Hayley Williams is in a league of her own. In her recent Hayley Williams At A Bachelorette Party tour, Hayley sheds her usual frontwoman persona and takes on a singer-songwriter energy. The setlist consists entirely of her recent album, Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party, which allows the show to carry over the aesthetic of the album. Her set consists of white sheets over every surface that serve the purpose of displaying visuals from a vintage projector. The show also features a lot of work with the lights, creating a moody and dark look at times.
While it is a solo tour, Williams is joined by her fellow Paramore bandmates Brian Robert Jones and Joey Howard. The addition of these musicians makes the band feel tight, in addition to Hayley’s incredible vocals. Hayley has one of the widest vocal ranges of any modern rock singer, and her ability to riff is effortless. However, the crowd was so loud, it was at times difficult to hear Hayley’s voice. They knew every word from the new album and sang their heart out the entire show.
Rather than losing energy and becoming tired on a Tuesday night, the crowd seemed to gain energy throughout the show. Surprisingly, the crowd was the loudest for her final song “Parachute.” While the song already has a scream-able bridge and emotional lyrics, Williams added to the energy by bringing out emo legend Anthony Green. Anthony is the lead singer of bands like Crica Survive and Saosin. The crowd was ecstatic over Green, and it felt as though almost everyone in the crowd recognized him. Hayley also brought out another guest singer, the lead singer of Water From Your Eyes, Rachel Brown, who is the opening act for the tour. The two performed “Discovery Channel.”
Two of the standout songs from the setlist were “Ice In My OJ,” and “Hard.” With “Ice In My OJ,” Hayley steps up to a megaphone while screaming “I’m in a band!” Hayley was incredibly energetic during this song, shouting several things throughout the song such as “Free Palestine.” She also maintains the energy while at the megaphone by flexing her arms and making devil horns. The lighting during this part features a spotlight on Hayley in order to create a shadow of what she is doing onto the background. The lighting is also what makes “Hard” stand out. Hayley steps to the front of the stage where she is met with alternating lights from the floor. Coupled with Hayley’s movements during the chorus, it made for a hypnotic experience.
Hayley chose to do smaller venues for this tour, which allowed the entire audience to be able to see her throughout the show. This small venue also helped create an intimate setting, especially when Hayley sat down at the piano at different points. The piano enforced the dark meaning of songs like “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” and “True Believer,” due to the emotion Hayley is able to convey in these intimate moments. Overall, the show is incredible. Hayley Williams commands the stage for every song, almost as if she is putting a spell over the crowd.
Photo Credit: Zachary Gray
