Show Review: Paramore- New Orleans, LA
Via their photographer Zachary Gary
Thanks to Paramore’s team, on July 6th, 2023 I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the absolute party that was Paramore.
From iconic songs, to fun dances, crowd interactions like I’ve never seen, confetti with their most recent album name “This Is Why,” and bringing a lucky fan on stage- I think it’s safe to say that if you’re looking for a good time, go to a Paramore show.
Playing a 22 song setlist featuring everyone’s favorites- all the way from “The Only Exception” to “Misery Business” Hayley Williams voice rang through the arena with such power like I’ve never heard before. The ripping guitar, strong drums, and earth shaking bass is something I will hear forever thinking back on this experience.
Hayley opened the show with these powerful words,“If someone is coming to your concert in the year 2023, that’s a BIG f***king deal!” And boy did they put on possibly the best show 2023 has to offer.
There is one specific part of the show I want to get into that really got me emotional, and I think it’s something everyone needs to hear about.
At every show during “Misery Business,” Hayley Williams will stop singing right before the climax of the song, she says a small monologue and she’s looking through the crowd, waiting to pick someone for a moment they will think about for the rest of their life. She walks over to her right side of stage and kneels down noticing one person in specific. His name was Javier. He is wearing a shirt that has Hayley and Taylor Swift on the front and he’s holding a sign that says “16th try to sing Misery Business with you” she spoke with him for a moment about the shirt saying “I see what you did! I like it,” then she asked the big question “well New Orleans, should we let him up?” The crowd went wild, they meet on stage, singing and dancing their hearts out together. Seeing Javier’s tears of joy and Hayley’s giant smile shows that the feeling of excitement is reciprocated. It was truly such a beautiful moment that was shared with Javier as well as the crowd.
Shortly after this, another fan gets her attention and asks if they can throw a bracelet to her. She says yes and when she catches it she realizes it says “Speak Now.” If you are a “Swiftie” you know July 7th was a big day- and with July 7th just a few hours away, Hayley decided that this was a perfect moment to announce she is featured in a song on Taylor’s Version of Speak Now. It was such a monumental moment- the crowd went wild and she really enjoyed talking about Taylor and what is was like to grow up with her. She said it was an honor to be featured on her favorite of Taylor’s albums.
Another fun moment to touch on:
While singing “The Only Exception” Hayley accidentally dropped her mic, it hits the floor and she has a small panic because her part to come back in was coming up quickly- well, the crowd absolutely carried and everyone sang at the top of their lungs, Hayley begins singing as well and comes back in with the mic, she mentions that it was her favorite part of the show and has the biggest smile on her face.
Something important to take from a moment like that is, yes, they’re performing for us, but as fans you carry such an important roll to make concerts worthwhile. The love shared in that arena was something, a regular concert goer myself (for work or not), I rarely feel at concerts. I laughed, I cried, I screamed my favorite songs, and I jammed to the songs I didn’t know as well. It was such a euphoric experience.
Music truly transcends sound itself, and that is something so important. Buy the ticket, and take the ride. Paramore is a show you do NOT want to miss.
You can listen to the setlist here:
