Minglewood Hall is staying busy with big-name shows this month, the latest being an appearance from indie-pop band HAIM this Tuesday night. The project of three sisters (Danielle, Alana, and Este), HAIM exploded onto the indie-rock scene in 2007, although Este Haim had spent time as a touring guitarist for Jenny Lewis and Julian Casablancas (formerly of the Strokes). On the surface HAIM come across like the musical embodiment of an Urban Outfitters, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find a band using some of the same studio tricks that made artists like Phil Collins and Fleetwood Mac household names.
Tom Beard
And while the band definitely owes something to the indie-pop acts that came before them (Twin Sister), there is something distinctly mainstream about the music HAIM creates, with the group citing Justin Timberlake as well as Beyoncé as influences. Since releasing their debut album Days Are Gone in 2013, the band has been on the major festival circuit, making friends with Grimes and Taylor Swift, with Swift offering the band select opening dates on her massive 1989 World Tour.
Opening for HAIM is Cam Avery, the Australian multi-instrumentalist who is most known for his contributions to Tame Impala. Avery’s music is nowhere near as commercially viable as HAIM’s, as he creates mellow pop ballads with hints of lounge-music thrown in here and there. The airy music that lingers in the background of Avery’s songs makes way for his deep, crooning vocals, and, although he does play in a few psychedelic bands other than Tame Impala, you won’t find hear any fuzzy psych-rock when Avery takes the stage Tuesday night.
