She’s The Biggest Star! A Concert Review of The Hayley Williams Show, Xfinity Center
Williams proves that music is meaningless when it is without a message. When performing “Ice in my OJ” she shouts, “F**k I.C.E.” and “Free Palestine”. Knowing that she has a large, captive audience, Williams chooses to use her voice to speak on topical issues. Her political and moral ideation are the focal points of tracks like “True Believer” and, the title track, “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party”. Both touch on Hayley’s upbringing in Nashville, Tennessee. She laments on the gentrification of her town and its history of racial inequity. She calls herself a “True Believer”, which juxtaposes the religious sentiments in piece, to highlight that there is still hope in mending a community torn apart by corrupt or unjust systems of power.
The Hayley Williams Show combines all three of her solo albums into one truly unforgettable performance. While it is easy to commend someone on their stage presence or vocal abilities, it is much harder to say an artist left an emotional impact. Hayley’s artistry is apparent especially in the transitional moments of her set. To hammer in the point of True Believer she follows it up with a partial cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”, reminding the audience she won’t be complacent and that everything she says and does is in the pursuit of a common good.
If you get a chance to see Hayley Williams live, take it
