The Hives: Closer than ever at Toad’s Place in New Haven
As a massive punk fan, I had been eagerly waiting for The Hives to make their way back stateside. The Swedish rock band has been at it for over 30 years, breaking into the U.S. in the 2000s with tracks like “Hate to Say I Told You So.”
The algorithm was feeding me photos from this tour for days — sharp suits lined with glowing LED trim, massive balloon backdrops spelling out H-I-V-E-S, and frontman Pelle Almqvist inches from fans at the barricade.
They had just sold out Brooklyn Paramount the night before, and the Fillmore before that. I was hyped for the sold-out New Haven show, but I still had one question: how the hell were they going to fit all of that at Toad’s Place? But before we get there, let’s cover off on the supporting act first!
THE CHATS
The night opened with The Chats, a three-piece punk band from Queensland, Australia. They bring a brash, in-your-face brand of punk ripped straight out of the ‘80s. A bit of the blunt force of Black Flag countered with fast, catchy melodies like that of The Ramones. They did not waste a single second. They tore through a 19-song set in under an hour!
What I loved about this band? Josh Hardy on the guitar, totally rocking the classic “I ❤️ NY” t-shirt tucked in like he just stumbled out of Times Square. In fact, all three bandmates look like they could disappear into the crowd without a second glance. But when they hit the stage, they delivered a tight, energetic set. Safe to say they’ve earned a permanent spot in my rotation.
THE HIVES
The room at Toad’s was packed before The Chats wrapped their set. And as the stage was switched over for The Hives, I couldn’t help but notice two roadies dressed head-to-toe as ninjas, swiftly moving across the stage to set up gear. They’d be back on stage later… cowbell and all.
So, how did The Hives fit that massive production into Toad’s Place? They didn’t. There were no stage props, just a blank backdrop behind the band. The stage itself sits barely thigh-high and just a few feet off the barricade. The band would be with the crowd the entire night. Tonight was going to be a rager!
I’ve been to Toad’s Place more times than I can count, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a crowd sing louder, or bring that much pure, positive energy, than they did for The Hives. As expected, Pelle Almqvist barely stayed onstage. Most of the night, he was out on the barricade, balancing himself with the help of fans or gripping the rigging hanging from the low-slung ceiling.
There’s a difference between performing for a crowd and taking full control of the room. The Hives absolutely owned this crowd tonight. They played through twelve songs leading into an extended version of “Tick Tick Boom”, with Pelle introducing his bandmates to the crowd and pushing himself into the middle of the room. It was one of those rare nights where the line between the band and audience completely disappears. It stops feeling like a punk show and more like an out-of-body experience.
The Hives exited briefly, returning for a three-song encore that closed with “The Hives Forever Forever The Hives.” The song was a fitting end to an unforgettable night at Toad’s. The band has only a handful of shows left in North America, before making a run this summer in Europe.
If you can, buy the ticket (even if it’s an over-priced resell). Tours like this don’t come around often.
FOREVER THE HIVES!
THE HIVES SETLIST
Toad’s Place, New Haven, Connecticut (3/19/2026)
Enough is Enough
Walk Idiot Walk
Rigor Mortis Radio
Paint a Picture
Main Offender
Born a Rebel
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Stick Up
Bogus Operandi
Hate to Say I Told You So
Countdown to Shutdown
Come On!
Tick Tick Boom (with band introductions)
Encore:
Legalize Living
Bigger Hole to Fill
The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
