Saturday night, The Woodlands at Merriweather Post Pavilion hosted one of music’s most expressive acts in recent years, the power-pop trio Paramore. In tow, indie pop-rockers, Foster the People bought their synth grooves to round out the lineup.
For a band whose initial touring leg in coming to a close, Paramore’s enthusiasm remained unwavering. In fact, Hayley and the boys seem more focused than ever and their infectious energy carried well beyond the confines of the stage. When Williams appeared, she struck as hard as a bolt of lightning with her signature dance moves and high kicks—and the music behind her followed every move.
The first song of night, “Grudges” (from the new album) set things off on a good foot. Next was a kick from their self titled fourth album, “Still Into You” followed by “Rose-Colored Boy.” Their classics, “That’s What You Get” and “Crushcrushcrush” rounded out their first five tunes before bouncing back with “Fake Happy.”
The rest of their set included classic and new material and even a few covers—a tightened version of Drake’s “Passionfruit + Hold On, We’re Going Home.” Paramore closed the encore with two newer tracks, “Hard Times” and “Told You So.”
On tour to promote their fifth studio album, After Laughter (Fueled by Ramen), the band will continue their US dates through July then continue east for August dates in Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia. The After Laughter LP can be purchased in either black and white, or colored vinyl.
Foster The People’s set was a solid electronic romp with the crowd remaining on their feet for the duration of their short but sweet 10 song set. The band is obviously quite the draw of their own since co-headlining the venue’s Sweetlife Festival just a few years ago. Foster The People is touring on their 2017 release Sacred Hearts Club (Columbia Records).
PARAMORE
FOSTER THE PEOPLE
PARAMORE SETLIST:
Grudges
Still Into You
Rose-Colored Boy
That’s What You Get
Crushcrushcrush
Fake Happy
Playing God
Forgivness
Ignorance
Pool
Passionfruit+Hold On, We’re Going Home (Drake Cover)
Misguided Ghosts
26
Caught in the Middle
Idle Worship
No Friend
Misery Business
Ain’t It Fun
Told You So
All That Love Is (Halfnoise Cover)
Hard Times
FOSTER THE PEOPLE SETLIST:
Pseudologia Fantastica
Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)
Lotus Eater
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones Cover)
Are You What You Want to Be?
Coming of Age
Helena Beat
Loyal Like Sid & Nancy
Pumped Up Kicks
Sit Next To Me
