Paramore - Reading Festival 2012 review

'An electric atmosphere'

Anja Kimberley - 25 August 2012

A lingering threat of unpredictability traces Paramore as they race onto the stage, Hayley Williams's appearance slightly lagged before uncoiling sprung energy in various directions, half skipping with a flail of signature orange hair comet-tailing behind. It is hard not to be transfixed, she has perfect fitting shiny leggings and they work!

Grinding to a lurching sway with an energy that could vault over the sea of thousands, 'Brick by Boring Brick' is anything but boring. Williams throws vocals like a diabolo at the drop of a hat seemingly to the planets and back. This is what only the die hard fans expected, surprise and admiration spreads like fire across the arena as the vocals and bass pound punctuation into an otherwise runaway set. Smoothly stealing a solo spell Williams's deep, loud and controlled voice raises with a power that is visually represented by her high reaching arms before the revving band drives through and quad unite.

The leather jacket and sharp confidence that prevails is a modern rocket powered collision of Buffy's no-nonsense kick-ass attitude smothered in Shirley Manson sultry darkness and unexpected interruptions of genuine sweetness that dominate as the set progresses. A close-up shot reveals make-up that gives the 'scouse brow' a run for it's money but the feminine backdrop conveys untamed emotion as it is evident that Hayley's heart is poured into every moment of the set. No more can this be seen than in 'For a Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic', and she is not alone in conveying this passion. The band are clearly a team with familial trust who share instinctive, unspoken understanding as every move between them a compliment to the style of each other.

The crowd are literally uncontainable as Williams punches the air and prowls the stage, throwing a cheeky hip thrust and shoulder shake that shapes her new-age riot-girl image. It becomes apparent that the success of Paramore is based as much on personality as stage presence as Williams chats happily between songs and appears to be genuinely touched by the phenomenal response. 'That's What You Get' ignites the already electric atmosphere and huge sparklers infiltrated the collective, now submerging into the dark of night.

Balls of energy are fired out relentlessly in the guises of 'Pressure', 'Decode', 'Ignorance' and 'Monster' with a standout performance of 'The Only Exception' to a sea of glowing mobiles and candles. Characterised by the blending chase of vocals and instruments throughout the set, accented with Justin York ferociously plucking his guitar into oblivion on the floor the set was topped off with feel-good stunt whereby a fan was given centre stage.

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