Swedish rockers the Hives will bring their buzzy brand of garage rock back to the U.S. this summer. The group – frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, guitarists Nicholas Arson and Vigilante Carlstroem, drummer Chris Dangerous and bassist Dr. Matt Destruction – kicks off a thirteen-date tour on July 20th in Washington, D.C. That same day, the Hives will release the as-yet-untitled follow-up to their 2001 breakthrough Veni Vidi Vicious.
“It’s a little bit different,” Almqvist told Rolling Stone of the group’s third album. “But the theme of the record is that we have more restraint in the rhythm section – sort of minimalist, functionalist. There’s a Hives aesthetic that we try to impose on everything, but it’s still hard and fast compared to most bands.”
As before, most of the songs on the still-unnamed album were written by Swedish hired gun Randy Fitzsimmons, though Almqvist won’t reveal too many details about the recording process. “He’ll hum a line or give us an idea for how the song should go, and we have to try to figure out what he’s talking about,” Almqvist says. “It’s really done in a nonmusician way. It’s kind of a secret, too.”
Hives Tour Dates:
- 7/20 – Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
- 7/21-22 – New York, Irving Plaza
- 7/23 – Boston, Avalon
- 7/24 – Toronto, The Phoenix
- 7/25 – Detroit, Majestic Theater
- 7/26 – Chicago, Metro
- 7/28 – Denver, Ogden Theater
- 7/29 – Salt Lake City, Fairpark
- 7/30 – Seattle, The Premier
- 7/31 – Portland, OR, Roseland Theater
- 8/1 – San Francisco, The Fillmore
- 8/4 – San Diego, Soma
