Paramore

OVO HYDRO

17/04/23

"As long as they play Misery Business I'll be happy" a member of the crowd whispers as the air at the OVO Hydro starts to prickle with excitement in anticipation of the arrival of pop-punk trio, Paramore.

"No, we need Decode so that I can go full Team Edward" another jokes in reference to the band's scene-stealing contribution to the 2008 vampire flick, Twilight, while a third promises her friend that their joint favourite of Caught in the Middle will make the cut.

Thankfully, all of these wishes (and more) are soon to be granted as the irresistibly charismatic group steps on stage to play their first Glasgow show in five years.

Glasgow Times:

A jolt of energy surges through the Finnieston venue as singer Hayley Williams high kicks her way through the opening number of recently released track, You First, aided by a well-time burst of confetti to signal that the show has well and truly started.

After a strong follow-up in the form of 00s classic, That's What You Get, she tells an enthralled audience: "This is one of our favourite cities in the world to play. 

"And this is a very special room because we've played some very special shows in here with people.

"Thank you for coming back to see us."

From then on fans old and new are treated to an eclectic setlist from the Tennessee outfit of Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro, which sees new material and curveballs from solo projects slotted comfortably alongside nostalgic throwbacks like All I Wanted or The Only Exception.

With the band having formed in 2004, many in the audience have journeyed from awkward pre-teens to full-blown adults with Paramore blasting through their headphones, a fact that is not overlooked or taken for granted by their frontwoman who affectionately refers to them as 'family' throughout the show.

Glasgow Times:

This genuine love for their fans is put into practice across the evening as the band repeatedly calls a halt to proceedings after spotting concertgoers who are starting to wilt in the heat and appear to require medical attention.

A further unavoidable, but unfortunate, stall comes when Farro bursts his snare drum just as the rousing chorus for Rose Coloured Boy begins to swell.

"Y'all are so cool for waiting for us", Williams drawls earnestly into the mic as the crew scrabble to fix the kit and the song is restarted.

If the band are feeling at all frustrated by these hiccups, they don't let it show with all members throwing their full weight behind each following numbers including a surprise stripped-back cover of Rip It Up as made famous by the Scottish group, Orange Juice, in 1983.

Glasgow Times:

After thanking the sold-out crowd once again for their patience during what she calls a 'rollercoaster' of a show, Williams busts out some of her now TikTok famous dance moves for a closing rendition of This is Why, the titular song from their latest album which masterfully sums up the anxieties and frustrations of a post-pandemic world.

As the lights come up there's not one person who shuffles out into a balmy Glasgow night without a youthful grin that could only come from witnessing the return of your longtime musical heroes.

Here's to many more years of growing up alongside Paramore.

For more information on upcoming Paramore shows click here.