Watch 3/4 of the Hives’ Coachella 2012 Set

"This is not a mirage!" shouted Howlin' Pelle Almqvist to the Coachella crowd, "We actually are the f---ing Hives!"

With one look at their trademark black-and-white outfits--this time opting for a zany gilded age Abe Lincoln look--you know he ain't lying. The Swedish madmen that first mashed our stereo speakers are back a decade later--or, actually, played Coachella nine years later--to destroy. We've got the first 3/4 below. The final quarter was asked to be taken down.

The Hives-- that's Almqvist, his guitarist brother Nicholaus Arson, and the rhythm section--are known for having a bonkers live show, and they brought their A-game to Indio. Almqvist leaps and prances around the stage like a fusion of Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, and Daniel Day Lewis. With some major stage presence, Almqvist asks (and also demands) the audience to clap and jump, and then sit down. He banters, he scissor-kicks, he runs out to the crowd.

The guys played some of their garage wave hits, like 'Hate To Say I Told You So' and 'Main Offender,' and some of the new stuff: 'Wait a Minute' is off 'Les Hives', out on June 5 in America, on the band's own label, Disque Hives.

"The new song's about ... who gives a f---," said  Almqvist. "Who wants to just rock out?"

We do.

Watch 3/4 of the Hives’ Coachella 2012 First Weekend Performance