‘If you don’t have a sibling, I’ll be your sibling’ - among the final words spoken by the sisters Haim as they rounded out their double header this weekend in Manchester. And there's no better way to sum up their performance than that, I'm afraid.
The impossibly-cool-yet-somehow-still-relatable Californian family trio are fresh off a big Glastonbury spot. But their One More Haim Tour leads with a refreshing intimacy that could belie one of the biggest bands in the world right now.
Far from one of the most successful and exciting representatives of The Girl Band, the Haim family makes you feel like just that.
READ MORE: The best places in Manchester for after-work drinks
Two hours of practicing dance numbers, putting on shows for your parents and sleeping over with your sisters in your front room. Eating far too much sugar, talking about your crushes and latest break ups, and perhaps getting a little carpet burn on the way.
For the Haim sisters on stage, that feeling couldn't have been truer. They confessed early doors that mum and dad were actually at the Victoria Warehouse Manchester show on Saturday.
Just as their latest album, Women In Music Pt. III, earned critical acclaim for being the group's most realised yet, the same can be said for their show. This is a band which has been around the block and it shows, they are comfortable and settled in what they can and want to give to their crowd.
It's a charming and genuine stage presence that creates a truly loving back and forth. Their show felt like a bit of a hug and a chat with your best mates.
And opening with a Phil Colllins-esque breakdown of Now I'm In It, their enviable musicianship - each sister able to deftly swap between instruments and vocals - was on glorious display.
Alana, who also beautifully slipped into a leading acting role with Oscar-nominated Licorice Pizza last year, had euphoric moments on the keys. Danielle, who typically leads the vocals, held court on drums.
Este, famous for her bass face which recently went viral on TikTok, gave a fantastically early 00s solo with 3AM, a la JoJo's Leave Get Out. Arguably, however, the sisters are best at their most threadbare with acoustic songs like Hallelujah.
That's when you can really hear those harmonies you know they have spent their entire lives working on - on holidays and in cars, long before they ever got to the studio. Live on stage, there's that extra bit of magic which you just can't quite appreciate on Spotify.
But for all their artistic maturity, the triple threat - in every sense of the phrase - have kept a cheeky sense of humour and their bold attitude. They're unafraid of a sax solo, a 70s reference, throwing their hair back and letting go. It's freeing.
Haim has long paved the way for the likes of Wet Leg as far as proudly-women-led rock goes. It's plain to see they've got plenty more road to create for themselves.
And for all of those who have seen the viral TikTok of Este’s bass face - yes, it was out in full force. No, it's not going anywhere.
Get the latest What's On news - from food and drink to music and nightlife - straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
