Author’s note (Kim): This entry is meant to be a review-journal about the concert. The author feels that if this entry was to be made into one whole entry, it would be a very long one. Therefore, this entry shall be split into three parts. This is the first of three.
Thank you!
Paramore In Manila Concert Poster
Paramore is an American rock band composed of Hayley Williams (vocals), Josh Farro (guitar), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar), Zac Farro (drums), and Taylor York (guitar). As you all know, I am a very big Paramore fan. So when rumors started floating around in the middle of November last year that they would be performing here in Manila on the 9th of March next year (2010) for their Pacific tour in support of their latest album, brand new eyes, I was quite skeptical. I mean, after two rumors (the supposed January 08 concert and the July 08 concert) before this, nothing ever materialized. But this rumor was different from the other two. The ticket prices, venue, date and promoter were even mentioned. Man! I was only waiting for the official announcement in the band’s official website(www.paramore.net) so my dream of seeing them live here finally comes true.
True enough, a week later, the announcement came! So, as the very big fan I am, I immediately bought the Gold tickets (yeah, not the VIP, it’s too expensive) and eagerly counted down the days before THE date.
A few days before the band left to start their Asia-Pacific tour in Japan, Josh Farro announced in their Livejournal account that he would be sitting out the tour because he was preparing for his wedding. Taylor’s brother, Justin York, would be filling in his place in this tour.
Along with many fans, I was really bummed, and at the same time, happy. I was bummed because I wouldn’t be able to see him in the flesh and to see him play. It sucks. But I was happy for him because at least, he finally is going to settle down.
Fast forward to about a hundred days later.
This is it. March 9, 2010. My first ever concert, and it is my favorite band that I am going to watch, live.
Here is my personal account on how the night went.
6:30PM – I arrived at the concert grounds, along with my friend, who is also a huge Paramore fan. The line was REALLY long already in all the sections (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), well, except the VIP one. People started going in already, and good thing we found a friend who was willing to let us cut the line. Hahaha.
We went inside after going through two security checks. The security checks were there to see if we actually had the guts to smuggle in bottled water, DSLRs, and all those other prohibited things. Good thing, the bouncer didn’t notice that I brought a 500mL bottle in. Well, I had an umbrella inside my bag too so he might have mistaken the bulge in my bag for my umbrella. Thank goodness for that deceiving feel.
As we were walking to our places, we were shocked. The Gold section was directly in front of the stage, divided into the left and right portions. WHAT?! Yeah, directly in front! We asked around, and it seemed like the organizers switched the VIP and Gold places at the last minute for “the safety of the VIP concertgoers”. Wow. That’s a good thing for us who were in Gold, but I pity those who shelled out 10k just to be placed at the back of us. (Jio’s Note: The VIPs did get some compensation though. They received one unreleased concert shirt plus five signed photos by the band. What a tasty package.)
Well, here’s the most challenging part, — waiting.
More or less an hour later, some of the ParaCrew were setting up and fixing things on the stage, and they took a group picture with the audience as a backdrop. Every time a crew member went on stage to do soundchecks and to tune the instruments, we started cheering, in hopes that Paramore would see the massive crowd waiting for them. Hahaha.
Then, guess who went up on stage? None other than DJ’s TonyToni, SlickRick and SamYG of Boys’ Night Out to introduce that night’s program! We were all going wild then. They introduced the opening act, Callalily.
At about quarter to 8PM, Callalily started playing. OK, I won’t elaborate further on this. I’ll just say the crowd was unresponsive and “dead”. Way to go to show our dislike for Callalily opening for Paramore! Mr. Cipriano even had the guts to say that he loves Hayley Williams. Most of us just muttered: “WEH.”
Some flashed the finger while they were playing (guilty). Some made the “shoo” hand wave (guilty again). And some just didn’t care and talked to one another (guilty yet again).
Finally, after 30 minutes of utter ear-rape, Callalily’s set was done.
We had to wait for Paramore. Again.
This ends the first part of the three-part series describing the recent Paramore concert held in Manila. The author really is an avid Paramore fan. Stay tuned for parts two and three.
