A whole lot more from Paramore

MANILA, Philippines - Paramore is returning to the Philippines “more Paramore than ever before” on Feb. 15 with a concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Its first Philippine visit happened in 2010. “The Filipino fans were unbelievable, it was one of the most exciting shows we had ever played,” guitarist Taylor York recalled of the concert that drew a crowd of 19,000 at the MOA concert grounds, to The STAR in a phone interview recently.

“(In our return concert), you’re going to expect everything we have, including songs that haven’t been heard for a while. It’s going to be a really energetic show. We just want people to go crazy.”

The American band that is behind such hits as Crushcrushcrush, The Only Exception, Misery Business, Monster and Decode, might perform a new single from its latest and fourth studio album, which Paramore finished recording late last year and is scheduled for release in April.

Frontwoman Hayley Williams had earlier dropped several telling statements about its making and inspirations. She had said in interviews and blog posts that the creative process behind the album is the “most relaxed, inspired and liberating experience” that they had so far, that it’s an “answered prayer” with “a lot of change and a lot of positivity.”

Its album producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen was quoted as telling Electronic Musician: “They don’t need to be a pop-punk band anymore. They can do their own ideas... All I’m really trying to say is trying to deliberately lose their natural commerciality. I am here to articulate their vision for a step of growth.”

Taylor, for his part, confirmed the changes in their music in our interview, which goes to show that there’s still a whole more that Paramore can do and offer.

“I think in every record, there has to be an evolution and this record is definitely very different for us,” he said. “I think we were being honest in (making) this record. It’s a new direction for us.”

Interestingly, Paramore is having the album self-titled. Taylor explained, “It was honestly meant to be a statement. Normally, the first record is the one that’s self-titled. After a lot of changes we’ve been through in the last couple of years, we just want people to know we’re still around, and we’re more Paramore than ever before.”

Fans know that the changes Taylor was referring in the life of the band were not ordinary ones. The fourth record came on the heels of the controversial departure of founding members, the brothers Josh and Zac Farro, leaving Hayley to keep the band from disbanding or disappearing from the scene, with Taylor and bassist Jeremy Davis.

For Taylor’s part, “I think when they left, I just tried my hardest to step up.”

Taylor was officially part of the band in 2007, but he knew the rest of the members in middle school in their hometown in Franklin, Tennessee, and was present during the early incarnation of Paramore.

The band was formed in 2004 and amassed fans with its music range — from pop-punk, emo to alternative rock.

Labels such as “band to watch” and “best new artist” were immediately bandied about Paramore. Its debut album All We Know is Falling reached No. 30 on a Billboard chart. Its second outing, Riot! (2007), was certified Platinum in the US and Ireland and Gold in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, while its third record, Brand New Eyes (2009), became its highest-charting album to date, earning Platinum status in Ireland and the UK and Gold in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The band further carved a place in pop-culture conscious- ness, thanks to its songs becoming part of the soundtracks for such films as Twilight and Transformers.

As Paramore readies for its upcoming Asian and Australian tour, which includes the Philippines, the band expresses grateful- ness for all that has happened to them in the past and exudes renewed energy to take on whatever the future brings.

Taylor said, “I think we are a band that goes with the flow. Our only real aspirations are just to connect with people that we’re not the first record is the one that’s self-titled. After a lot of changes we’ve been through in the last couple of years, we just want people to know we’re still around, and we’re more Paramore than ever before.”

Fans know that the changes Taylor was referring in the life of the band were not ordinary ones. The fourth record came on the heels of the controversial departure of founding members, the brothers Josh and Zac Farro, leaving Hayley to keep the band from disbanding or disappearing from the scene, with Taylor and bassist Jeremy Davis.

And they’re banking on their long-standing friendship to keep them rocking and moving forward. Taylor said, “We have been friends for a long time. We care about each other a lot. We really try to sacrifice and compromise for each other. Our strong bond has definitely helped us stay together and move forward.”

With fame and the fandom possibly intoxicating, how does the band stay grounded? Taylor said that they surround themselves with families and friends they know from way back when they were nobodies who were simply dreaming of a lucky break. “Also faith in God,” Taylor admitted.

When asked how does the band reconcile faith with “very secular music,” Taylor said, “The term secular, I don’t really understand the definition of that anymore. I don’t know, but we just make music that we love and we happen to be not part of a Christian band. But that’s what we believe in, that (faith) is part of who we are. I think God can be any- where and not in a particular religious setting. I think God is part of everything we do.”

(The Return of Paramore Live! is produced by Ovation Productions with etc, 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal, Jack TV, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and MMI. Media partners include The Philippine STAR and philstar.com. Tickets are priced at P5,810 - VIP [Reserved Section], P4,760 - Patron [Standing], P3,700 - Lower Box [Reserved Seating], P1,800 - Up- per Box (Reserved Seating) and P850 - General Admission [Free Seating] and are available at all SM Tickets outlets. For ticket inquiries and reservations, contact SM Tickets at 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.net to buy tickets online.)