Paramore: LIVE at the O2 Arena
American rock band Paramore have seen a lot of change throughout their 15 years together, most notably with the line up of the band. Now the tension between members has gone and instead the differencing music tastes have
come together and created something beautiful. It was this rock solid formation between Hayley Williams, Zac Farro and Taylor York that I witnessed during their dynamic and powerful performance at The O2 on Friday 12th January.
Along with four backing musicians, they powered through hits such as 'Ignorance', 'That’s What You Get' and 'Ain’t It Fun', with lead singer Hayley Williams dancing around the stage, interacting with the crowd and demonstrating her incredible vocal talent. As an audience member you could feel the upbeat and happy atmosphere running through you, it warmed you and made you smile to see the utter joy that the band onstage projected. Pausing in between songs Hayley talked of how the last time the band played The O2 back in 2010 they weren’t in a good place, but quickly demolished these bad memories by emphasising how much better things are now.
Arguably the song that started it all for the Paramore, Hayley introduced 'Misery Business' telling the O2, “We are not those people, and neither are you, so, let’s hit this one together and celebrate that we’ve done a lot of growing up since then.” It’s somewhat admirable to see a singer perform old songs while acknowledging that 15 years on she’s not the same person who wrote those lyrics of teenage angst. Throughout their time together Paramore have had their fair share of struggles but it is their acceptation of change that has made them the band they are today.
“It’s been an honour to grow up in front of you,” Hayley Williams shyly told the packed out audience, who instantly met her with screams of love. Whatever they are performing or whoever is in the band, one thing is for sure, they will always be Paramore.
Paramore's fifth studio album After Laughter is out NOW.