ACL Review: Haim

Days Are Gone, Haim’s 2013 debut and only album, spins polished effervescence – a clean, late-Eighties pop/rock sheen akin to injecting Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” with bigger drums, bass, and adrenaline, then stretching it into LP length. The kind of collection so glossy it’s easy to write off as bubblegum pop, and Haim as a “fun” band.

And the Southern Californians’ 7pm set on the HomeAway stage embodied fun, but built on the Haim sisters’ musical chops – notably band backbone Danielle Haim, singer and insane shredder.

Opening with “If I Could Change Your Mind,” the Haim ladies came out the gate totally transparent about their elation. It didn’t matter they were playing an enormous set. They felt totally accessible, particularly during the Este-led cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” the bassist’s cheesy dance moves preceding her singing into her sister’s face like a scene from their kitchen back home in the San Fernando Valley instead of a major festival stage.

Between the rest of the songs, a set including “The Wire,” searing “My Song 5” (where Alana Haim almost lost a drumstick), and new tracks “Give Me Just a Little of Your Love” and “Nothing’s Wrong,” Haim remained emphatic about their love for Austin, recounting the South by Southwest that landed them a record deal. Closer “Falling” culminated in an insane, unexpected drum solo spanning over five minutes, all three Haim sisters pummeling away.

“Less talk, more rock, motherfuckers!” Este roared at one point. The F-bomb tally during their onstage banter clocked in at 23.

Bold statement, but they didn’t follow through, offering equal helpings of both.