Alternative Press: Paramore

Alternative Press Magazine issue #255 (October 2009) features one of the most currently beloved pop-rock bands of the music world--Paramore. AP's headliners always jump out at me from the pages, but for some reason, this one did more so than others.

Source: Altpress.com

It could be the photography that drew me in. The presentation of the story is eye-catching, to say the least. AP's signature goofy, brightly-colored photo shoots certainly appeal to its target audience. And although it is by no means obvious, the bowling theme adds a layer of complexity-- that Paramore was/is in the midst of an internal struggle, a game.

Knowing the magazine, you would assume that the story is about a band, but the pictures don't exactly give that away. One killer stage shot ties the whole piece together.

Despite the fact that it's obviously not-at-all related or important to the story, the lede is beautifully done. It draws the reader in, and manages to say a lot about lead singer Hayley Williams:

"Whoooosh! A pint-sized, blond-haired blur whizzes past the doorway of Paramore's dressing room backstage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis and is followed five seconds later by a frazzled 20-something nanny, panting while wearing a Harajuku Lovers T-shirt and designer jeans. "Kingston...Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiingston...Get! Over! Here! Giggles and high-pitched squeals ensue but Hayley Williams doesn't bat a blue-painted eye. In fact, she doesn't even look up."

The content is mainly about the recently revealed terminated relationship of Williams and guitarist Josh Farro. However, Leslie Simon doesn't tell the story in a tabloid-like form, a risk that any journalist takes in talking about relationships among celebrities. Rather, the story focuses more on the effects the split had on the band.

Simon executes with incredible detail; It puts the reader there at the scene. The lede alone exemplifies this, but much of the first half of the story is saturated with details. While this could be distracting from the real point of the story, it makes the reader feel closer to the subject and really draws you into the lives of these musicians.