The greatest rock stars stay teenagers forever. Iggy Pop? Behind those wrinkles lurks the boundless energy of a high schooler. The Rolling Stones? An adolescent garage band with killer tunes. Debbie Harry. Stevie Nicks. Bruce Springsteen. All are older, wiser than they used to be, but still retain the wide-eyed verve of when they were 15 and dreaming about maybe one day having the coolest job imaginable. Haim, the Californian trio of sister musicians, firmly belong in this esteemed lineage, too.
When they break into a choreographed dance routine during the last stop on their European tour, at London’s O2 Arena, they gyrate with the endearing disorganisation of kids in the playground. They chastise one another for talking about magic mushrooms in front of their parents, who’ve flown over from the US to watch. When they announce surprise guest Taylor Swift, a mid-gig cameo that produces an audience-wide squeal so loud it could probably be heard from space, they shout with the manic breathlessness of superfans. After the pop giant departs, they gather centre stage, three women just as floored by what’s just happened as everyone watching. “Well, that was f***ing cool,” deadpans youngest sister Alana. Same, girl, same.
