Last night (April 23), Paramore played the last show of their UK tour at London’s The O2, a tour on which they have been joined by Bloc Party as support. Hayley Williams has openly talked about her love and admiration of the band growing up as well as having a major influence on Paramore’s music over the years, especially on their latest album, This Is Why. And as a special treat and a way of bringing both band’s 20-year journeys to a head, the pair teamed up for a proper moment.
That special treat was Hayley and Bloc Party vocalist Kele Okereke playing “Blue Light,” taken from their seminal debut album Silent Alarm. With just a guitar and their beautiful voices, they produced a spine-tingling rendition that lulled the arena into awe-inspired silence.
Hayley summed it all up best when she said:
“Bloc Party has been a huge influence on Paramore since we were little kids, picking up guitars and writing songs for the first time. We’ve grown up with this band in the same way that a lot of you have grown up with us and probably grown up with Bloc Party as well. So it only feels right to sing a song together that I used to cry to all the time in my car. And maybe we can all cry together.”
Bloc Party released their latest album Alpha Games last year. Here is newly-released “High Life” taken from the deluxe edition:
And here is This Is Why, because what an incredible song:
Bloc Party will also be joining Paramore on their upcoming US tour as well, alongside an array of other special guests. Here are the dates:
- May 23 – CHARLOTTE Spectrum Center *×
- May 25 – ATLANTA State Farm Arena *×
- May 27 – ATLANTIC CITY Adjacent Festival !
- May 30 – NEW YORK Madison Square Garden *×
- June 02 – WASHINGTON Capital One Arena *×
- June 04 – CLEVELAND Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse *×
- June 05 – INDIANAPOLIS Gainbridge Fieldhouse *×
- June 07 – DETROIT Little Caesars Arena *×
- June 08 – TORONTO Scotiabank Arena *×
- June 10 – COLUMBUS Schottenstein Center *×
- June 11 – PITTSBURGH PPG Paint Arena *×
- June 13 – ORLANDO Amway Center *×
- June 14 – HOLLYWOOD Hard Rock Live *×
- July 06 – NEW ORLEANS Smoothie King Center +°
- July 08 – FORT WORTH Dickies Arena +°
- July 09 – AUSTIN Moody Center +°
- July 11 – HOUSTON Toyota Center +°
- July 13 – DENVER Ball Arena +°
- July 16 – SAN DIEGO Viejas Arena +
- July 19 – LOS ANGELES Kia Forum +
- July 22 – SAN FRANCISCO Chase Center +
- July 24 – SEATTLE Climate Pledge Arena +°
- July 25 – PORTLAND Veterans Memorial Coliseum +°
- July 27 – SALT LAKE CITY Vivint Arena +°
- July 29 – TULSA BOK Center +°
- July 30 – ST. LOUIS Enterprise Center +°
- Aug 02 – ST PAUL Xcel Energy Center +°
- * – Bloc Party
- + – Foals
- ° – The Linda Lindas
- × – Genesis Owusu
- ! – Festival Performance