Concert Review with PHOTOS: Paramore
Photos by Matt Henry
Artist: Paramore
Date / Venue: Tuesday February 13th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
The definition of fan-girl states:
- (of a female fan) behave in an obsessive or overexcited way.
"I'm still fangirling over this casting"
The definition of Lisa Diedricks last night at the Paramore concert:
- (of a female fan) behave in an obsessive or overexcited way.
"I'm still fangirling over this casting"
Reeling in from one of the best moments of 2018 so far, one of my favourite bands of all time, Paramore, performed at Auckland’s Spark Arena last night, and delivered a combined night of pop and punk perfectly.
“We’ve been growing and changing in front of your eyes since 2005, and we owe this all to you, our family…” front woman Hayley Williams stated before going into one of my most loved songs of all time “That’s What You Get”. The crowed deemed loyal and supportive throughout the entire show, and it seemed that not only have the band grown and changed in the last 13 years, so did us fans. As their music used to depict “Misery Business” if you will, it’s clear to see that the band, over the years have changed their messages and energy into what they believe in and what they want to portray in their music to their fans.
As I watched their opening act, Jersey alternative band, Bleachers, I couldn’t help but be impressed once again with a supporting act that complimented the main act so well! They brought so much energy and promise to the night that it was hard to believe they didn’t have a longer set. A sense of pre-empted nostalgia waved over everyone from their synth-rock sound and creativity. Front man Jack Antonoff was amazed by our countries beautiful landscape, being the band’s first time here in NZ, they were wow’d by the incredible support they got on stage.
Paramore have this way of combining instrumental and lyrical intensity to their music, but from the opening track Hard Times (subtly mixed with Blondie's Heart of Glass ) it was Hayley that dominated and lead the stage the entire night. Hard Times trail blazed the rest of the night for a thriving and thrilling barricade of anthems, including the crowd pleaser, Still Into You and the memorable sing a long of Told You So.
A beautifully diverse specimen when it comes to look and sound, Williams' astonishingly breath taking vocal resisted to falter, during the night, and it’s rare, even when gracing the crowd to her well known signature high kicks, head banding and sexy two stepping, her delivery to every single note and riff, remained unbelievable.
Artists often are forced to choose between genres in which they are suited for and what markets they will attract in doing so. More times than one, punk bands they tend to stay away from too much pop to establish solid “rock” credibility as their careers deem to be doing well in the charts. Paramore, with confidence, are now dominating in both worlds – and not sticking to a script continues to set them apart.
Most of the night, the band kept the crowd mesmerised, and singing along, with a slim- to minimal loss of focus No Friends, where Hayley Williams decided to lay on the ground the entire duration of the song and mouth the words of the ballad. Many fans seemed concerned, but soon realised that even the best need a quick break in between songs. Especially when you’re going as hard as Paramore. Rapidly, the show was brought back to the energetically induced, when Williams nailed Hate to See Your Heart Break, firstly talking to the crowd about how important friendship was and how we need to love each other, no matter what. The night took an incredible turn, when tradition came alive here in NZ once again, when Williams invited a fan to help her finish off Misery Business.
The night was slowly coming to an end, as the band slowly exited the stage, but with a roar of “ENCORE” raging through the arena, they ran back on to finish with the pop fun Rose-Coloured Boy, complete with a mixing into Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and if it wasn’t apparent before, it is now, Williams’ star power is reigning to the top of the industries greats.
Being 4 years since they last graced NZ shores, Williams promised to not wait that long again, and declaring Auckland being one of their most loved places to visit.
Once again, the band itself brought so much more than what I was expecting, and completely had me star stuck all night. I’ve been a Paramore fan since I was 15 and last night I got to relive my entire childhood with people who without a doubt were sharing the same excitement as me. As Williams repeatedly joked with the crowd to “…get their dancing shoes on and tie them tight” I was comfortable in my chair, banging my head, remembering every childhood memory, basking in the ambiance that was Paramore.