156 -- Paramore -- Friday, July 18, 2014 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD

Paramore could not have done anymore to make me like them.  I really thought they would fit the model of my first Rise Against show.  I thought their live performance and ebullient fanbase could make up for the fact that I did not really know or like most of their albums.  Ultimately, they couldn’t make up for it, but I was able to enjoy numerous moments over the course of the show.

--- “Still Into You” sounds a bit like “Beat It.”  Ha, the crowd's obsessed.

--- “That's What You Get (when you let your heart win).”  Gotta admire how much everyone's into it.

--- Hayley Williams looks like the pop-punk girl without a dragon tattoo.  Either that or a girl who moonlights as an aerobics instructor.

--- “I want you to all look all the way back there to the back of the lawn.  There are PEOPLE there.”  Nice.

--- “We'll save the talking for later.  For now we have to rip into you some more.”

--- Love the “Monkey Wrench”-style pause during "Ignorance is Your New Best Friend."

--- “Decode” is a force of nature -- such moody build.

--- Aww, ten years ago at Merriweather, ten people saw them falling off a forest stage.  Hard work pays off!

--- If I could recognize any of the songs, this would be amazing.

--- "The Only Exception."  Yay, slow love song: that means distinguishable words!  Sounds oddly country.
 
---Genuinely moving intro to “Last Hope.”  Combating depression is certainly relevant to mention.  The song itself is great too -- especially before the instruments kick in.  Yessss.  Intelligibility!  “Let it happppen” -- I will actually listen to this on the way home.

--- "Brick by Boring Brick": reminds me of a fairy tale castle.  Red confetti!

--- Hahahah, the crowd flips out for "Misery Business." Aka the hourglass song.  “How well do you know this song, on a scale of one to coming up and singing with us?”  This guy named Tim comes up and sings with a golden mic!  And the crowd spontaneously started a "Tim Tim Tim" chant after he left!!  By far the best part of the night.

--- Some less jumpy song I was able to breathe during.

--- Um, she’s mood rumbling on the ground...  "What a mess" -- agreed...  Technically it's called “Part II.”

--- During “Proof” and “Ain't it Fun,” streamers, colorful balls, and more confetti (white this time) fly down.  I’d prefer an emotional connection, but it’s better than nothing.

Grade: B