Paramore Puts on a Perfect Performance Balancing Playing New & Old Hits on This Is Why Tour

By Tallulah Totten

Photo by Zachary Gray

The Linda Lindas opened the night and played through a garage alt-rock sounding set. Establishing themselves as young talent with only a bright future ahead, their youngest member, Mila del la Garza, is just 12 years old. With the ages of the band members being similar to that of the ages of Paramore when they started performing, there is that same bright spark that Paramore had to make a name for themselves. Seeing a bit of themselves in the band, it’s easy to see why Paramore chose the band to open for them on their biggest tour yet.

The second UK-based opening act, The Foals, were crowned one of Paramore’s favorite bands by lead singer Hayley Williams. Feeding off the anticipation for the headliner, the band played a rhythmic and groovy set. With billowy vocals and tropical sounding guitar riffs, the band’s live performance transported the crowd to an alt-rock island far away—leaving everyone in high spirits before Paramore took the stage.

When the lights shut off and the sound of Williams’ voice began to echo throughout the arena, the crowd began to go crazy. As the soft spoken tour intro concluded, the band made their way onto the stage and took their respective places. With a single spotlight beaming down on  guitarist Taylor York, he kick-started the set playing the opening notes to “You First”—the first track off their new album This Is Why. The crowd's energy quickly went from a 10/10 to an 11/10 as the band transitioned into 2015 hit “That’s What You Get.”

The loudest screams of the night were saved for the band’s song “Decode,” which appeared on the Twilight Original Soundtrack  in 2008. Transporting fans back to the early 2000’s for a few minutes at a time during their set, the band balanced plenty of new hits and nods to their early works. With other songs like “Playing God” and “The Only Exception” on the setlist, plenty of nostalgia was experienced by their day one fans.

Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the night would be the intro to “Big Man, Little Dignity.'' Lead singer Williams made everyone hold their pinkies high in the air in sync with the parts of the song where “Little Dignity” was sung. Before starting the song, Williams made everyone promise to hold those in power accountable and told the audience that the gesture was symbolic of more than a promise... 

About halfway through their set, the band made their way to the B-stage (a tiny platform located on the back of the mainstage). As the band was lifted up on the platform for the whole arena to view, they began to play “Liar,”  a song about Williams’ experience falling in love with the band’s guitarist Taylor York. The song discusses the hesitation she felt when entering into a healthy and respectful relationship. After playing through the honest love song, she transitioned into “Crystal Clear” a song from her debut solo album Petals for Armor—which York helped her produce. As the song concluded, the lights dimmed and the band was brought back down to the mainstage to finish out the show. 

Drummer Zac Farro left his drum kit and came to the front of the stage for a brief moment to sing “Baby”—a song by his other project/band HalfNoise. After grooving out and being the front man of the band for a song, Farro returned to his kit to conclude the set. 

Following “Baby,” the band played their ever-so-iconic hit “Misery Business”—pausing at the climax of the song to invite a couple of fans onstage to finish out the remainder of the song with the band. The two fans—both animated and overjoyed—gave the moment on stage their all as they screamed along and head-banged alongside Williams. It’s no secret that Paramore holds a special place in their heart for their fans. They show their love by creating memorable experiences during their shows such as inviting fans onstage during “Misery Business” or inviting them to the Paramoat (a back part of the stage cut out for fans to experience the show as close as they possibly can) during the encore. At this show in particular, Williams even shouted out a couple of fans who had been going to shows since the band's early days when they would open for others at the SOMA. 

Concluding the night with several rounds of confetti and lead single “This Is Why,” the band left the stage, grinning ear to ear as they took the energy of an arena full of some of their biggest fans in.