Reviews

Whilst their Club Academy show last year was certainly bustling, the fact that the police had to be called to attend to the near riot (excuse the pun) at their in-store event earlier in the day and tickets to this show sold out in mere hours, serves as proof that this band is finally getting the fame and recognition their music deserves.

It is a struggle to think of another young band that puts on as good a show as Paramore. In the past, their bounding, youthful energy and heartfelt songwriting were the backbone to their performances. But the huge leap in maturity and sheer emotional depth of the songs on sophomore effort RIOT! added to the set tonight take the band to a whole different level.

This isn’t a bunch of hyped up kids playing a great pop set anymore. This is a fully fledged pop-rock outfit capable of being scarily huge.

It says a lot when a band is willing to smash through their two most recognisable songs (Misery Business and Emergency) straight away, causing levels of elation usually reserved for encores, and leave out new single Hallelujah all together, opting to cram as many fan favourites in as possible in their time.

The band’s individual performances gel together seamlessly, as does the band’s combination of hard rocking guitar lines and disco beats.

Tonight, there were no covers, no gimmicks and no pretences. Just the best performance from a band of this genre the stages of Manchester will see this year, from the band who have already delivered the best album of their genre. Just another day at the office for Paramore.