Florence + The Machine
Where: O2 Birmingham Academy, Birmingham
When: Sunday 20th September 2009.
In May this year, I saw Florence + The Machine plays a venue that held about 300 people. Last night, I saw her play in a venue that held, I’d say, around 1000. Only being signed at the start of 2009, Florence has gone from playing tiny venues to selling out tours in a matter of hours.
I remember first hearing about her back in 2007. She was singing with Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion) in a lift, the video is still on YouTube, and from seeing that her voice just astounded me. But last night made it clear that Florence Welch posses the best voice in the UK. I’d even go so far as to say currently she has the best voice in the world.
Before she took to the stage, the PA system played out ‘Dog Days Are Over’, which everyone sang along to. If this is the reaction a standard album version gets, imagine what happens when it’s done live. Then opening with ‘Kiss With A Fist’, everyone went ever so slightly mental. How could you not! But it was ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’ that really made the whole place go crazy. I thought that the balcony above us was going to collapse. I suppose being crushed at a Florence gig isn’t that bad to be honest, there are worse ways to die!
Hearing ‘I’m Not Calling You A Liar’ and ‘Hurricane Drunk’ showed the strength of Florence’s voice. However the two songs that left me in awe, as always, were ‘Cosmic Love’ and ‘Blinding’. Fan girl moment- these two songs mean a hell of a lot to me and for them to be played straight after each other set me off. The only track from Lungs to be not played was ‘Girl With 1 Eye’, but ‘Bird Song’ and ‘Are You Hurting The One You Love?’ made up for it.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - Birmingham crowds are the best. And Florence + The Machine fans are easily the nicest people you will ever meet. You know why? Because Florence is lovely. How do I know this? Because after a long time of wishing and waiting - I met Florence Welch. This has made my life. I don’t care if I sound like a 14 year old, it was amazing.
I should mention the support act because they were brilliant. You probably know who The xx are by now. They’ve covered Aaliyah’s ‘Hot Like Fire’, and did a rather good job of it. On record they are flawless, live they are perfect. They deserve to be massive.
If you’re seeing her on this tour or in December and it’s your first time- you will be blown away. Her voice, her stage presence, the band-all of it was worth spending over £100 to get to see her and I’ll be doing it all over again December.
Words: Olivia Cellamare
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Reply #1 on : Sat January 14, 2012, 07:38:23