Florence and The Machine

The openers The Ghost Of Saber Tooth Tiger were led by Sean Lennon. Their sound is very 60’s garage rock which is a great fit against Florence, however, something was off with me and I had trouble getting into the music. Sean sounds a little too much like his dad which was a Halloween kind of spooky that weirded me out. In other words I felt as though I was listening to The Beatles filler tracks as sung by John Lennon’s sperm. Technically speaking they’re a great tight band they just weren’t my cup of tea at the moment.
This was my first time seeing her outside a festival slot.
The orange and red lighting hues bouncing off Florence’s red hair made her look like a postcard sunset. The kind that makes all the bad things seem insignificant.
Stage banter doesn’t meet her personality which has always been charming. Her speaking voice is so fragile and sweet yet she’s a powerhouse when she sings.
The interesting set list moment was when she performed Sweet Nothing, her collaboration with Calvin Harris. I am so used to hearing it one way. When the first chorus kicked in I was expecting synth drop beats, however, learned to appreciate by the second verse the beauty in the redux version.
On the fashion front her unkept hair, no makeup and dancing bare foot made me appreciate the freedom she holds for herself. She’s taken it back to the 60’s when frizzy hair and hippie clothes were in fashion yet she makes it look so sheik in her own way.
Florence’s vocal and physical energy was sustained throughout the entire 100 minute set. They’re the only band that can make a harp sound hip.
Favourite moment was during Spectrum when she requested the audience to find a piece of clothing that they didn’t care about and swing it like a soccer game cheer. Watching everyone’s laundry dance in the air made me feel as free as Florence herself. She even encouraged everyone to brace the person next to them. Sadly my bestie wasn’t able to make it so I hugged the couple next to me.
There were moments in which she forgot where she was and danced as though she was a 10 year twirling in a meadow.