Paramore Take You To The Riot

And that’s exactly what went down Saturday night at the Kool Haus when Paramore took over Toronto.
Over 2000 kids, identical in skinnies, converse, and band tees, lined up at 8am to ensure their front row spots. Sacrifices had to be made, but the number of questionable violations that occurred while in the crowd, made you wonder if being dry-humped at all angles is really an acceptable situation to subject yourself to.

Opening for Paramore were Paper Route, Phantom Planet (of O.C. theme-song-fame), and Jack’s Mannequin. Having to stand through three openers proved impossible for some, as people were dragged over the gates by security, nearly passed out, sweaty, and falling over, all before Paramore even hit the stage.

The show was full of energy, heavy bass, and synchronized head-banging, while singer Hayley Williams thrashed around the stage, even spitting water onto the adoring crowd.

Natives of Tennessee, Paramore have been on the scene since 2005, when they released their first album, ‘All We Know Is Falling‘. Touring with their second, appropriately titled ‘Riot!‘, this will be their last promo tour for the album before heading back to the studio to write new tracks.

Five hours and a bruised hip bone later, I left musically satisfied for the night, and watched as the thousands of fans poured out into the parking lot in hopes of stalking down the band as they left.

I rate this show 4 asymmetrical haircuts out of 5.