Pitchfork

We know damn well that Sweden's Hives rule the live stage, but what about the ice rink? Determined to find out, the photogenic fivesome journeyed late last week from one frozen northerly land to another, Canada (where, okay, they also happened to be touring), to put a hockey challenge before three Swedish members of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

The February 22 afternoon contest at General Motors Place went down just prior to the Hives' gig that evening at the Commodore Ballroom, and was organized (and documented) by record-making liaisons Canadian Recording Services.

Somehow, amid the clattering of sticks, the swooshing of air, and the slicing of ice skates, the Hives managed to put up five against the highly-trained Canucks. But, alas, it would not be enough, as the professionals-- though outnumbered-- emerged with a 6-5 victory over their garage-rocking opponents.

It has been said that this victory gave the Canucks the mental boost they needed to prevail over the Detroit Red Wings the following night, and who are we to doubt it? Hopefully they got some free Hives tickets out of the deal too.

The Hives face off in Minneapolis tonight (February 28) and return to the home continent in late March. By the way, guys, if you'd like to challenge Pitchfork HQ to a game of foosball while you're here in Chicago tomorrow, BRING IT.

Hives:

02-28 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
02-29 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater *
03-01 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall *
03-02 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater *
03-03 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus *
03-04 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
03-06 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
03-07 New York, NY - Terminal 5 *
03-08 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *
03-27 Saarbrucken, Germany - The Garage
03-28 Bremen, Germany - Pier 2
03-29 Cologne, Germany - WDR Rocknacht
03-30 Prague, Czech Republic - Roxy
04-01 Budapest, Hungary - Petofl Csarnok
04-02 Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
04-03 Munich, Grmany - Tonhalle
04-04 Zurich, Switzerland - Xtra
04-05 Milan, Italy - Rolling Stone
04-07 Barcelona, Spain - Apolo
04-08 Madrid, Spain - La Riviera
04-09 Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum
04-11 Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27
04-12 Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
04-14 Norwich, England - UEA
04-15 Newcastle, England - Academy
04-16 Nottingham, England - Rockcity
04-17 Bristol, England - Academy
04-18 London, England - Brixton Academy
04-19 Bourges, France - Printempes de Bourges
04-20 Paris, France - Le Zenith

* with the Donnas