Before becoming irreversibly engrossed with the artists who are going to cause a storm in 2014, let’s just take a moment to pop those ultra cool Californian sisters up on the pedestal of 2013. To deliver an album so infectious, that your exceedingly uncool uncle name drops them (with correct pronunciation) into a conversation at the Christmas gathering is the sign of a band worth remembering. Days Are Gone was unquestionably a masterpiece, and after months of waiting, the devoted fans of Leeds finally got to see Haim in the flesh.

Arriving midway through the second song (disciplinary action for the promoter who decided to start the headline slot at 8:20pm), we scuttled into what appeared to be the only square metre of space left in the Leeds Met Union. Conversational snippets soon informed us that dance fuelled ‘Falling’ was the opener we had missed; although thankfully, before we had time to sob, the first power chord of ‘The Wire’ shook the building and we were instantly captivated. The girls were just as remarkable as imagined – a concoction of Pantene hair swishes, certified Hendrix guitar twiddles and an air of unpretentious coolness managed to unite a seemingly disparate crowd with fierce sing-alongs and unashamedly bad dancing, myself included. Will anyone garner such a widespread audience in 2014? Hats off to Haim and their year of glory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TffpkE2GU4

Check out Haim’s ‘The Wire’ below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TffpkE2GU4

Adam Nealon