High-Fives for the Hives

In the honor of their forthcoming full-length LP, The Black and White Album, Swedish fivesome the Hives donned black '70s-style prom suits with white-trimmed lapels, black-and-white-striped ties and white leather dress shoes upon strolling into the Windy City's famed Metro venue last night (Sept. 30). And with the first notes of bass-heavy new track "Bigger Hole to Fill," the quintet set into motion an eardrum crunching 14-song rock'n'roll assault.

Like a Southern televangelist, frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist preached between songs, at times playfully taunting the crowd; "You people look like you can't take it no more," while utilizing the entire stage to reach every fan -- one of which received a sweaty souvenir when the newly shorn Almqvist discarded his tie into the audience. With hands on hips, the fiery mouthpiece swung the mic like a lasso, snapped high kicks and balanced precariously off the stage's guardrail. Later, during the hard-hitting "Hate to Say I Told You So," Almqvist ascended the light rig, and on the angular, high-energy "Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones," he propelled himself into the crowd.

Meanwhile, Almqvist's older brother guitarist Nicholaus Arson channeled AC/DC's Angus Young, oozing a crazed look from his eyes and an expression of open-mouthed astonishment, while spitting aimlessly and riling up the audience with his finger-licking antics. But of course, the two brothers would be nothing without the incredibly tight rhythm section, its timing impeccable, exemplified with the numerous and precise stops and starts mid-song.

After ending their set with new single "Tick Tick Boom," complete with bomb-like explosions, the Hives returned with four (mostly new) encore selections, and finally abandoned the audience satisfied yet still begging for more.

We asked:The Hives worked with Pharrell Williams on Black and White Album tunes "Well All Right!" and "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." What crazy collaboration would you like to see?