Hayley Williams’ Philly Spectacular

Is Ego Death right for you? Just before Hayley Williams took the stage at a sold-out Franklin Music Hall, she played what sounded like a pharmaceutical ad. “Ask your doctor about Ego Death. It’s a prescription medication created to help you deconstruct expired systems, and survive the daily onslaught of a sexist, racist, white-supremacist, phobic and fascist patriarchy.” At the end of the clip, Williams took to the stage to sing “Mirtazapine,” her first single off her third solo album. 

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party was released in bits and pieces over the last year. She premiered new music at Newport Folk Festival, where she made a guest appearance in Jack Antonoff’s headlining set. She released the songs for free, in no particular order, all leading up to her first headlining tour that didn’t get canceled due to any sort of pandemic. And frankly, she’s playing stages that are much too small for her. This tour felt like a one-time chance to see her in the smallest room she’ll ever play again.

The whole record is absolutely mind bending. Not only is she seemingly grieving the end of a relationship, but she’s grieving the versions of herself that she thought were everlasting. She’s grieving the state of a world that she knows can be better. She’s grieving all the decisions she didn’t make and the life she didn’t live. To watch her play these songs with a huge smile on her face, surrounded by all her friends, was a beacon of light in an otherwise upsetting time to be alive.

Beyond the music, the show was full of stunning visuals. In “True Believer,” the lights were timed with the haunting piano riff. A cityscape with Hayley Williams specific billboards was displayed behind her in “Dream Girl In Shibuya.” The use of shadows was playful and fun to watch, especially for those too far back to see much of the stage.

Williams is hands-down one of the most brilliant frontpeople of this generation of music, that much is clear when she’s making music in Paramore. When she’s playing her own music with her own band, she also solidifies herself as an incredibly talented instrumentalist. She spent nearly the whole set behind an instrument other than her voice, oscillating between guitar, keys, and synth. 

Throughout the tour, Williams has been occasionally hosting guests on some songs, and her stop in Philly was no different. She brought out local legend Tierra Whack for some of “Good Old Days.” After the show, Whack brought the band out to party at Sweet 45, an ice cream shop on Front Street. Williams also brought out her friend and comedian Caleb Hearon to sing on “Parachute,” the last song of the night. Despite Hearon not knowing he was going to be on stage, and possibly not knowing the words, seeing him up there was a joyous surprise.

Openers Water From Your Eyes were delightfully weird. What stood out most was their impressive guitar work on tracks like “Barley,” where guitarist Al Nardo really shined.