Brixton Academy rocks to The Hives and Iggy Pop in punk extravaganza.

Not long ago Hives frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist flummoxed Jools Holland with denials of any Stooges influence on his Swedish punk rockers. Nonetheless their hyper-kinetic showmanship, ear-bleeding raunch and astute lyrics suggest that the spirit of Iggy Pop's seminal quartet lives on in 'your new favourite band'.

Decide for yourself as The Hives and Iggy headline an exhilarating two-night punk thrash. Neither is pushing new product, just the notion that there's no subsitute for dirtyass rock 'n' roll.

Iggy's an essential draw, reformed but refreshingly unrepentant of past excesses. Now something of a boho social commentator, his recent material blends seamlessly with Stooges and solo classics in shamefully energised performances.

And The Hives? The entire universe continues to fall before their bubblepunk assault. "You love us!" Howlin' Pelle has a habit of yelling. "And there's nothing either of us can do about that!" Who are we to argue? GR 11 July 02

The Hives headline on 12 July. Idlewild and The Vandals support. Iggy Pop headlines on 13 July. Pitchshifter and Soulfly support.