At the end of January, British indie-rock band Florence + The Machine will be (re-)embarking on their UK tour. The shows were originally planned for November, but after their lead singer Florence Welch broke her foot at the London O2 Arena show, the tour came to a dramatic halt. At that very show, however, despite a disconcerting trail of blood staining the white stage, Florence powered through to the end.
Performing before a decadent chandelier set piece, the band opened with the short yet commanding 'Heaven Is Here', before transitioning into 'King', the main single of their latest Dance Fever album – the band’s fifth studio album – in which Florence emphatically declares "I am no mother. I am no bride. I am King." Another Dance Fever single to appear early on is the upbeat and anthemic 'Free', providing a moment of catharsis and celebration. An additional early highlight of the show came from the band's most iconic and well-known song 'Dog Days Are Over', which got everyone to their feet and dancing – even those who up until that point had remained stubbornly seated.
'Dream Girl Evil' was another undoubtable highlight of the setlist, a song that feels made for live performance; the song crescendos into an intense rock-heavy ending with Florence repeatedly crying out "It cannot hold." It’s about midway through the show when Florence briefly leaves the stage to get her foot checked out, leaving a conspicuous mark of blood on the stage. She shortly makes a triumphant return for the slower 'Morning Elvis', a song exploring her complicated relationship with performance and touring, a theme that weaves through the entire Dance Fever album: "And if I make it to the stage, I’ll show you what it means to be saved." While the band often thrives in the wilder moments of performance – the moments of immense crescendo at the end of certain tracks, and songs that flaunt their indie-rock origins – the quieter and slower moments are often equally powerful. In these tracks, such as 'Morning Elvis' and 'Girls Against God', Florence’s vocals have the audience in a trance, and, even in a venue as large as the O2 Arena, the atmosphere feels undeniably intimate.
Despite her injured foot, Florence continued to deliver an intense and high-energy performance throughout the latter half of the show; dancing, jumping, and even running an entire lap of the pit. "I just kept spinning and I danced myself to death," Florence sang in 'Choreomania' - "literally!" Other memorable moments that came towards the end included bringing back their iconic cover of 'You’ve Got The Love', as well as songs from their debut album Lungs, such as the mesmerising 'Cosmic Love'. The show reminds the audience of the band’s formidable discography and veteran status, with songs from their earlier albums Lungs and Ceremonials standing the test of time and offering some of the best moments of the night.
The show closes with euphoric performances of 'Shake It Out' and 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)', leaving the audience buzzing with emotion and adrenaline. Many who see Florence + The Machine live will subsequently declare that they have experienced a kind of religious experience or spiritual awakening, and the show certainly lived up to such high expectations. Florence Welch delivered an enthralling performance, playing up her otherworldly “witchy” essence - and even added an element of blood sacrifice.
Cover image by Zach Seoudy.
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