PARATHRILLA IN MANILA

Around 2006, I came across a video on YouTube of a young band, sitting on the pavement with a couple of acoustic guitars. The lead singer, a teenage girl with flaming hair, practically drowning in scarves and blankets, was seated between two boys, both of whom have hairstyles that covered most of their faces. They played the song "Pressure" and it was in that moment that Paramore changed my world.

6 years down the line, I found myself in the mosh pit, minutes away from watching one of the most amazing bands of the generation. Now, I wish I can explain how Paramore changed my life, inspired me to become more and helped me become better, just so you can truly understand how much it  meant to me to realize my dream. But telling you that story would take years and we don't have time for that. I just stood there, on the brink of losing it, bathed in a absolute awe that this was happening. The only thing harsh buzzkill to my high was the mom beside me who thought it would be a spectacular idea to bring her three daughters, ranging from ages 8-13, to the moshpit! Yes, she let those little kiddos push themselves to the middle of the hazardous, teenage filled moshpit of doom!

Paramore, with their special guest, MeWithoutYou, played in the Mall of Asia Arena last March 15, 2013 (Yes, that makes this post extremely late). I considered that day my Valentine's celebration. As much as I wished I could have lived the dream with my best friend Adrienne, who recently moved half way across the planet, I still had a blast with my band-kid friend, Carmela, whom I met at The Cab concert. 

After MeWithoutYou performed (they were pretty good, everyone should check them out!), the lights dimmed and everyone started freaking out, thinking that Paramore was about to come out. Everyone had started pushing and screaming, but the band did not show until around 9 pm. Remember those little kids and the mom I talked about? Well, the little rascals were scared out of their minds, all begging Mommy to take them out, but she only chastised them and said that they chose this and yelled at people who pushed around her. The kids went on to complain how everyone should be seated and teenagers were such wrecks. Welcome to the real world, squirts!

Needless to say, Paramore blew the roof off the Arena! After laying low for more than a year, they returned with a new look, new sound but the same electric energy. Their touring members kept up with the stellar pace of Jeremy and Taylor while I don't believe Hayley has sounded better. The crowd in the Arena was also spectacular! Everyone screamed every song at the top of their lungs that Hayley was definitely not the only one who lost her voice that night. We all danced, headbanged and jumped around to the tunes we love the most. When Hayley commanded that everyone to raise whatever lights up, the arena twinkled like a starry night sky. We waited years for Paramore's return, and it's safe to say we made the best of it.