Florence lifts crowd out of seats

July 23, 2015 5:24 pm 0 comments Views: 1

Powerhouse … Florence and the Machine performing live at the State Theatre in Sydney. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Source: News Corp Australia

REVIEW

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

IF EVER a theatre could be razed by the purity of a voice and ferocious energy of a performance, Florence and the Machine would be the musicians rising from the rubble.

Florence Welch is clearly the one to beat at this weekend’s Splendour In The Grass festival after her transcendent concert at the State Theatre on Thursday.

From the opening notes of What The Water Gave Me, Welch and her superlative band and singers thrilled an adoring audience with their musical punch and infectious joy.

Welch is awe-inspiring, maintaining her pristine, soaring vocals even as bounced like a child, spun like a dervish, vogued like Bowie and skipped like a ballerina across the stage.

She threw herself into the crowd by the fourth song, Raise Me Up, the stage too small to contain her unbridled lust and enthusiasm for singing.

Feeling it /// Florence and the Machine performing live at the State Theatre. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Source: News Corp Australia

You have to feel a twinge of pity for the lovely State Theatre staff as they battled the anarchy incited by this indie pop goddess, who just wanted everyone up on their feet even as the rules forbid dancing on the mezzanine.

“I’m gonna get told off,” she said giggling as she encouraged those upstairs to stand up.

Her set was almost perfectly constructed, drawing relatively evenly from all three albums including her most recent No. 1 record How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.

Like the coolest choir mistress, she conducted the crowd, enticing them to join in louder voice, stronger clapping, bigger jumping.

Few left sitting … Florence and the Machine encouraged the crowd to get on their feet. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Source: News Corp Australia

Dressed in an elegant white suit against a 11-piece band in all black (with three piece female horn section) Welch glowed, the bright lights of the stage dulled by her own brilliance.

He efforts were rewarded by constant shouts of “I love you” and a spectacularly Australian “Onya Florence.”

It was tough to think of a song that wasn’t given its full due during the set packed with hits and fan favourites including Delilah, Queen Of Peace, Dog Days Are Over and You’ve Got The Love.

It was a concert more people need to see if only for the unadulterated good time she creates with great music played with gusto and joy.

The good news is we should get a chance with a national tour next year.