The Haim sisters, corned beef on rye, the musical stylings of Britney Spears, an appearance from Rostam Batmanglij -- there was much to like, and little to kvetch about, at the first date on Haim’s intimate Deli Tour on Tuesday (March 10).
A lucky few fans were invited to Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner on 3rd Avenue in New York City, where Este, Danielle and Alan Haim managed to cut the mustard despite the small space. Backed by a keyboardist, saxophonist and collaborator Batmanglij, Haim stripped it down and hammed it up, performing a mostly acoustic set in the middle of the deli as attendees noshed on matzah ball soup and choices of corned beef, pastrami or turkey sandwiches. (Pickles and coleslaw also flowed freely.)
While the four-song set was a highlight in itself, one particularly choice moment came when they performed a cover of Britney Spears’ "I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman," preceded by a lengthy intro from Este about the importance of the 2002 film Crossroads, which undeniably impacted her life and career. For what it’s worth, her Britney impression was spot-on.
The Haim Deli Tour, presented by American Express Experiences, will also make stops in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver and L.A. You can sign up for the date of your choice for a chance to see them perform here. The tour is in celebration of their upcoming album Women In Music Pt III; Haim also played their first-ever gig at Los Angeles' Canters Deli in 2000.
And yes, each of these shows are tiny, but it’s matzo bad -- the tickets are free! A pretty good dill, all things considered.
Check out a few clips below:
When @HAIMtheband does a pop up performance in an iconic New York deli >>>#HAIMDeliTour pic.twitter.com/ZkqCuKNY2S
— Columbia Records (@ColumbiaRecords) March 11, 2020
HAIM x BRITNEY SPEARS pic.twitter.com/GOexKQjvbq
— Claire Shaffer (@claireeshaffer) March 11, 2020
Setlist:
The Wire
The Steps (with Rostam)
I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman (Britney Spears cover)
Summer Girl