The Hives Live

Solid Swedish five-piece The Hives have been away for a while and working on a new record with hip hop producer Pharrell Williams.

In that time the group have lost none of their style appearing in a very sweaty Hoxton Bar And Kitchen wearing matching tailored suits.

Frontman Pelle- who myself and presenter Shatha decided is quite hot- is still hugely charismatic (not to mention egotistical) on stage. Wild-eyed and chatting non-stop between songs he comes across as a southern preacher despite his Scandinavian roots.

Strangely new material dominates the early part of the set and MTV can definitely tell you The Hives have not gone RnB. The tracks from the future album all sound great though- especially Tic Tic Boom- and there are enough sing along chants and yeahs to keep us entertained.

The highlights are Idiot Walk, where Pelle launches himself to the back of the crowd and somehow carries on singing while crowd surfing. Die Alright! is also riotous with its perfect nihilistic rock attitude.

I know youve cheated with other bands in the three years since we were here, the singer announces before mega-hit Hate To Say I Told You So. But they all just go out of your heads when you see The Hives.

Hes not wrong.