Between a sold-out tour with superstar ska-punk band No Doubt, producing music for the overwhelmingly popular "Twilight" soundtrack and releasing their third full-length album, "Brand New Eyes," it has been a busy year for Paramore. The Tennessee-based quintet is no stranger to success; they have been on the road for weeks, promoting their new album to thousands of dedicated pop-punk fans across North America. Their performance in Toronto - the only Canadian stop on the tour - at the Kool Haus on October 15th demonstrated what has been fueling Paramore's drive to success.
Despite suffering from laryngitis and postponing several concerts on the Brand New Eyes tour, lead vocalist Hayley Williams stayed strong throughout the entire show, with the help of her band mates Josh Farro (lead guitar), Jeremy Davis (bass), Zac Farro (drums) and the newest addition to the band, Taylor York (rhythm guitar). The band as a whole put on a spectacle at its best, revealing exactly why the crowd, consisting of mostly teenage girls, spent $40 per ticket to watch the band perform their 17-song show.
Paramore opened their set with an emotional introductory song written specifically for the tour. The crowd remained quiet while Josh Farro entered the stage alone, playing a dark and heart wrenching melody; Williams and the rest of the band soon joined in the powerful harmony, leading up to the band's latest single "Ignorance". The crowd soon began to warm up to the band, belting out lyrics to fan-favourites like "That's What You Get" and "CrushCrushCrush;" songs that were evidently perfected by the band before heading out on tour.
Although the acoustics of the venue were terrible, Paramore sounded great debuting songs from their new album, including the energetic "Careful," sing-along "Where the Lines Overlap" and the faith-based "Turn It Off." Despite his young age, Zac Farro's talents particularly shone during these new songs, as he hammered away fiercely at his drum kit throughout the night.
The band continued to encourage the crowd to sing along throughout their set. Their interaction with the fans was pleasing and further demonstrated their passion for playing music night after night.
Paramore closed the show with the Twilight-esque "Decode," in which Williams experienced vocal difficulties. Her voice went from exemplary to mediocre; however she was able to quickly bounce back, hitting high notes throughout the chorus. The band then transitioned into the soft and elegant melody of the "outro" of the show (originally written for the song "Miracle" off their sophomore album "Riot!"), ending the show in an exceptionally peaceful state.
Upon exiting the stage, the crowd chanted for more, and the band was back for their three-song encore, consisting of the intimate acoustic ballad "Misguided Ghosts" and their claim-to-fame "Misery Business."
Williams later commented that she was "ready to attack" as the band burst into their final song of the encore, "Brick by Boring Brick." The energy of the show reached its peak when the music stopped and opening bands Paper Route and The Swellers joined Paramore on stage to belt out the concluding lyrics of the song.
The immense planning that went on behind the scenes was quite obvious once the show was over. Between lighting, the stage setting and the song arrangement, it was clear that the Paramore crew put a lot of effort into making the concert a great and foolproof experience.
The growing success of Paramore was quite evident the entire night, through their stage presence and the emotion expressed in each song. The five young adults have most definitely become accustomed to playing music for a living; this comfort allows for each member to show their true talents on stage. When the group forms together as one, they create an energetic atmosphere that makes their concerts enjoyable.
Despite minor flaws in the sound of the venue, Paramore put on a memorable show that was well worth the expense of the tickets. Be sure to keep an eye out for their next stop in Toronto - you're guaranteed to have an amazing night!