A top hits track list, unbeatable stage presence and leaving your audience wanting more (or an encore) is my idea of a perfect concert.
The addition of a glorious sunset over Margate was the cherry on top whilst watching HAIM, who had returned from a five-year music hiatus to bless Kent with a first-listen to their new album.
When the pop-rock trio of sisters from Los Angeles announced they were playing a one-off concert at Dreamland, I genuinely couldn’t believe my luck.
Having listened to them since their first release, Days Are Gone in 201,3 all the way to their collaboration with the one and only Taylor Swift with Gasoline, it was truly a “dream” come true.
Este, Danielle and Alana’s new album, called I Quit, is raw and outlandish. It is perfect for a summer break-up and a “what are we?” relationship mess in a medley.
As it had only been released on Friday, June 20, I was scrambling to listen to all the tracks this week before their performance yesterday (June 27).
Known for their hit singles, The Wire, Falling, The Steps and Now I’m In It, I can safely say the fourth album certainly lives up to the hype live.
Who needs to drive more than three hours to Glastonbury when you have a Kopparberg, crispy chicken bao buns and HAIM on a 50-minute train ride away?
First up was the support act. Although many may be confused as to why Margate’s Social Singing Choir were picked, the reason was really sweet.
In the lead-up to the concert, they had been sharing videos and photos of them on social media singing HAIM songs in a mission to get on the stage – and it worked!
The group, which performed a full 45-minute set, chose a mix of Chappell Roan, Beyoncé and of course some HAIM classics.
My favourite was Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. It was a beautiful rendition as the sun set behind the crowd.
The LA girls finally came on at around 9.15pm, kicking things off with The Wire, which got everyone raring to go.
During their set, an LED scrolling sign featured throughout – similar to ones you’d see in the stock exchange, on the tube or advertising a new vape flavour outside a random corner shop.
It flashed up red with the words “I quit thinking I’m the problem”, “I quit isolation” and “I quit giving up” in response to each song.
During their new track Relationships, which was released as a single earlier in March, the sign hinted at some of their own personal complications with their ex-partners.
Other songs played from their new album, which included Blood on the Street, Down to be Wrong and Everybody’s Trying to Figure Me Out, were all well-received.
At one point, Alana shouted out “Margate how are you doing?” – five words I never thought I’d hear coming out of her mouth.
She added: “Should we go out after this? Someone recommended a drink at The Harbour Arms.”
I wonder what they thought of the Turner Contemporary, the Wetherspoons pub down the road or even the Crab Museum?
With a blockbuster UK tour ahead of them in October – which includes a night at London’s O2 Arena – this venue felt much more intimate.
I was so used to watching them on television live at Glastonbury, hearing about their performance at Reading and Leeds, or most recently their set at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool.
Danielle even had a tear in her eye (which then surprisingly set off her sisters) as she openly revealed how shocked she was to find that people were embracing their new tracks, just days after releasing them.
But all good things come to an end and HAIM left the stage quite abruptly at 10.30pm sharp, leaving myself and others chanting for more.
Sadly, that wasn’t the case and after a stellar hour and 15 minute-long performance – that was it.
Maybe they were heading off to Glastonbury for a secret performance…we will just have to wait and see.
HAIM has kicked off the Margate Summer Series, which includes a string of outdoor concerts featuring artists such as Tom Jones, The Libertines and Sugababes.
