Florence And The Machine: Birmingham Academy 2: 22.05.2009
There’s a good chance this review may turn into some kind of ramble, I apologise. I’ve just returned home from this gig and my head is all over the place.
Golden Silvers are supporting tonight and are an amazing live band with some beautiful lyrics. I urge you to go see them and to purchase their album from a record shop (I’m not a fan of downloading!). You may already know their track, 'True Romance'. It’s a top tune.
Anyway, I’m standing in the crowd watching them in awe and possibly in my own little world when suddenly about 3 or 4 screaming ladies come running in. One grabs my shoulder and I move to the side to let them in. They then start dancing like nutcases, and of course I look at them and smile. However, my smile quickly turns into an “OH MY GOODNESS LOOK WHO IT IS” kind of gormless expression. So I tug at my friend’s sleeve and nudge her, telling her to look to her side as we realise that I have in fact been grabbed by Florence and she is now dancing like mad in front of us to Golden Silvers. This dear reader has made me again declare, that this is the best gig that I have ever been to!
After just under two years of waiting to see her, the time has finally arrived. The stage is decorated in a vintage fashion and she takes to the stage with her band. I must say now, the harp that is on the stage is just astounding. I wish I could play it. Anyway, she stands in front of the mic and blesses us all with her fantastic voice. She claims that she is losing her voice, but it’s on perfect form. There is no faulting it. Tracks from her debut album, Lungs are also played and they give the indication that this WILL be the album of the year.
Fan favourites such as 'Girl With 1 Eye', 'Hurricane' and 'Dog Days Are Over' (cue stage dive!) are played. But the track that made this evening a rarity was Florence inviting a group of kids on stage to sing 'Kiss With A Fist' with her. How many bands do that now? Hardly any. In fact, how many bands rush into the crowd whilst the support act is on and dance to them? Hardly any.
Florence is, as clichéd as it sounds, a star. She has the best voice in the UK and we should be ridiculously proud of her because she is so talented. Just watching her perform tonight, you can easily see that she loves what she is doing. She may not play massive venues, and you know what - that’s fine because you can truly appreciate her talent (and the bands’) in a smaller venue. Oh, and because she stage dives too!
The set is ended with a cover of Candi Staton’s 'You Got The Love'. I was hoping that she would end the set with this. There are no words.
I may be totally biased here, but crowds in the Midlands are the best. Everyone left with a massive smile on their faces tonight, and they also experience something truly remarkable.
Words: Olivia Cellamare
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