As essentially a lifelong fan of the rock band Paramore, I’ve always admired lead vocalist Hayley Williams and her incredible range of emotion and vocality. She’s always been one of my favorite singers, and my appreciation for her music and style only increased as I got older. Now, following the release of her third solo album, completely independent from Paramore, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, my family and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to see her live in Oakland at the Fox Theater.
We attended the concert on May 10th, which was, in fact, Mother’s Day. My mom didn’t seem to mind because she thinks the best gift we can give her is time spent together (aww). The four of us had enjoyed listening to Hayley Williams’ new album over the past few months, and so it was great to go to a concert for an artist that we all know and love. There’s something really refreshing about attending a concert based in Oakland rather than San Francisco. In a way, there’s something more sincere about the Fox Theatre compared to giant stadium venues like Oracle Park or Chase Center. After a curious, chaotic opener (which contained some very odd sound mixing), Williams took the stage in a blaze of glory, kicking things off with a streak of five or six tracks before breaking to address the audience. I find that many artists spend a lot more time talking to the audience in modern stadium tours, so it was a nice change of pace for a singer to really just blast through some of their tracks.
Hayley Williams’ latest album is a unique blend of high-energy alt-rock and slow, dreamy pop/folk. I was ecstatic to discover that she’d be playing every single track off this incredible new album. For someone with a fairly small solo discography, sticking to just the new stuff makes total sense, but it was still such a pleasant surprise for someone who just recently found her solo music. “Mirtazapine” was a fantastic opener, immediately setting a high energy level for the show. The projections and light system were extremely effective at setting an exhilarating tone, even for songs that don’t necessarily fit the bill for high-octane musical performances. Furthermore, I was blown away by Williams’ stage presence. I know she’s been in the industry for decades, but she still owns the stage completely and has some of the most energetic and genuinely joyful choreography I’ve ever seen. It’s difficult to tell what’s even pre-planned or on the spot, as everything feels so natural and performed with an actual excitement to perform.
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party is a phenomenal album that showcases Hayley Williams incredible songwriting prowess and underappreciated vocal talent. Seeing it live only improved each and every track. I can’t wait to see what Hayley Williams does next, whether it be with Paramore or solo once again!