Review and Photography : Stephen Brophy for MPM
Bad Nerves return to Dublin’s Olympia Theater where they supported The Darkness last December. The band are new to my ears, and I managed to listen to some tracks on the way to the show.
Their brand of pop/punk rock is one I wasn’t sure would click with me, it’s certainly produced a number of very catchy tunes with bundles of energy. So how did they work out live, well it’s more than just the energy, the delivery, there’s something really engaging about the band, and they can definitely write a tune.
The venue is becoming more packed as the set goes on and people really are getting into them and I have no doubt that they will be back doing their own headline shows in Ireland soon.
The set is made up of tracks from their self titled debut album and some new songs set to appear on the follow up. Their sound for me is better and more impressive live, the vocals are spot on and have a little more depth, guitars and bass are roaring and fast paced and the drums are just terrific.
The more I listened the more I enjoyed, certainly a band to keep your eyes on. Stands out for me were ‘Can’t Be Mine’ and ‘You’ve Got The Nerve’ which is a sign of more good things to come.
As The Hives bring their The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons Tour to Dublin the anticipation is a physical feeling. The lights lower The brightly lit band name at the back of the stage comes to life with a bright white glare that lights up the stage and the guys come striding on with confidence in their cool and luminous suits.
Having been a fan of the band since 2000’s Veni Vendi Vicious I’ve really been looking forward to the bands return to Ireland, also because I shamefully have never managed to catch the band live before, I’ve had tickets to see them, but one thing or another would somehow smash my plans, this time (after last weeks storm forced a one week rescheduling) it was going to be my time to see them.
The band is renowned for barnstorming live shows and with the new album in tow that was a guarantee. But I wasn’t quite ready for, or expecting just what level this band can manage to bring you to. The music is great, be it the hit’s you already loved or the new album tracks that fit so well into the set, but it’s the band, it’s Pelle’s persona, over the top, funny and throwing out non facts that you want to believe simply because he’s telling you them. Add in the infectious energy and you have such a potent mix, this rapidly becomes a night you don’t want to end and we are only at the start.
Kicking things off perfectly with ‘Bogus Operandi’ and ‘Main Offender’, a new song that is bound to stay in the setlist for a long time I think, and a classic it’s a powerful one two punch to the guts and they are starting as they mean to go on. From the off Pelle spends plenty of time off the stage and on the barrier, mixing with the fans who are getting more and more excited with each visit are not only getting louder and singing more but there is a really good vibe in the venue, definitely a feel good factor tonight which adds to the experience.
The set really flies along, but at the same time every song is memorable and some just blow you away. The band is just so tight all the way through, every member of the band brings something to the party, the brothers may be the most outgoing of the group but there’s always something to focus your eyes and ears to elsewhere on the stage. It did take Pelle quite a while before he realised that there was a 3rd level of audience in the top tier, but he did most certainly bring them into the show too.
When they kick into ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ the venue absolutely erupts, it’s a great song with riffs and hooks that you just can’t get out of your head, every corner of the Olympia has fans dancing, singing, nodding their heads and waving their arms, and we are just starting the 2nd half of the set, you kinda wonder can they keep up this frenzy and pace, but that’s a silly question, the breaks they take you don’t really notice as Pelle draws you into another story, or Nicholaus takes over the front of stage to smash out another riff or solo, you really could watch these guys all night and still want more.
‘Countdown To Shutdown’ and ‘Come On!’ are particularly rocking and then closing out the show with an extended version of ‘Tick Tick Boom’ including a lot of crowd participation, introducing us to some of the people in the audience and just generally having a bit more fun, which is a huge part of what they do. It just all ends far too quickly, not because it’s a short set, but because they could play 3 hours and it still wouldn’t be enough.
When you close the book on this set it was far far more than just a gig, this was a show in every sense of the word, and for me there are far too few bands prepared to go the extra mile to put on a show like this, to put everything into what they do. There’s not a tonne of pyro or effects that need to be added to get peoples attention, it’s the band and the music.
This one is going to live long in the memory and can’t wait to catch them again in Ireland. Tonight we are all members of the Nation that is The Hives.
