Concert Review: Paramore Are "Burning Down The House" At The Eras Tour
The US pop-rock trio Paramore opened the show for the first night of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Madrid, Spain, in front of over 67.000 people at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 29th.
REVIEWSLIVE SHOW
REYA CASAJUS
6/4/20243 min read
The Santiago Bernabeu is almost full by the time Paramore hits the stage, and it's not even 7 pm. Taylor Swift is not scheduled for another hour, which signals that the Spanish crowd is hungry for the iconic pop-rock band. And it's no surprise: the last time they performed in Spanish territory was in 2018 when they visited Barcelona with their "Tour Three" tour.
They kick off with "Hard Times", the first notes of the song accompanied by screams and the stealthy rhythm of hundreds of people using hand fans to cool off. Singer and frontwoman Hayley Williams saluted the crowd as she jumped around the stage. It feels like the perfect song to start the evening; it's cheerful, and the catchy chorus makes a few people around me sing along, even if they don't know the lyrics. A cover of "Burning Down The House", originally performed by Talking Heads, follows. Here's where Williams' charm shines through: she takes on the runway and the sides of the main stage, making sure everyone can see the performance.
Third comes what is perhaps the most screamed-along track of the band tonight: "Still Into You". The pit jumps around and those seated get on their feet for the song. Then, "That's What You Get" comes up. Williams asks the crowd to sing with her, first prompting the "O, O, Ohh, O" to the left side of the stage and then to the right in a very Freddy Mercury way. But if there is something Spanish crowds always get right is screaming, and they deliver a very loud chorus that Paramore seem to be proud of.
Hard Times (Extended intro; with snippet of "Heart of Glass" by Blondie)
Burning Down the House (Talking Heads cover)
Still Into You
That's What You Get
Caught in the Middle
The Only Exception
Misery Business
Ain't It Fun
This Is Why
SETLIST
MADRID, SPAIN 29/05
"It's such an honour to be here tonight, it's a privilege to get to play to Taylor Swift fans every night... and you guys know how to party, I've been watching you!" says Hayley Williams.
The surprise song tonight is "Caught In The Middle", a track from their 2017 album "After Laughter". The band shines in this one, where the melody is the catchiest part of the song, and it sets the tone just right for the slow track of the bunch: "The Only Exception". For this one, vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York (who Williams presents as Taylor, Paramore's version) take the end of the stage as hundreds of phone lights shoot up. The crowd sings along and Williams' vocal abilities entrance the over 67.000 people there tonight, who move their arms synchronously. Their biggest hit, "Misery Business", comes next, followed by "Ain't It Fun". They take a picture with the crowd, that is now at full capacity, before the last song of the night: "This Is Why". The track feels a bit forced as closure, given that it is not one of their most popular songs and the crowd is formed by many who are just now finding out about Paramore, but they make it up. Williams promises to be back in Spain soon and ends the show by asking for cheers for the band, calling out their names before they bow to the crowd and disappear.
Paramore is, without a doubt, one of the best openers The Eras Tour could have asked for. There's a reason many remember Paramore as one of the top bands from their teenage years, and their performance tonight proves it: they have everything, the lyrics, the stage presence, and the talent. In Williams' words, it's an honour to be here tonight... watching them.
