Last weekend was one of my favorite weekends of the year, Austin City Limits weekend, and the line-up this year was pretty spectacular. The act I was most looking forward too, however, was Florence + The Machine. I’ve been wanting to see them live for ages and ages and ages and finally it happened, and it one of my favorite venues. Kismet! Serendipity! Aligned stars!
And then Florence Welch put a spell on me. If you haven’t seen Florence + The Machine live, the best way I can explain Florence Welch is that she is like a very powerful wood nymph. She floats, she flits, she glows, she BELTS IT OUT. She is magical and she puts a spell on everyone in her performing presence. She rubbed glitter from a fans face on to hers. She put a ring of daisies around her head and declared “Happy Festival!” to us all. She counted to three and every single person in the crowd jumped up and down. For real. She demanded “human sacrifice” and people cheered. (Of course, by human sacrifice, she meant “climb up on on someone’s shoulders” although that totally could have turned into a accident that resulted in actual human sacrifice….) Her voice was heavenly. She never once complained about the heat. I don’t think she was even sweating, probably because wood nymphs don’t sweat.
It was my absolute favorite concert of all time. Unfortunately, because I was under a spell, I didn’t take any pictures or record any soundbites. All I have are beautiful dreamlike memories and sore legs from jumping up and down. Seriously y’all, it was magic.
Obsessed with Florence and the Machine!
I just saw her on Saturday Night Live and she was so amazing live that I demanded we go to the first concert available. Turns out that it was just a week later and we missed it. Boo! Needless to say… I’m a wee bit jelly of you
Sometimes the BEST times end without a single photo being taken — I love that you were totally mesmerized!
Although I’m not a massive fan of Florence’s music I thought she was brilliant at Reading festival in England this “summer”. It was pouring with rain and she was out there, on the edge of the stage, getting drenched like all of the crowd, really giving it some. Total respect for her performance.
She is fantastic! I have been wanting to see her for forever and I saw her perform at the Hollywood Bowl on the 8th for the first time!
That sounds really fun!! But I’m not sure that I want to wake up in hospital bedroom, not remembering anything except the fact that somebody jumped on my shoulder shouting “FLORENCE!!!”…. Ouch……
“Happiness… hit her…”
I only so-so on her until I saw her at Lollapalooza this year and was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be 100% chanting wood nymph, which would’ve been grating. It wasn’t. It was awesome how they went techno on dog days and shake it off. Was awesome seeing her jump around getting the crowd in a frenzy.
We forgive you because you’re getting married. (This is valuable coinage in the excuse department. Spend it wisely.) But that will only last so long.
“Jill felt she could have fainted with delight; and the music — that wild music, intensely sweet and yet just the least bit eerie too, and full of good magic as the Witch’s thrumming had been full of bad magic-made her feel it all the more.” -The Silver Chair.