Florence + The Machine: review and photos

Florence + The Machine came to Auckland last night, and Crave! was fortunate enough to have Leah Victoria go along to cover, and shoot, the show for us. Thanks, Leah!

It’s the last night of a blow out success world tour and it’s happening in Auckland New Zealand. 

British Indie-rock sensation Florence And The Machine picked the hump day to bring their magical performance to their favourite Kiwi people. The streets are buzzing and bars bursting at the seams as excited faces prepare to face a memorable Wednesday evening at Spark Arena. 

A plethora of talented musicians take to the big stage surrounded by applause and illuminated by a rich warm light before darkness descends and the anticipation for Florence Welch to make her entrance builds.

I hear a voice behind me in the front row of the sold-out arena. “She’s gonna float onto the stage like the angel she is.” 

As the low bass starts to strum, in she floats. Draped in a vintage ivory gown with her red hair loose she quietly makes her way to her to a boho twine-adorned microphone stand as her bare footed silhouette glows. Angel is the only word to describe her mystical demeanor.

The end of the High As Hope tour is nigh.

Opening the night with one her latest works, she instructs her audience to join hands as she chants: “Hold on to each other, Hold on to each other” and delivered her heartfelt emotional lyrics.

The Tour, titled after the most recent of 4 hard hitting studio albums created over a decade, features a healthy mix of her discography. Had she only delivered the most recent album which is made up of mostly ballads, the show might have dragged on like a Wednesday. But in true Florence style, the experience was upbeat and energetic as she pumped out international hits including Cosmic, What kind of Man, and South London. 

Flying across the stage from one side to another, her hair and dress blowing in the wind and propelling her forward she reached out to her fans as if deep in a meaningful one on one conversation. 

Her barefoot simplicity accentuates her ethereal presence as the big screen looming above her plays out beautiful macro footage of orchids blooming in slow motion. Florence And The Machine exude the beauty of nature. 

Florence states in her soft spoken voice that she is shy. However this didn’t stop her making demands of her crowd, instructing people to hug the person next to them and “put your F***ING phones away!” Florence was hell bent on making sure her fans felt her desire to create a sense of united community. 

She paused halfway through my personal favourite “Dog Days” to ensure we were enforcing the no phone rule on the people in our surrounding, but the request was followed entirely as her people fully immersed themselves in the music. 

Florence spoke repeatedly about the importance of maintaining hope and spreading love in the world. “HOPE IS AN ACTION!” 

Welch complimented her perfect un-faltering Vibrato vocals with eccentric contemporary dance, twirling and leaping in a natural un-choreographed manner. Deep inside herself she simply danced as if no one was watching.

It’s hard to believe that at the end of such a big tour that she is not exhausted physically and emotionally, but she was here tonight prepared to give her performance 100%.

Mid show she stepped off the stage and entered the crowd. Making her way around the arena she blessed people with a touch to the head as the whole venue surfed on her strong vibration. It felt like a spiritual ceremony as the whole arena became the additional percussion vital to create such unity in music. 

Florence And The Machine delivered a high energy and simply stunning performance. If you weren’t there last night, all I can say is you missed out big time!

Set List

JUNE

HUNGER

LUNGS

ONLY IF FOR A NIGHT

QUEEN OF PEACE

SOUTH LONDON

FOREVER

PATRICIA

DOG DAYS

100 YEARS

SHIP TO WRECK

SKY FULL OF SONG

COSMIC LOVE

DELILAH

WHAT KIND OF MAN

MODERATION

BIG GOD

SHAKE IT OUT

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