02.02
One year on and the US’ band Paramore have graduated, shaking their sophomore status, moving onward and upwards. They spent the last couple of years playing to crowds of two or three thousand. This year they’re selling out arenas. Tonight they’re playing to a sold out fifteen thousand capacity Manchester MEN Arena. As the bands’ vocalist, Hayley says, this is their biggest show to date. Support tonight comes from the UK’s own Pop Rock heroes You Me at Six as well as Paper Route who’ve come all the way from Nashville. Here is how the night panned out… Paper Route isn’t a band that most of Paramores’ fans were familiar with until tonight and I suspect the general expectation was that of another average band tagging onto the success of their hometown friends. Manchester couldn’t have been more wrong! They hit the stage with minimal fuss and maximum impact.
Opening with the track ‘American Clouds’, echoing the line ‘rolling like a diesel train’, was a high point of their set and became one of the most memorable points from this show, which means they must be doing something right! The electro/indie four piece use big sounds and cutting guitar riffs held down with the power house drumming of Gavin McDonald. This sound paired with the dual vocals that run through many of the songs works to great affect.
Rate: 4/5
You Me At Six seem to please the crowd, which is somewhat surprising as the PA seems to be working against them tonight. This may have contributed to the feeling that their set is not being up to its usual quality. Baring in mind that this is a huge show and no doubt the pressure is on and possibly getting the better of them. The London based five piece did well balancing current material with the new sounds of their forthcoming album ‘Hold Me Down’ out early 2010.
Rate: 3/5
Taking the stage next was Paramore followed by an arena full of screams. The band opened with an atmospheric introduction into the first single ‘Ignorance’ taken from the latest album ‘Brand New Eyes’. There is something about this band that is simply breath taking, the mechanics behind the crafting of their song writing with the spectacular live presence is second to none. The set is geared towards promoting their new album, however they didn’t forget their roots whilst rocking out to ‘Pressure’, ‘Emergency’ and ‘CrushCrushCrush’. The band leave the stage after ‘Decode’, a song that has undoubtedly played a huge part in the bands current status. The band returned with a beautiful rendition of ‘Misguided Ghosts’ followed by the crowd pleasing ‘Misery Business’ and ‘Brick By Boring Brick’. Once again Paramore played a flawless set, with Hayley Williams vocals being perfect for an arena sound. performance.
Rate: 5/5
Words – Craig Bunting
Photos – Adam Emery
