After the drum intro to Haim’s “The Steps,” my wife grabbed my arm and asked, “Is the floor shaking?”
The balcony of TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia was indeed quaking to kick off Haim’s “I Quit” tour Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
Flowerovlove hyped up the crowd and debuted “I’m Your First” and, in a moment I’d never seen before, invited a member of the audience onstage just so they could hear the roar of the crowd.
Another first was a loading percentage graphic of Haim’s setup, which kept fans entertained along with those watching football on their phones because, just 30 minutes away, the Philadelphia Eagles were playing their home opener.
Mirroring the album artwork for “I Quit,” a sign with the same loading bar flashed “I quit” messages over a prerecorded audio track at 8:53 p.m.
When the stage lights came on, the three Haim sisters — Este, Danielle and Alana — each stood in their own cutout squares, with Danielle illuminated as she shredded the first of many guitar solos of the night.
Having been a fan since 2017, what struck me most was how talented each sister is: Este is an amazing bass player and singer; Danielle is a triple threat on vocals, guitar and drums; and Alana can do it all — hype up the crowd, play guitar, mandolin, keyboards and percussion.
Alana swapped her Fender Stratocaster for an acoustic as the band broke into “All Over Me” while the sign displayed “I Quit Clothing.” She introduced the “I Quit” tour, shouted out her neon-green-shirt-wearing family in the crowd, and the words “I Quit Your Shit” appeared as the band launched into “My Song 5.”
The rain effects that opened “Cry” weren’t needed, as a steady downpour that had delayed the Eagles game soaked the lawn crowd.
With some help from the audience, Alana borrowed sunglasses for courage to sing “Spinning.” “I Quit Giving Up” appeared on the sign during “Don’t Wanna,” and “I Quit Resisting Love” flashed during “Lucky Stars.”
The counter ticked up to one million for “Million Years,” punctuated by Este raising her bass high in triumph.
The stage went black and the sisters appeared stage left, interacting with the sign overhead. When the sign asked, “When is Danielle getting on the drums?” the crowd roared as she kicked off “The Steps.” Danielle made singing and drumming look effortless, while Alana filled in the melody seamlessly before picking up the mandolin again for “Love You Right.”
Danielle called “Gasoline” her favorite song she’s ever written, and it was one of the night’s highlights — powerful, overwhelming and unforgettable live.
The sisters’ stage presence is undeniable. Danielle is a natural frontwoman while Este and Alana nearly put on their own shows at either side of the stage, occasionally synchronizing hair flips during “Blood on the Street.”
The band regrouped center stage — “That’s how you know we mean business,” Alana joked — for “The Farm.” Later, Danielle forgot the lyrics to “Hallelujah,” which Alana couldn’t stop laughing through like a Saturday Night Live cast member breaking character.
They were joined by two additional musicians: Nick on guitar, keys and sax, and Ryan on drums, freeing Danielle and Alana to both play guitar.
Este had plenty of shining moments, but my favorite was her bass solo on “Want You Back,” the song that first made me a Haim fan.
“Relationships” brought some of the night’s funniest moments with break-up stories from the crowd flashing on the sign and Mrs. Haim flipping the audience off as she danced, drawing screams so loud Danielle turned around to check the screen mid-song.
The set closed with “Now It’s Time,” the lyrics appearing karaoke-style on the screen.
The sign teased, “You guys do know there’s an encore right?” and, at 10:29 p.m., the sisters returned for “The Wire.”
I can count only twice when I’ve seen an artist leave the stage and go into the crowd — once Mike Love of The Beach Boys and now Alana Haim, who at 10:34 p.m. took off her guitar and jumped into the pit.
Don’t miss Haim on the “I Quit” tour Sept. 10 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. See all the tour dates via the Haim website.
Haim Sept. 4, 2025 at THe Mann Center in Philadelphia Setlist
Intro
Gone
All over me
Take me back
My Song 5
Cry
Spinning
Don’t Wanna
Lucky stars
Million years
Drum Trio Set:
The Steps
Love you right
Gasoline
Everybody’s trying to figure me out
Blood on the street
Acoustic Set:
The farm
Hallelujah
Full band:
Summer Girl
Want You Back
Relationships
Now it’s time
Encore:
The Wire
