ARTIST: Paramore
VENUE: Manchester Apollo
REVIEW BY: Darrell Blount
PARAMORE lit up the Apollo with their infectious, sugar-coated pop punk. Vancouvan rockers The Conditions who were up first, playing a set of a mere 15 minutes in front of an eagerly anticipating crowd.
While barely recognised, they got a warm response with their rock-tinged guitar playing and pleasant vocals.
The Welsh boys Kids In Glass houses followed suit with a painfully short set. These guys had enough energy in them to keep on burning well after their allotted time had ended.
The band’s emo-punk sound set them apart from the other acts and they certainly aimed to please with their bouncy, poppy songs. Thrashing out Me Me Me and My Def Posse saw the adolescent audience members scream for joy.
By far, the most anticipated band – and the one which separated the audience – were pop-punk veterans New Found Glory.
This was certainly the band for the older ones in the Apollo. The irony of the line-up was the fact the Paramore grew up listening to the band that are acting as their support. Nevertheless New Found Glory gave it their all. Playing all the classics, including the anthemic My Friends Over You and the poptastic Hit Or Miss, they got an ovation.
Half way through the set frontman Jordon Pundik was joined on stage by the lovely Paramore singer Hayley Williams for a duet from their new album From The Screen To Your Stereo 2.
New Found Glory’s immature and friendly banter leads you to forget they are the oldest band here by a good 10 years. Their blistering performance left me in awe; they most certainly put on an incredible show.
In the last year, teen sensations Paramore have gone from being barely recognised to being poster idols on walls across the country.
The Apollo was full of young fans waiting for their chance to hear the magnificent voice of Hayley Williams.
The dewy-eyed Miss Williams seemed overwhelmed by the sheer numbers that were present and was extremely thankful. They then began to execute the fans’ favourites including Let The Flames Begin, Fences, All We Know and one of their first singles Emergency.
Paramore ensured that they played a mixture from their two albums to keep their dedicated fans happy.
One of the highlights was their personal rendition of Jimmy Eat World’s Sweetness which to me rivalled the original.
Towards to end of the set, bassist Jeremy Davis perfected a front flip across the stage with guitar in hand, It was spectacular.
The band were simply amazing, playing extremely tight, and the angelic voice of the beautiful Hayley made the night fantastic.
At this pace, the band will become superstars along the lines of Fall out Boy and My Chemical Romance. Well done!
