Haim performing at Boston Calling 2016. Photo by Ross Ketschke
By Erin Hussey
The female driven pop-rock group HAIM, made up of Los Angele’s based sisters Este, Danielle, Alana Haim were absolutely exhilarating in their performance at Boston Calling. Loaded with two new songs, a thrilling yet therapeutic Prince cover, and so much more, these ladies were easily one of most well received acts of the entire weekend.
Rattled off into one of the catchiest hits off their 2013 debut LP Days Are Gone, “If I Could Change Your Mind”. Este’s signature “bassface” (facial expression) came out in full force along with her playful banter as she proclaimed, “I [expletive] love you Boston.”
Este led the ladies into a sensational tribute to Prince with their cover of “I Would Die 4 U” by gently asking the audience to do her the honor of singing along. On the pulsing purple soaked stage, electricity coursed through Este’s sultry dance moves and into the crowd. Cheers were emitted from the audience when earlier act Christine & The Queens were brought on stage. Both groups were perfectly succinct in their oscillating dance as
Haim at Boston Calling 2016. Photo by Ross Ketschke
Danielle Haim raged on her guitar. The crowd surrounding the stage noticeably grew as the song progressed, and I sat on edge to see how HAIM could get better.
However, the energy never faltered. Reeling off their Prince high, they continued with punchy retro-rock favorite “Forever”.
The ladies brought out two new songs, including the bouncy “Give Me Just a Little of Your Love” and the more brooding “Nothing’s Wrong”, both with synth tinged rhythms reminiscent of the 70’s and 80’s. Concertgoers on the outskirts of the larger crowd could be seen bopping, dancing, and clapping for favorites such as “Falling,” and the guitar charged “The Wire”. Boston didn’t stop moving, even for the mellower “Honey & I,” as they grabbed each other and swayed to HAIM’S more soothing hums.
HAIM’s combination of fun and funky fresh beats, raw guitar, and bumping bass psyched Boston Calling, ready to finish out the evening with electronic music duo Disclosure
