01 May More Paramore, Pretty Please

When the gates of SunFest open each day, there is not usually a mad dash to any of the stages (maybe just to the bars), but yesterday was different. Teen and pre-teen girls (and a few guys too, don’t try to deny it) rushed to the Ford Stage to secure the perfect spot to see Paramore hours in advance.

However, there was not a bad spot in the house to catch the headliner and the two fantastic opening acts.

Knox Hamilton, unsurprisingly, was a delight to see live. This band is in their infancy, and I truly believe will soon be vying with the best on the Billboard charts. Singer Boots Copeland’s voice is beautiful, absolutely lovely. Just looking at the bearded musician you would not expect a sound so sweet. His falsetto needs to be looped in my ears. And yours.

I mentioned before that they sound an awful lot like Foster the People and Keane, and they do. But Knox Hamilton is also a dead ringer for Two Door Cinema Club and, at times, Neon Trees. One of the best acts I’ve seen so far.

Copeland (the band, not to be confused with Boots) kept the flocking young fans delighted with newer hits off their recent album, post reunion. We previously interviewed the band before their SunFest show.

Between songs Copeland’s calming and gentle lead singer, Aaron Marsh, shared a story about Paramore’s first Nashville performance. He dotingly explained Copeland was performing at an intimate venue (I believe the Exit /In) and a band of “children” opened up the show. Marsh said the lead singer was a little girl with red hair who “exploded” on stage. Copeland took the band on tour, and 10 years later are “watching them change the music scene.” Now Paramore is on tour with Copeland back by their side.

After the sun dipped behind the horizon, that still pint-sized pixie dominated SunFest.

Hayley Williams, the unmistakable citrus-haired lead singer, kicked off the night with “Still Into You,” the band’s second single from their self-titled studio album. Her arms reaching high above her head, Williams twirled and spun about. A walkway jutted out of the stage, allowing Paramore’s darling to dip closer to the sea of fans, SnapChat, and glow sticks.

“You look happy,” Williams said to her devoted army of pop-rockers. Their cheers grew. Then, and throughout the night, Williams thanked the crowd and the other acts for being at SunFest.

“If you don’t know, we are Paramore!” she cried into her florescent microphone.

Paramore made sure to stack the front of their set with “That’s What You Get,” “I Caught Myself” (off the Twilight soundtrack), “Playing God,” and “Be Alone.” Williams dedicated “Decode,” the group’s other Twilight single, to “forbidden vampire love.” I felt my heart skip a beat as her two drummers furiously beat in sync.

Williams is a force to be reckoned with. From everything I’ve read, the colorful artist has been on a path for blissful world domination for years. Sure, Paramore has won radio and music charts across the world, but this band really shines in person and needs to be seen.

Williams’ arms were constantly outstretched, her tiny body reaching for the sky, then the crowd, then the sides of the stage. It could be assumed that she was unknowingly trying to fill the mammoth structure, and she did, but not with those hands. Her voice, tucked within that deceiving body, poured out of her, filling the scene and the nearby sea.

Near the end of their set, during Paramore’s massive hit “Misery Business,” Williams peered out into the crowd looking for just the right person to join her onstage. The powerhouse singer took her sweet time finding just the right one. Out of the waving hands and squealing pleas, she selected a girl holding an orange and white sign.

“You are so cool!” Williams giddily explained to her real life doppelganger. Kit, the girl from the crowd, met Williams toe-to-toe in size, stature, and spunk.

Kit, without a hint of shyness or hesitation, belted out the lyrics alone and jumped up on amps. The two girls jumped, kicked, and danced about the stage in the most delightful performance. I felt such happiness for the fan and the band in those moments. It was an opportunity of a lifetime that Kit will carry with her for years to come.

“Kit needs to start a band immediately,” Williams said breathlessly after dancing.

Paramore kissed the night goodbye with an extended version of “Future,” complete with overwhelming instrumental sounds and magical rainbow lights. The perfect end to another perfect night.