On October 5 and 6, Paramore’s Hayley Williams performed at the Hollywood Bowl. Los Angeles is Williams’ last stop on the West Coast before her last three American shows of “The Hayley Williams Show.” The tour has drawn attention due the singer’s political comments and criticism of the current presidential administration.
The openers for the U.S. leg of the tour were Rico Nasty and Magdalena Bay, hip-hop and alternative pop artists, respectively. This is Williams’ second visit to L.A. this year and follows her previous tour, “Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party.”
The setlist included tracks from her solo albums, “Petals for Armor” (2020), “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos” (2021), and “Ego Death At a Bachelorette Party” (2025). Williams also performed songs that she was featured on, like “Airplanes” by B.o.B. (September 17 in New York City) and “Stay the Night” by Zedd (both shows in Los Angeles). The show in Los Angeles will be Williams’ first time performing “Stay the Night” in 12 years, and her performance of “Airplanes” in New York seems to mark a new chapter in her musical career where she embraces her past (and previously neglected) projects.
The show had heavy political undertones, highlighted by songs like “Ice in My OJ” and “True Believer.” While performing “Ice in my OJ,” Williams shouted “F*ck ICE” and “Free Palestine,” and encouraged the audience to vote in the upcoming November elections. The singer is very up-front with her political stance and wastes no opportunity to use her platform for activism.
During this tour in particular, different organizations like “Reverb” and “Support+Feed” were invited to the concert venue to promote themselves and raise money for their respective initiatives. Attendees who visited the organization booths had the opportunity to donate to the causes and receive tour-exclusive merchandise such as water bottles and decorated buttons.
Recently, Williams has been under fire from right-wing news outlets and even the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for her comments during the concert about Christian nationalism being the “greatest threat to American democracy.”
According to Fox News, DHS said that they “suggest Ms. Williams thank them [federal law enforcement officers] for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.”
Williams responded on her Instagram story, calling DHS “Nazi b–ches.”
This is not the first time the singer has criticized the Trump administration and its supporters. One of the most notable comments came from the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2024, when she asked, “Do you want to live in a dictatorship?”
The discourse surrounding her comments seems to fit almost too perfectly with the current political backdrop, with Olivia Rodrigo’s feminist music festival and the announcement of Macklemore’s “Free Palestine Tour” after he was kicked off the Ed Sheeran tour. It seems like many musicians are beginning to use their platforms for activism, reflecting the values of their audience more directly, as shown by the sold-out ticket sales for all of these events.
Williams’ activism and solo career have allowed her to step out of Paramore’s shadow, creating a name for herself apart from the band. Her unique vocals and lyricism are uniquely her own, forming her style and allowing her messages to be heard. Also, her willingness to experiment and give a platform for smaller artists has created a special community of fans, even just from her most recent tour.
“The Hayley Williams Show” is the perfect encapsulation of Williams’ solo career, combining years of musical experience with a new, more politically charged voice.
