Live Review: Paramore - AO Arena, Manchester 18/04/2023
It’s been such a turbulent time since punk powerhouse Paramore last embarked on a UK tour, and after five years, the patience has run out. Taking the stage at Manchester’s AO Arena, it’s time to get back into the business of misery.
Starting the night off is folk-rock artist Rozi Plain. Someone who is no stranger to music, Plain was accompanied by a group of musician friends, helping her bring her soft and mellow sound to the thousands of attendees. Being a stripped-back, toned-down act, she made for a warm welcome to the crowd as the arena slowly filled up. Localised within the front of the stage with all the equipment they needed, Plain and co. brought out the small-scale hometown feel. As if she was back at home in London, she still filled the sizeable space with her gentle guitar riffs and her thoughtful vocals. The best opening act is a welcoming act. Rozi Plain welcomed everyone with her arms wide open and her voice soothing as sunshine.
Following on is Bloc Party, one of the UK’s most exciting indie rock acts right now. A band that’s made a name for itself in its own right over the decades with stellar hits such as ‘Helicopter’ and ‘Banquet’, they are near perfect reflections to their headline tourmates. Debuting music almost 20 years ago, the London rockers have shown that they’re right at home in an arena environment and the audience more than agrees.
Frontman Kele Okereke especially takes advantage of the masses surrounding him as he jokes and jabs between songs. He also shows his sweet and empathetic side as he takes the time to cheer on the assistants helping him and his fellow bandmates. There are many bands who deserve success, admiration and accolades; after many years of service within UK music, it’s time Bloc Party got what they deserve.
Now the crowd are ready, the supports have given their time and talent, there’s no more time to waste. Welcome to the stage once again, after so long and so much, Paramore.
Opening with a beautifully recited poem, the lights came on and the band ran right to their places. Hitting the night off with ‘You First’ and ‘The News’, both taken from their most recent release This Is Why, it’s a bold way to begin but the crowd were loving it. They knew every single word, echoing it back to the main woman of the night Hayley Williams. Someone who never shied away from showing her euphoric feeling to playing and performing, Williams wasted no time getting herself and her fans hyped up. Shaking and shimmying, bringing a Debby Harry-like sense of style and pizzazz, the night showed her and the group’s love of the magic of decades past. This will come back with the ‘Heart of Glass’ sample teased within ‘Hard Times’, and closing out ‘Rose-Colored Boy’ with Houston hit ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’. After Laughter holds a special place within Williams and co’s heart as the last tour cycle before their hiatus, and shows clear influences with dance and slight techno aspects being used throughout.
Williams gave a hint to the controversy they once faced in response to the previous record, thanking the audience for sticking with the band throughout the years and changing and growing up alongside them. Self-awareness about their own changes and growths have brought them closer than ever to the people who got them to that stage, and being grateful for everything shows the humility and the depth of their dedication to their art. Paramore do this better than most long-term bands, and ‘This Is Why’ they’re still here today.
Showing how to keep everyone’s interests in mind, they take breaks from their regularly scheduled performance to tone it down for a moment to give drummer Zac Farro a moment to bring his side project HalfNoise to the forefront to perform a new song, ‘Baby’. Following this, Williams brings her band back together for a special performance of Brand New Eyes track ‘Misguided Ghosts’. This is a thank-you for the long-term fans, some who may have heard this track last live in the UK over 10 years ago and some who may have only dreamt of such an event. This would not be the last live Brand New Eyes treat.
As shown on previous performances in their US tour, the rockers have brought out a tune that has never seen the light of a stage before this year. A little fan-favourite called ‘All I Wanted’. This has become one of the most anticipated songs on the setlist, and it was easy to see why. The lyrics were being screamed harder and louder with every recital of those special three words. Fans were cheering, crying, clapping throughout. If there is one song that every Paramore fan needs to hear live, just for the unity and the togetherness, it’s ‘All I Wanted’. Here’s hoping it becomes a new staple of the band’s touring antics.
Alongside ‘All I Wanted’, there was another song all in attendance were waiting all night to hear. The single that’s synonymous with Paramore. The single many feared would never ever be performed again after Williams announced its retirement years back. The universally known and loved ‘Misery Business’ came back in full force, with Williams bringing on three fortunate fans to assist her on the overly empowering bridge and final chorus. Accidentally finding herself three musicians - including the lead singer of Manchester’s now hottest new band Peaness - the whole room went crazy and the business was nowhere near misery. To quote Williams’ own lyrics: god, it feels so good to hear this track in full glory once again.
Closing out the night with the Tennessee trio’s signature love ballad ‘The Only Exception’ and comeback tune ‘This Is Why’, there was no better way to say “goodbye, see you later” than showing the entire arena that this is only the beginning of a new stage of their career. There is no more hiding away, no more staying out of the studio or locking the guitars in the closets. This is a brand new start and it’s as exciting as when the three musicians were just kids in venue halls.
Williams salutes her way off stage, stating one last time, “We are Paramore”.
Now, then, forever and always. There will always be Paramore.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
Photography provide by Atlantic / Photo credit: Zachary Gray
