Jonathan Geddes's verdict: Four stars

For all that Haim have been portrayed as the coolest kids on the pop block, there is a playful daftness to them.

A bra lobbed at the stage was swiftly donned by bassist Este, who proceeded to wear it as an unlikely bunnet, while sister Alana gleefully accepted a selection of early birthday gifts, including a soft toy of the Loch Ness Monster.

Perhaps this is one reason why they've already won such a dedicated fan base, blending the don't mess with us attitude of a serious rock band with the goofy fun often found in good pop.

The other reason, of course, is that they have a fine selection of tunes, and the punchy Don't Save Me and more skittish, slow-burning Honey & I bounced along.

Unsurprisingly, the pop shine of their debut album was dirtied down, particularly on a furious version of My Song 5 that featured instrumental breaks that called to mind swamp rock colliding with hip-hop.

Occasionally the sound could be too strong, and lead vocalist Danielle fared worst, with her voice somewhat lost early on, particularly on a oddly sluggish Falling.

Her sisters' backing vocals tended to come to the rescue, as did their banter-heavy nature, and this was a gig that benefited from their charm, riding through a couple of songs that were stuck at a crossroads between rock and pop.

That understanding of how to play to a crowd - all dramatic poses, wild facial expressions and clap-along encouragement - ensured momentum was rarely lost though, particularly with Este a driving presence.

When they got it right musically, as on the melodic sugar rush of Forever and a manic version of Let Me Go that concluded with all three sisters drumming away, it was exhilarating.