HAIM kicked off a new performance in their hometown of Los Angeles yesterday, and dropped a new track dedicated to the late rock artist Lou Reed entitled “Summer Girl.” This performance took place at the Teragram ballroom and was the group’s first piece of new music in nearly two years.

“This one’s for Lou Reed,” the group’s co-lead vocalist and guitarist Danielle Haim stated as a steady drum rhythm started off the song in the background. This performance held a variety of unique instruments such as saxophone and upright bass,as Danielle Haim sang the songs lyrics with her soothing voice. The new track is reminiscent to Lou Reed’s calmer work, as the track remains mild and soothing throughout the entire six-minute performance.

This hometown Los Angeles show is relatively small compared to other performances the band has planned, which includes the upcoming Pitchfork Music festival. Accompanying the band dfuriung the festival will be poop singer Robyn and influential post-rock performers Stereolab, who are holding their first live performances in a few years.

Booking festival performances, and securing a just amount of money for their scheduled performances has been difficult in the past for Haim, who fired their previous agent upon learning that a male performer was paid 10 times more than they were.“We had been told that our fee was very low because you played at the festival in the hope that you’d get played on the radio,” Danielle Haim stated when announcing the controversy.

As sisters the performers banded together and eventually fired their agent.

“That’s why I love my sisters so much,” Alana Haim said. “I trust them with my fucking life. We’re all in this together. But it’s scary out there and it’s fucked up. It’s fucked up not even to be paid half the same amount. But to be paid a tenth of that amount of money? It was insane.”

Although the performers fires their previous manager they have expressed distaste for the lack of transparency regarding the music industry.

“It’s so hard to check: everything’s so secretive about how much people are getting paid,” Danielle Haim elaborated  regarding the controversy further“and that’s bullshit.”

Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna

UPDATE (8/1): HAIM have released a new single entitled “Summer Girl,” co-produced by Rostam Batmanglij formerly of Vampire Weekend and Ariel Rechtshaid. Check out the music video, directed by acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson below.