THE HIVES // O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW

Nov 29

the Hives Turn Venue Downgrade Into
High-Voltage Triumph at
Glasgow’s O2 Academy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

**THE HIVES PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY**
**PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN**

What began as an unfortunate venue downgrade turned into one of the most energised and intimate Glasgow shows The Hives have delivered in years. Initially scheduled for the OVO Hydro, the band’s return to the city shifted to the O2 Academy after slower ticket sales, but the change ultimately worked in their favour. Rather than disappointment, the smaller venue created the perfect conditions for an explosive night of garage-rock theatre.

To make amends for the change, The Hives put on an exclusive, ultra-intimate set at Saint Luke last night. Which was a gesture that immediately reset the mood among fans and amplified anticipation for the “main” show. By the time the O2 Academy doors opened for the latest stop on The Hives Forever Forever The Hives World Tour, the atmosphere was primed and electric.

Inside the sold-out Academy, the crowd packed every corner, charged with the kind of collective energy that only thrives in a venue of this size. The downsizing ended up heightening the entire experience: louder, sweatier, more immediate, and perfectly suited to the band’s chaotic precision.

When The Hives took the stage in their trademark monochrome suits, the room erupted. Frontman Pelle Almqvist charismatic, unhinged and endlessly entertaining that steered the evening with his usual mix of swagger and sharp wit. His command of the audience bordered on theatrical, turning the gig into both a musical performance and a comedic masterclass. Few frontmen can make crowd engagement feel as essential as the songs themselves.

Musically, the band delivered with trademark velocity. Long-established favourites like “Walk Idiot Walk,” “Main Offender,” and the inevitable “Hate to Say I Told You So” landed with renewed force. The new material from their recent album blended seamlessly into the set, proving that The Hives’ creative spark remains firmly intact. The Academy’s acoustics lent a raw power to the guitars and drums that a cavernous arena simply couldn’t replicate.

As the set barrelled toward its finale, the bond between band and audience grew tighter. Bodies moved in unison, the floor shook, and every chorus felt communal. By the time the final notes rang out, there was little doubt: what could have been a compromise became a triumph. Glasgow didn’t get the Hydro spectacle, but it got something better—The Hives in their purest, most electrifying form.