Haim LIVE @ HMV Forum 09.12.13

Saint Raymond – aka Callum Burrows – is tonight’s opener. Tipped as the next Jake Bugg, the 18 year old from Nottingham has been earmarked for big things. Against a backdrop of meaningful and often morose lyrics, his catchy and upbeat indie pop offers up an ebb and flow that gets the listener both moving and thinking. Live, Burrows is nervously welded to the spot, so the sound doesn’t quite match up to the presence; there’s not a great deal to watch apart from his guitarist and bassist flanked either side, and they appear to have inadvertently synced up with some sort of ill advised chicken dance. He comes into his own by the end, on a solo track under a single spotlight, as aside a gorgeously simple, delicate guitar melody he cries out ‘we’ll never be as young as we are right now’. Not that I needed reminding of impending 30’s, but still…

There’s a healthy theatrical wait before two podiums of light flash out from the empty stage in time to a thudding bass drum that shakes the room. Haim swiftly cut through the anticipatory hum of the crowd when Danielle’s distorted guitar rings out; the place erupts. We’re in the trio’s palm from the outset; it would be criminal to look away. Even if you wanted to you’d soon hear about it; there’s a definite sense that nobody fucks with these ladies.

As they storm into The Wire – an absolute belter of pop rock and synth infused harmony brilliance – I’m almost deafened by shouts of ‘I love you! Marry me!’  from three guys to my right. The girls bounce the lead vocal around between them mid-verse, each switch followed by a cheer. There is no weak link here, and when all three voices come together it’s flawless.

What’s great about Haim is they’re confident enough to pull off a rock and roll swagger without seeming arrogant (Este: ‘It’s pretty fucking rad that we get to play here’), they’re sexy but not slutty and they’re brilliant musicians in their own right. It’s such a rarity to have a girl band of this caliber, it’s no surprise that the fruits of all prior labours are rolling in; these shows are sold out and the first album has been received with critical acclaim.

My Song 5 could sidle up beside the Arctic Monkey’s on AM and nobody would bat an eyelid. It thumps with an R&B heartbeat; Este gets her gurn face on and leans over her bass into the grateful gathering of photographers up front. The house is singing along: ‘I’ve been lied to, so what’s the truth’ before Danielle rips up a solo: raw, intense, the girl can play guitar. Meanwhile Alana works her tiny hot pants and I’m hearing yet more marriage proposals from the lads beside me. As the track closes out with the curt line ‘Honey I’m not your honey pie’ I get the feeling that she would eat them alive.

Haim round up the set with Forever; a close tie with The Wire for standout album track. It defies you not to dance in pure pop pleasure. The crowd is willingly compliant, jumping to a climax until confetti explodes out from the stage. The girls disappear through the haze as elusively as they entered and I see people reaching out to grab a paper memento from the air. Haim are back in London in March. You’d be a fool to miss it.