The 2010 Honda Civic Tour with headliners Paramore stopped in New Orleans on September 7 at the UNO Lakefront Arena. Supported by Kadawatha, New Found Glory, and indie favorites Tegan and Sara, the show juxtaposed the variations of today’s pop formula. Kadawatha played an electronically accented, almost ethereal sound, then New Found Glory represented the pop-punk fad that, while slowly fading, still manages to sell records and concert tickets. Tegan and Sara occupied the spot onstage before Paramore, and they played with their trademark folk-tinged indie rock that has garnered them a large and loyal following in recent years.
After much anticipation made evident by the throngs of screaming teenage girls, Paramore took the stage. They opened with an explosion of sound, pyrotechnics and lights one would expect for a band that fills arenas. The energy didn’t die down until some time later, with Paramore furiously driving through several of their melodic pop-metal songs. When it did let up, it was to introduce an unexpected turn starting with a cover of Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man.”
After this performance, the lights went out. When they came back up, they illuminated a more intimate setting onstage. A couch, a couple of chairs, and even a mood-setting lamp had been placed on the edge of the stage next to a three-piece drum kit for an extended acoustic interlude. After drudging through several driving rock songs, this acoustic set allowed lead singer Hayley Williams to showcase the vocal talents she has at her disposal, which gives credence to the idea that Paramore—or at least Williams—may indeed be musically significant after the Twilight/sexy vampire fad dies down, the soundtrack to which Paramore contributed several songs.
Following this pleasant departure from the sound they’re known for, Paramore returned full-force. For the encore song, “Pressure,” the band led the crowd in a “Who Dat?” chant, complete with bassist Jeremy Davis wearing a Drew Brees jersey. The final song of the night culminated in the band inviting several fans on stage to sing and even play guitar, thus bringing the evening to a close.
