The Hives • Snõõper • September 13, 2025 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros
Off their brand-new album titled The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, The Hives would make a stop in Salt Lake City at The Union Event Center. Nashville band, Snõõper, would open for them. The Hives are a popular garage punk band from Sweden that formed in the 90’s. They are known for their energetic music and do-it-yourself aesthetic. In 2023, The Hives released their first album in over 11 years.
Their newest album was co-produced by Mike D, founder of The Beastie Boys, and demonstrates the collaboration behind this album. Salt Lake City would be one of their first stops on this 2025 tour. I was recently introduced to both bands, and once I found out they would be performing at The Union, I knew their fans would be in for a great show! The show started earlier than I had expected, and when I walked into the venue, the first two things that I noticed were the line at the merch table and the overall stage design. Fans filled the lower and upper bowl levels as Snõõper performed on stage.
Snõõper
Snõõper has an upcoming album titled Worldwide, which is set to release next month. This will be the first album that the whole new group will be part of. Two songs off the album have already been released, titled “Worldwide” and “Guard Dog”. I would recommend listening to “Guard Dog” if you want to visually sample what their set looks like.
In 2021, the band expanded and added more members to the crew. Snõõper would hit the stage early, and I was lucky enough to catch the last song to photograph. The first thing I had noticed about the set was how artistic it was. Two large speakers were displayed, one on each side of the stage. There was also a traffic light centered on the stage. After catching the last part of the third song, I had noticed how interactive the crowd was.
This was the first time I had heard their music, but I quickly recognized how they were the perfect fit to open for The Hives. As I left the pit area, I noticed there was a lot of The Hives merch throughout the crowd. The fans who wore the merch t-shirts showed their equal support for Snõõper. You could feel the energy being projected from the stage throughout the whole set. The band performed older songs and some of the new music coming out with their new album, such as “Guard Dog” and “Worldwide”. Lead vocalist Blair Tamel kept the energy going as she would incorporate props such as a giant weight and asking the crowd if they were having fun. Towards the end of their set, Blair would exit the stage and join the crowd in a green puppet-like costume, which the crowd seemed to enjoy.
The Hives
In between sets, the stage crew would hit the stage in ninja-like suits, which left the crowd curious. I was excited to photograph their set because of their stage design alone. HIVES was spelled out across balloon balls behind the set. It was time for The Hives to hit the stage. I was told prior to the band coming out that the set was going to be an interactive one and to be cautious. Two songs in, and lead vocalist Pelle Almqvist would walk off the stage and interact with the crowd. He brought his microphone and held it out into the crowd as they would shout the lyrics together. Pelle and the crew strutted on the stage in their black tuxedos, showcasing their punk rock music.
The Hives performed some of their older music, including “Tick Tick Boom” and some of their new music off their new album, like “Enough is Enough” and “The Hives Forever Forever The Hives”. Pelle mentioned that it was their first time being back in 9 years and that they are here because of the new album.
There were a couple of moments that stood out to me throughout the set. One of the moments was when someone in the crowd shouted out a song that they wanted the band to perform, and Pelle’s response was that he didn’t remember it. Leaving the other fans laughing. My favorite moment was when the band asked the crowd to put away their phones and enjoy the moment. I happened to be towards the back of the crowd as this happened, and it was great to see the fans really enjoying themselves, the music, and the moment.
I have always enjoyed discovering new music that I have never listened to or heard of. Both Snõõper and The Hives had an energetic set that displayed their music perfectly. Hopefully, it doesn’t take as long for The Hives to return to Salt Lake City, and if they do, I would highly recommend checking them out!
