The drive is long for me to Brisbane Entertainment Centre, a motor accident sets us right back and it’s a Thursday night, a school night. It’s hot, humid and it’s been a long, long day. But boy is it all worth it.
The one thing keeping me motivated through a sluggish humid day in the tropics of Australia is the countdown to finally (yes finally, this will be a first for me) seeing the beloved Franklin, Tennessee trio Paramore on their return down under for the first time since early 2018. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who’d deny that a lot has happened in those five years, I’d argue they’re bonkers if they believe otherwise. But most notably for fans alike, it’s the release of (easily) one of the greatest album releases of 2023, Paramores long awaited sixth album This Is Why.
After a 5 year hiatus, quietly releasing their own solo projects and keeping fans waiting, the band returned with an absolutely mind blowing album, introducing a change in pace for the band as they displayed a more intense and matured sound on all fronts. Vocalist Hayley Williams pushing her limits and experimenting more vocally, Zac Farro adding all sorts of elements beat-wise that opens every song up in ways other drummers couldn’t and Taylor York, proving why he is one of the most underrated and talented guitarists touring the world and recording music at the moment.
With lines as far back as the eye can see, gates have just opened and the swarm of young and old fans have begun to flood the downstairs area, rushing up the stairs and into the foyer, straight to the merch desk to secure themselves some of the brand new This Is Why tour shirts. All walks of life appear here tonight, parents such as myself with their children, bringing fresh wide-eyed faces full of excitement and joy to see their favourite band perform. (God this place must seem enormous to an eight year old!)
There’s only one support tonight, brought along for the ride at the decision of Paramore themselves, the young Californian singer songwriter Remi Wolf hits Australian shores ready to slay. She is so full of energy, this spritely little powerhouse of a human being runs from side to side, high kicks are flung about on the reg. As a music photographer myself, I found myself watching her photographer racing back and forth to keep up with Wolf.
Opening with Liquor Out from her 2021 LP release Juno, Wolf hits the stage with full force. Talking to the crowd between songs, her confidence is key, she is as comfortable on stage as a cat is curled up in a blanket on a rainy day (she’s very fucking comfortable up there).
Remi takes a moment inbetween songs to explain to the crowd that she is there to warm them up for the main act, that they need to leave any bad vibes out the door, that tonight is everyone’s night to have the best time. And she holds up to that, slamming through a set of upbeat tunes and infectious happiness, there’s no question why the main act have chosen Wolf as their one and only support. Throwing some Frank Ocean into the set and even treating Brisbane to a new song Soup which she has only just added to her set this tour, Remi has held her end of the bargain and put the crowd into a state of excitement that I don’t think anyone could have quite done the same.
The wait comes to an end, the surface of everyone’s bodies turn into goosebumps, the excitement is unbearable. The lights come to a heavy dim, darkness overriding the inner arena. A slow light begins to flicker into existence on the video screen that backdrops the stage as Grey Area (Note to Self), a poem written and narrated by our very own Hayley Williams, plays over the PA. As the circle on the screens continues to grow, larger and larger, Hayleys voice slowly distorting, the screen showing images sporadically and intensely as the trio take to the stage along with their incredible backing band. As the screams of adoring fans fill the room, the poem comes to a sudden end and without time to realise what’s happened, Taylor York plays the opening notes of You First, sending the crowd into an incredible frenzy. Drummer Farro counts in with that enticing off beat four count and we’re off to the races. Hayley going full Hayley, her signature dance moves, arms flailing, legs kicking, takes over the stage and it’s game on.
From You First, into The News and just as quickly into That’s What You Get, it’s an intense (to say the least) first three. Caught in the Middle brings the dancing to the next level as a custom built double frame ceiling (honestly don’t know how to explain what this thing was) slowly drops down, shining ufo like lighting down onto the stage. This is no short set tonight, Hayley makes the point that we have them for the next two hours and she wasn’t lying, 22 songs and plenty of crowd work and chatting, it’s a big night. But it’s worth every moment. Williams is as delightfully playful with the crowd as she’s ever been, she’s a master at the craft now.
After a few smashers, such as Running Out of Time and Decode, the lights drop to complete blackness. It’s once the lights are brought back to life, we realise that a platform has been raised at the back of the stage, holding Zac, Taylor and Hayley as they perform acoustic full band versions of Liar and Hayley’s solo project hit Crystal Clear.
After some more big hits, Farro jumps off the kit to perform a track from his solo project Halfnoise. The track Baby is a clear favourite of the crowd, everyone singing as loud as they could as Zac stands front and centre tambourine at hand, embracing his inner Stevie Nicks.
The song every fan is waiting for, the one song that was pulled from the setlist for many years due to Williams copping criticism over one particular line, the intro Misery Business plays over the speakers, the crowd thrown into a frenzy and the band kicks in, loud and energetic would be an understatement. After an epic dance party for Aint it Fun, it’s encore time. A montage of iPhone footage is played on the screen, showing the band share moments over the last few years, it leads the band into Thick Skull, this being only the second time it’s ever played (as Auckland got the first time).
Still Into You is the middle of the encore sandwich, finished up with This Is Why. But not before Williams gives us those famous words that closes out every Paramore show, you know the night is at an end when we hear Hayley’s iconic words “We love you, I said we love you! And WE….ARE….PARAMORE!” It’s emotional, it’s happiness in a moment, it’s knowing that you need to make the most of the next four minutes. And the entire room does just that. With streamers and a short display of red flares going off either side of the stage at the end of This Is Why, we’re done. The band takes a moment to say goodbye to the crowd, Hayley taking a moment longer to show her appreciation ten fold.
Tonight was my first time seeing Paramore, tonight I shared that experience with my eight year old daughter and my wife, as we all witnessed this incredible band for the first time. I’ll forever be thankful to Paramore for a memory that cannot be recreated, watching an eight year olds face light up as their favorite band walks on stage, screaming every word to their favourite songs. You begin to forget after hundreds and hundreds of shows over 25 years what that feeling is like, but I was able to watch it happen to someone else and that made my night more special than words can explain. If I have any advice for anyone, don’t hesitate to take your children to concerts, they might cost an arm and a leg these days, but the memories are irreplaceable.
PARAMORE
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS REMI WOLF + AND THAT (NZ ONLY)
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND | NOVEMBER 2023
Presented by Frontier Touring, triple j, ZM and Coup De Main
MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne VIC (Lic. All Ages)
SOLD OUT
TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne VIC (Lic. All Ages)
SOLD OUT
THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne VIC (Lic. All Ages)
NEW SHOW, JUST ADDED
ticketek.com.au
