Review: Florence and the Machine
BY TRACEY BOND
Trusts Stadium was bubbling with excitement as girls in floaty dresses and sequined headbands skipped across the stadium floor towards the front of the stage.
Indie darlings The Drums were first up, putting in an energetic performance. The catchy I Need Fun in my Life got the crowd dancing, with lead singer Jonathan Pierce promising "Florence is up next".
Then it was the turn of Florence and the Machine, fronted by the charismatic Florence Welch.
From the moment she burst onto the stage, barefoot in a floaty black chiffon dress over a sparkly top and shorts, Welch showcased the incredible range and power of her voice.
The infectious Drumming Song set the bar for the rest of the night.
The crowd knew every word to her songs, a fact she constantly acknowledged by dipping her microphone towards the audience.
Welch told Stuff.co.nz in an earlier interview that she was back in town because of the "tremendous amount of support from fans over here".
As a performer she is huge bundle of contradictions: one moment striking dramatic poses on a stage drenched with dry ice and moody lighting, the next lost in a moment in the song.
Yet she always connects to the audience.
"I saw you in that shop earlier today," she exclaimed as she recognised someone at the front of the stage.
The band was last here in February as the headlining act for the debut of the St Jerome's Laneway music festival in Auckland.
"Thank you for such an awesome welcome back! You've re-energised me!" Welch told the crowd.
Welch has a huge amount of energy; she was constantly in motion: twirling, leaping and jumping around the stage.
The backdrop was festooned with fairy lights for an ethereal rendition of Cosmic Love: Watching her spinning around on stage was dizzying.
It was on I'm not Calling you a Liar, accompanied by little more than a harp - and the majority of the Trusts Stadium crowd - that Welch demonstrated the operatic qualities of her voice.
There was also a taste of what the talented redhead has in store for fans on her second album with the as-yet-unreleased track Strangeness and Charm.
Welch puts everything into her songs, and by the time she got to Rabbit Heart she seemed to have sung herself a little hoarse.
That didn't stop her from experimenting with the song, shouting some parts, creating effects with the microphone and taking to the keyboards.
Twilight fans had to wait until the encore to hear a slightly whispered version of Heavy In Your Arms and after a raucous version of Kiss with a Fist she seemed to recover her voice to finish on a high with Dog Days are Over.
Florence and the Machine, The Drums and The Naked and Famous
Where: Trusts Stadium
When: Thursday, July 29
*Where you at the gig? What did you think? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
A friend and I flew up from Welly to see her it was totally worth it. She was amazing!! The support bands were great too. The venue was a terrible choice. Let's hope she comes back.
Florence was exceptionally comfortable in her own skin, her vocals sent shivers, The Machine were equally gifted - it's great to see a combination of classical Harp arrangement in some powerful belly busting songs. It would have been an inspiring and captivating audience for any aspiring fashionista, never seen so much boho under one roof! One of the, if not, the best gig I've ever been to.
Wow, i can't believe it. That is me and my friend in this picture. Front and center in the concert and this photo. I can honestly say this was the most amazing experience and if and when Florence comes back, i will be going again.
Florence was just amazing. I loved it in You Got The Love when she did that thing with the microphone so her voice sounded jumpy, it was really cool. But, I heard the set list and some things she said to the crowd were exactly the same as at Laneway :( Highlight: Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), there was so much soul and crowd participation. I will definitely be going her next concert in NZ.
"Indie darlings The Drums were first up".........??? What about our New Zealand guys The Naked and Famous who were actually "first up" and what an awesome young band. Come on "Reviewer" - where's the support for our local guys. Or were you not there for their opening??
Yes Florence was good, (a bit too screechy at times), yet no mention of The Naked and Famous? They were amazing! They are a Kiwi band with potential and a sound that break through on the international stage, yet no mention on your review?
Big down side to the Gig was the venue! The acoustics of the venue were awful! The venue acted like a gig at a warehouse, delayed and imbalanced echo! The acoustics works well for sporting events to create the atmosphere but not for music gigs!
All I can say to those who had seated tickets at the back of the venue is, was it worth it?!
Last night was the most incredible, beautiful night of my life and I now have a huge girl-crush on Florence. She is an incredible live performer and I was captivated for every moment she was on stage. Actually it was hard for me to take my eyes off her. The Naked and Famous were a bit meh, but possibly just because I don't know their songs. The Drums were SO CUTE. But Florence is just on another dimension. Trusts Stadium was the wrong venue for that kind of intimate concert, and so the audience looked (from where I was, AT THE FRONT OF THE MOSH PIT :D) embarassingly small. But overall, perfect night. If you get a chance to see them, GO.
Btw. Short Asian-looking girl behind me. Pulling my hair and feeling me up was not going to make me give you my spot at the front. Better luck next time.
Wgtn Town Hall?
Florence was amazing, fantastic voice and stage presence.
The venue was absolute rubbish! I wish I'd been in the country when Laneways was on.
Degrassi star died five years ago
Homegrown is best - Barnaby Weir
Kiwi actors add star power to festival
Franklin, Wonder to sing at funeral
George Clooney 'drinks too much'
Film review: The Ides Of March
Kimbra to tour US with Foster the People
Banking on return of blue magic
Police treating school blazes as suspicious
Brothel scares and stresses neighbourhood
Million-dollar view, shame about the house
One year on too soon to shake raw feelings
Teacher sentenced for child porn named
Merivale Mall tenants 'left in limbo'
Closure sour twist to sweet shop plans
Bain defence still less than convincing
Terrified teen pleads for bail
Rare bravery award for Christchurch heroes
Emotional rebuild explored in new papers
Brothel scares and stresses neighbourhood
Million-dollar view, shame about the house
Cathedral repair bill intimidating
Five Riccarton businesses closed
One year on too soon to shake raw feelings
Police treating school blazes as suspicious
Keown proud of starring role as peeping tom
Cathedral repair bill intimidating
Brothel scares and stresses neighbourhood
Greens do MP a disservice by hurling her into a storm
Councillors back Marryatt's golf leave
One year on too soon to shake raw feelings
Protest rally to seek council elections
Florence was amazing!!! her voice was great i think the reviewer was exaggerating when talking about her voice going hoarse at the end. Her twirling and jumping around the stage enhanced the songs. The venue was average.The drums were awesome! i loved the lead singer's queer dancing and bluntness when he announced he was going to sing a song about his "dead best friend". Naked and famous were good. All up was an awesome night out