Paramore

Annals of the Homestarmy

Friday, May 14. 2010

Posted by The Mad Giggler in Personal Entry

Comments (3)

So, most of you probably know that I've been caught being unfaithful. . .to my favorite band. At some point I started listening to Paramore more than U2. This put me in a difficult position when I had to choose to go with friends to see U2 or go by myself to see Paramore. With some hesitation I opted to see the U2 360 Claw Monster tour. Then, on Mother's Day, I was informed that my mother-in-law would very much like to see Paramore (the next night) and would I be interested. Of course I was interested. I know I'm not cool, so what do I care if all those kids 10+ years younger than me think I'm weird for going to a concert with my mother-in-law. There were still a few upper-bowl tickets available, so Monday night "ladybug" and I drove out to Sideshow's neck of the woods and attended an extremely fun show.

The opening band was Fun. You can stream their latest album here or download a free mp3 from Amazon here. Ladybug compared their lead singer to Mick Jagger, and I'll admit he had some really good stage presence.

The second band was Relient K. You may remember their single "Must Have Done Something Right" from a few years back. I didn't feel that their live show was very impressive.

Paramore was, of course, awesome. Hayley is an incredible performer. She has more energy than a nuclear reactor - which is probably why I could barely speak after scream-singing for two hours straight.

They played the following songs from their catalog (all of which are excellent):

Looking Up
Playing God
Pressure
For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic
Brighter
Turn it off
The Only Exception
Whoa
crushcrushcrush
Let the Flames Begin
Ignorance
Where the Lines Overlap
Careful
Brick by Boring Brick

Encore:
Decode
Misery Business

I was especially happy about "Brighter." They dedicated it to their fans who owned their first album "All We Know is Falling" and I'd tweeted a request for it when they came to town last year. The crowd was almost completely into the show. Right before the final chorus of "Whoa" the band paused while Hayley cajoled everyone to stand up. Personally I was flabbergasted that anyone would sit through a rock concert, but there you go. At the end of "Brick by Boring Brick" the crowd was so revved up that my ears started ringing. For a half-house at the E Center, that was really, really loud. Like TCU vs Utah in 2008 loud.

Here are some pixelated pictures I took from my phone: