even sit down on the floor during “Tick Tick Boom” and jump at his command. And the fans obeyed, grinning the whole time.
The setlist leaned heavily on classics, with “Born A Rebel,” “Stick Up,” “Bogus Operandi,” and the ever-explosive “Hate to Say I Told You So.” Each song was delivered with the kind of precision that makes you forget how chaotic it all looks. The guitars were jagged, the basslines growled, and drummer Chris Dangerous lived up to his name, driving everything with a beat that never let up.
But the chaos wasn’t just sonic. Guitarist Nicholaus Arson was a spectacle all his own, twitching across the stage like he was possessed, tossing guitar picks, and at one point smearing one across his face before flicking it into the crowd like some holy relic. If you caught it, congratulations. You’re now blessed.
And then there are the “ninjas.” Yes, actual black-clad stagehands who scurried across the stage, swapping guitars, untangling cords, and disappearing into the shadows like roadie assassins. Only The Hives would turn basic stage logistics into a theatrical bit.
The crowd was already drenched and breathless by the time the band hit “OCDOD,” “I’m Alive,” and “Countdown to Shutdown.” Each landed like a shot of adrenaline. By the time they reached “Come On,” the audience was basically singing the entire track themselves.
The main set closed, as it almost always does, with “Tick Tick Boom.” Almqvist drew every ounce of drama out of it, stretching the intro, taunting the crowd, then unleashing absolute bedlam when the riff hit. The Ballroom floor shook as hundreds of people jumped in unison.
Of course, that wasn’t the end. The encore brought “Legalize Living,” “Bigger Hole to Fill,” and finally “The Hives Forever,” a self-mythologizing closer that doubles as a mission statement. It’s bold to end a set by declaring your own permanence, but after witnessing the mayhem they conjured, it didn’t feel like bragging. It felt like prophecy.
What makes The Hives different from so many other bands still coasting on 20-year-old hits is that their live show hasn’t dulled with age. If anything, it’s sharper. They’ve figured out how to take the raw spirit of garage rock and turn it into pure theatre without losing its edge. Every freeze, every kick, every mic swing feels chaotic in the moment but lands with perfect timing.
And Almqvist himself remains one of rock’s great frontmen: funny, commanding, and just unhinged enough to make you believe anything could happen. When he ordered the Vancouver crowd to scream louder, they did. When he told them to sit, they sat. When he demanded chaos, they delivered. Few singers can control the audience that way without pyrotechnics or elaborate stage sets. The Hives do it with charisma, sweat, and sheer nerve.
By the time the final chords of “The Hives Forever” rang out, the Commodore Ballroom was a mess of bodies sticky from heat, and ears ringing. Which is exactly how a Hives show is supposed to end.
Long live The Hives. Forever, forever The Hives.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/19 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
09/20 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
09/22 Del Mar, CA – The Sound
09/25 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
10/16 Oslo, Norway – Sentrume Scene
10/18 Copenhagen, Denmark – KB Hall
10/21 Berlin, Germany – Colombia Halle
10/24 Munich, Germany – Zenith
10/25 Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee
10/26 Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
10/28 Zurich, Switzerland – Xtra
10/29 Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
10/31 Barcelona, Spain – Sant Jordi Club
11/02 Madrid, Spain – Wizink
11/04 Lisbon, Portugal – Sagres Campo Pequeno
11/19 Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
11/20 Paris, France – Le Zenith
11/22 Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS
11/24 Cardiff, UK – Utilitia Arena
11/26 Glasgow, UK – Ovo Hydro
11/28 Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios
11/29 London, UK – Alexandra Palace
12/01 Cologne, Germany – Palladium
12/02 Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
12/03 Hamburg, Germany – Sporthalle
12/06 Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
More info on their website.
THE HIVES
SNOOPER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
TWICE Kick Off the North American Leg of their THIS IS FOR World Tour With Two Hours of Joy
TWICE have spent the last decade growing from a bubbly K-pop rookie group into one of the most reliable live pop acts on the planet. Formed in 2015 through JYP Entertainment’s show Sixteen, the nine-member group (Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu) built their reputation on sharp choreography, sticky hooks, and a rare sense of longevity in an industry that moves fast. Their <THIS IS FOR> World Tour marks another big step, as their 10th Anniversary tour. Vancouver got the honour of opening the North American leg, with night one landing at Rogers Arena on January 9.
This show carried weight: it’s the first night of a new leg, first of two sold-out Vancouver dates, first time TWICE ever performed here. Or so they kept saying (more on that later).
Before the doors even opened, the sense of community hit hard. This was my first K-pop concert, and the concourse felt almost like a fan convention. ONCE (as TWICE fans are called) showed up early and prepared. Freebies were everywhere: fake Canadian bills printed with member faces, bracelets, banners, fake concert tickets as keepsakes. People traded gifts with strangers like it was normal, and it ruled. It reminded me of the exchange of bracelets at Taylor Swift’s shows.
Outfits ranged from full music video cosplay to subtle nods. Candy Bongs (TWICE’s lightstick) lit up the building in every direction. Someone even brought a giant inflatable Candy Bong that eventually made it onstage. Jihyo got her hands on it during “Scientist” and used it to whack her own members. No notes.
The lights dropped just after 8 p.m. “FOUR” played in the dark while Candy Bongs glowed across the arena. A massive 360-degree stage sat in the middle, with towering LED screens hanging above. The scale felt serious. TWICE rose into view and launched straight into “THIS IS FOR.” The scream from the crowd swallowed the mix.
Act I leaned heavy on confidence. “Strategy,” “MAKE ME GO,” “SET ME FREE,” and “I CAN’T STOP ME” landed clean and tight as this group moves with muscle memory built over ten years. The ments showed real excitement and a touch of nervousness. Kudos to the translator who helped both members and fans understanding each other as most members spoke mainly in Korean.
Act II raised the emotional stakes. “MARS” and “I GOT YOU” hit with warm vocals. “Gone” stood out for me, especially with the arrangement with the live band. Jihyo and Nayeon owned it. “CRY FOR ME” and “HELL IN HEAVEN” kept the intensity high. “RIGHT HAND GIRL” pulled huge cheers, proof that deep cuts still matter.
Then came the solos. This section turned the show into a full showcase. Tzuyu opened with “DIVE IN,” graceful and controlled. Mina followed with “STONE COLD.” Nayeon brought pop chaos with “MEEEEEE.” Jeongyeon surprised with “FIX A DRINK,” leaning into a country edge that somehow worked. The pink, glittery cowboy outfit was perfect for it. Dahyun played piano during “CHESS” and owned the room. Chaeyoung returned to the stage with “SHOOT (Firecracker),” and the welcome back energy was real. She had missed several dates earlier in the 1st leg of the tour, and you could feel the relief from then fans as the group back to OT9. Jihyo’s “ATM” confirmed what I already suspected. She has unreal stage presence and total command of the crowd. Sana softened the mood with “DECAFFEINATED.” Momo closed the solo run with “MOVE LIKE THAT,” pure movement and confidence.
Then it was time for the “TAKEDOWN” curveball. Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung debuted it live on this tour, pulled from the Netflix hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. The arena lost its mind. I knew and loved the song going in, but I did not expect that reaction. The honmoon was clearly sealed after that performance.
Act IV was wall-to-wall hits. “FANCY,” “What Is Love?,” “YES or YES,” and “Dance the Night Away” turned the arena into a giant singalong. The fan dance cam kicked in before the encore and ONCE showed up prepared with sharp choreography.
The encore opened with “SCIENTIST,” another tour debut. Before the final song, the members talked again about Vancouver. Nine years ago, they filmed the “Likey” music video in Vancouver. That explained why they ended the show “LIKEY,” an unusual closer that was direct nod to the city. The crowd loved it and screamed the lyrics back at the members.
I walked in knowing only a handful of songs and very little about the members, and I walked out with a bias (Jihyo earned that spot without debate) and a smile on my face. More than that, I left understanding why TWICE have lasted this long. Here’s to ten more years!
Upcoming THIS IS FOR Tour Dates:
1/10 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
1/13 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
1/14 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
1/17 – Oakland Arena – Oakland, CA
1/18 – Oakland Arena – Oakland, CA
1/21 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/22 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/24 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/25 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/28 – PHX Arena – Phoenix, AZ
1/31 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
2/01 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
2/13 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
2/14 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
2/18 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/20 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/21 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/24 – Xfinity Mobile Arena – Philadelphia, PA
2/27 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
3/03 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
3/06 – TD Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
3/07 – TD Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
3/27 – Kia Center – Orlando, FL
3/28 – Kia Center – Orlando, FL*
3/31 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
4/03 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
4/04 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
4/06 – United Center – Chicago, IL
4/07 – United Center – Chicago, IL
4/10 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
4/12 – Grand Casino Arena – Saint Paul, MN
4/14 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO
4/17 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
4/18 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
5/09 – MEO Arena – Lisbon, PT
5/12 – Palau Sant Jordi – Barcelona, ES
5/16 – Accor Arena – Paris, FR
5/17 – Accor Arena – Paris, FR
5/20 – Inalpi Arena – Turin, IT
5/23 – Uber Arena – Berlin, DE
5/26 – LANXESS Arena – Cologne, DE
5/30 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL
5/31 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL
6/03 – The O2 – London, UK
6/04 – The O2 – London, UK
More information on the tour here.
Concerts Reviews
KARD Gets Icky in Los Angeles
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to get “dumb litty”? Maybe you need a little cake in your life? If you were able to catch Kpop / hip hop group KARD on December 10th you most likely fulfilled both. Opening their DRIFT 2025 US Tour, KARD was back in Los Angeles after two years to show Hidden KARD (fanbase) how to turn up.
2025 has been a controversial year for KARD, with the group’s previous tour cancelled, many fans still dealing with the refund process months later and BM’s use of a racial slur earlier in the year. This controversy has left fans divided, some remain rightfully critical and have left the fandom due to his actions while others have shown support for the rapper’s remorse. Though not the group’s fault for refunds left unattended, some fans remain frustrated and hesitant to purchase tickets to their current tour as they still wait to get their money back.
KARD has continued on in hopes of regaining the trust of their fandom and delivering performances worthy of the wait. The co-ed group known for their mature lyrics and sultry style led the first stop of their US tour with tracks off their latest mini album DRIFT and some older favorites. The night was filled with highs but not without a few bumps along the way. Starting strong, KARD opened the performance with “Touch” before making everyone’s body temp rise with “Icky.” Taking it back to 2017, the group hit “Oh NaNA” and “Hola Hola,” bringing Hidden KARD back to their debut. Latest tracks “Top Down” and “Before We Go” showed off a softer side to the group.
Sprinkled in the set were a few solo and duet numbers, BM let out his “Freak,” while he and J.Seph showed us they “Been That Boy,” before Somin and Jiwoo took over the stage with “Enemy.”
Keeping the crowd engaged between performances, a VCR played showing the members answering trivia about one another, Jiwoo won the game, earning her the title of Team Leader, while BM ranked last, making him the intern. Though humorous, the video seemed to go on a bit longer than desired. These longer videos are often used as place fillers for newer groups with minimal releases, though KARD has a discography spanning long enough to reliably complete a well rounded production.
The four also took several moments throughout the show to chat with fans, and even play some games. Deciding between things like singing high notes 100 times or doing the same choreography 100 times, the group was split down the middle during the interactive game “This or That.” My Korean isn’t advanced but even I could tell there were some missteps as the translator struggled to keep up before BM had to take over several times throughout the night to make sure the members’ messages were being conveyed to fans correctly.
Despite there being a real technical difficulty earlier in the night when Somin’s mic stopped working, the group ran off stage mid show citing more difficulties – however faking it this time, only to arrive in Santa inspired gear to sing “Last Christmas” to the crowd. Literally shifting energy the group transformed into DRIFT dance track “Pivot,” sweeping the floor with their NSFW dance moves.
Making you want to skip dinner and head straight to dessert, steamy track “CAKE” rang through the venue as Hidden KARD screamed at the sound of the very first note. Everybody going stupid, dumb, fans used all their passion to jump and scream to hype track “Dumb Litty” as KARD jumped along across the stage. The two highly anticipated numbers brought their performance to a roaring climax, ending the night on a high. Bringing the show full circle the members came back for an encore, performing earlier tracks “You In Me” and “Don’t Recall” before closing out the night with an encore of “Icky.”
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KARD
All Photo Credit: Rebecca Rowe