CONCERT REVIEW: Hayley Williams is in peak form at Riverbend Music Center

By Grace Koennecke, Editor-in-Chief

Just hours before “The Hayley Williams Show” at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and after wading through an extreme downpour, my shoes were soaked, my blown-out hair was a frizzy mess, and my carefully crafted makeup look inspired by the singer was practically non-existent before the concert even began.

However, the love and adoration I’ve always had for Williams remained, as I anxiously awaited her first solo performance in the Buckeye State. 

When Williams first announced last year’s “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party,” the album instantly overtook all my playlists and was a constant anchor as I navigated through my first year of adulthood post-college graduation. The emotional depth, vulnerability, and themes of identity, ego, heartbreak, and grief planted a seed within me, and its roots would grow stronger as I began to embrace the album more and more.

This third album from Williams was arguably her strongest work to date, but it was equally as thrilling to learn she would embark on a new tour to celebrate her previous albums as well as “Ego Death;” 2020’s “Petals For Armor” and “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos.” I vividly remember listening to her first solo projects during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and finding comfort in her openness about coming out of a traumatic relationship and reconnecting with herself, and seeing these albums come to life proved just how timeless they are.

Experiencing songs like “Simmer,” “Creepin’,” “Cinnamon,” and “Crystal Clear” live was nostalgic in the sense that six years have flown by, and I am still the same in many ways, but also different, just like Hayley. Each song reminded me of different memories and moments in my life when I’ve felt completely overtaken with anger, confused about someone’s intentions, proud of my femininity and personality, or have been head-over-heels infatuated with someone else. 

They also reaffirmed for me how much Williams has proved herself from the early beginnings of her solo career to now, and how the staying power of these songs has been able to bring in a new wave of admiration for her previous releases.

These songs also were able to come alive in a new way, with many of the arrangements beautifully crafted and performed by Williams and her band tenderly and with obvious care. The stage set illuminated and provided gorgeous imagery and world-building for each song, all while projected on whimsical cream-colored curtains. In the end, it was an intimate concert-going experience that made my view from the pit feel even more meaningful and connected to Williams in a way that mirrored the intimacy I felt the last time I saw her live.

It was no surprise to me that Williams’ performance was unmatched, with her voice carrying even in the quietest moments. From a stunning cover of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” to the unapologetic and rowdy “Ice In My OJ,” the singer owned the stage as she danced around and shouted into a megaphone, and her confidence and comfort easily got the crowd going early into the set.

The more acoustic, stripped-down moments of the set were some of my favorites, with standouts for me being “Just A Lover,” “Glum,” and “My Friend.” They all highlighted Williams’ natural ability to captivate, as well as her ease with switching between instruments and vocal styles.

The end of the show was arguably the time in the set everyone was holding their breath for, as Williams has ended every one of her shows with the standout track, “Parachute.” For the Paramore lovers out there, this song contains a lot of lore, but it also contains a lot of emotion. Williams is practically in tears in this song as she sings of a breakup, and it was a very cathartic experience to sing along with her.

Overall, Hayley Williams is an artist who has truly come into her own as a singer and performer outside of Paramore. This concert highlighted her strengths but also allowed for the space to feel free and intimate for fans. As I watched the singer all night, I was in awe not just of her presence but of what she solidifies in the music industry: A person who has always stayed true to her values and what’s best for her artistry.