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Florence + the Machine's ground-trembling triumph at Tempelhof Sounds Festival - the Fan Club account
The Florence + the Machine Fan Club were given access to report on Florence + the Machine’s tempestuous Tempelhof Sounds appearance, and we detail all from the fan club perspective.
When you think of a Florence + the Machine festival headline slot, what sort of atmosphere comes to mind? At Tempelhof Sounds Festival, take that image and amplify it by one hundred. Tempelhof marked the first major festival in Germany to open its gates, set on the runway of the eerie abandons of a former major airport serving Berlin. What better location than to watch the music soar through and above the crowd that had been longing for the return of live music for three years? It was clear that Tempelhof stood for the music, putting this front and centre from the moment the first act stepped onto the stage, and the audience it attracted reflected that priority in its energy.
Fans gather early in the morning, adorned in glitter and flower crowns, to secure the prime barrier position. Photo: Yvonne Lehnert
‘Barrier Ghosts’ waiting patiently for the show to begin. Photo: Tessa Camilla (@tessacamilla)
Take, for example, the moment that the audience, waiting with bated breath, caught the first glimpse of Rob Ackroyd, Tom Monger, Dionne Douglas, Sam Doyle, Cyrus Bayandor and Aku Orraca-Tetteh ascending to the stage. Palpable electricity flowed through the sea of "barrier ghosts" - their faces glittering and ornament flower crowns worn in nervous anticipation of Florence Welch to float behind her band onto the stage. The wait for them had been for over 6 hours for most, enduring the intensity of the summer sun through the varied line-up of preceding acts including Two Door Cinema Club and the Libertines. A roar cut through the hot, still Berlin evening at the moment Florence tiptoed across the stage. Dressed in flowing lace, the pounding drums of 'Heaven Is Here' set the tone for the journey on which thousands were about to embark. The crowd chanted the spell-like 'Dance Fever' offering back to the band; the sermon in full swing. Hands flew into the air, pounding the sky to 'I AM KING' as Florence’s face illuminated at the realisation that ‘Dance Fever’ had already touched the souls of fans globally, singing the song word-for-word back to her. Florence + the Machine are indeed King, returning to perform at their best; each person understood how privileged they were to be experiencing this moment with their own eyes, ears and spirits, and they gave everything in return. Stomping, jumping, shouting through tiredness, tears and sweat, offering all their energy towards the stage.
Then came Dog Days to the satisfaction of the horizon-stretching crowd, with its classic ritual of its collective in-the-moment experience. Thousands roared as Florence asked who was experiencing what she termed the "cult" of Florence + the Machine for the first time. Thousands were inducted into the cult, jumping with abandon to the song's climax under the spell of Florence. The sheer power of the performance sent literal shockwaves through the tarmac, even causing a minor earthquake which shook surrounding apartments during the minute of feet thumping the floor in harmony.
Photo: Lea Herpich
The atmosphere remained charged, but with gentle love in the place of frantic euphoria as 'June''s "hold on to each other" tugged at the emotions of many who had struggled through the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans held hands, embracing and swaying as each reflected on the personal bonds that Florence + the Machine have created between people who would not have met without their music - Canadians, Russians, Germans, Britons, Irish, French and more, all swaying shoulder-to-shoulder. Then again, nothing creates bonds quite like the shared experience of Florence clambering onto the barrier to unleash sonic rage through 'Dream Girl Evil'. Where Florence has supported millions through her songs, fans become Florence's physical support for a moment and the symbiosis of artist and audience becomes ever more evident. This symbiosis, as Florence highlighted later in the set, is something she and her band had missed dearly over the last three years. It's that symbiosis that Florence had witnessed in its full glory most evidently here, tonight, in Berlin. "You have been the most incredible audience, thank you" Florence exclaimed, visibly overwhelmed by the uniquely vibrant reception that the band had received from the German crowd from the very first song.
The crowd raises phone torches to simulate stars during ‘Cosmic Love’. Photo: Antony Zacharias (@antonyzacsnaps)
The show continued under "the moon, still bright against the worrying sky"; Florence sang, stretching towards the luminous moon hung perfectly above the sea of her worshippers. The lights of phone torches completed the sky full of song during 'Cosmic Love' as the sky itself began to grow darker. As the show drew to a close, Florence beckoned all to leave all their energy on the tarmac. Her audience obeyed, dancing to exhaustion in the vein of the dancing plague which themes their latest album 'Dance Fever'. The final offerings were made during 'Rabbit Heart' which closed the set, with fans clambering onto shoulders chanting "RAISE IT UP" into the black abyss above their heads. The ground-shaking energy was felt from further afield, attracting an audience of congregating passers-by in Tempelhof Feld to the festival’s perimeter who listened to the crowd’s roaring and Florence’s soaring voice in awe.
And although the band left the stage, the strong connections, friendships and sheer energy that are the life forces of the Florence + the Machine fan base endure in ever-more beautiful ways. Reflectively, no-one moved for minutes after the band had left the stage, all spell-struck by the sermon in which they had just participated. As the charm’s hold lessened and the crowd dispersed in search of food to refuel after their musical voyage, the electricity was still visible on all faces that we passed. Fans gathered to share tales of the personal and collective moments from the show, exchanging photos, hugs and contacts. As we write this article, we realise that it is incredibly difficult to transfer the sheer vibrance that this performance offered into words, and are indebted to Tempelhof Sounds for providing such a special space for Florence + the Machine's literally ground-shaking magic to be shared. That evening will forever be written into history, on this site and beyond, as one of the most exhilarating shows by the band, but also the most beautiful display of human love that the band facilitates, that continues to pervade through the darkest of times.
Fans congregate after the performance, united by Florence + the Machine, having endured over 11 hours of waiting in the intense German sun. Photo: Agnes
Florence + the Machine's Musical Thrill Ride - Live Review (Xfinity Center, Mansfield)
Guest-author Lori D Wright presents an exclusive review of Florence + the Machine's roaring concert at Mansfield's Xfinity Center (Massachusetts), 7th June 2016.
Photography exclusively shot for us by Matthew Shelter (Stage Light Photography)
Guest-author Lori D Wright presents an exclusive review of Florence + the Machine's roaring concert at Mansfield's Xfinity Center (Massachusetts), 7th June 2016.
Photography exclusively shot for us by Matthew Shelter (Stage Light Photography)
The day was finally here. And could it be any more fitting that on this springy/summer day, the evening forecast had the possibility of thunderstorms and hail? This is not surprising when I know Florence is the goddess of the earthy elements; the signs of air and water adorn How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful's cover and all its merchandise. I had waited all year for the particular tour, and I had concerns the set would be cut short. Magically, as if Flo herself had smiled upon the venue, a double rainbow appeared as the sun dropped in the sky. Fittingly that night, she wore the yellow gown to declare there would be no rain that night, only sun and love.
As the smoke blew across the stage, the band began to take their places and the anticipation was palpable. My heart was racing knowing our Goddess would be walking out. Cue screams as she slowly walks out of the fog barefoot onto the stage. She walked out slowly, with a deliberate stride, approached the microphone, leaned over, hair over her face, arms outreached and with a subtle flick of her finger HERE WE GO! Time it took us…The song starts with only her voice escalating into the sky building up to the bass thumping crescendo until she gets to the chorus, voice thundering as if she were the daughter of Zeus himself. LAY ME DOWN…
Her voice was spectacular. I had worried the humidity would take its toll but it didn’t. Her voice, crystal clear, rang out true. Soft when it needed to be, then full out hurricane force when she asked for it. A couple of times I thought she would blow out the speakers and truly believed she could. Some artists don't sound as well live but not this band. It was exquisite, whether soft and low or full force. Flo’s voice never wavered, never cracked. It was beyond beauty. Yes, I cried.
The stage seemed so small, I kept looking at it, thinking Flo needed room to run free, that the small space couldn't contain her as she ran, leapt, spun, and thrashed about. The band rocked and rocked HARD! Chris looked like a man possessed. A figure hunched over the drums, sticks flying, hair plastered to his head - did I mention it was humid? Especially during Spectrum, he pounded the heck out of them! Rob’s guitar sounded so rich - I didn't know a guitar could produce such a deep, luscious sound. There are no words to tell you how much I love the two backup singers - their voices lift Flo and support her voice in ways I didn't know were possible. I love the blending of their voices. The 3-piece female horn section too… my God, I love them - the 3 horns transcend the set list into another world.
When the first beats of Rabbit Heart started my heart began to race again because I knew Flo would take off through the audience. I was able to position myself at the top of the aisle she had to run past on her return to the stage. I watched as she jumped on the sound table as the song closed out. I caught a quick glimpse of her running back to the stage. The more important part of this moment is a mother and daughter (perhaps 9, 10 years old?) were right there with me. Burned into my mind and heart is the mother pointing Flo out to the daughter, followed by the security person putting the little one on his shoulders so she could see Flo as she sings “this is a gift”. Truly a gift indeed.
As she began to sing Cosmic Love I noticed the backup singers and the drummer had exited the stage leaving Flo alone to sing. She toned back to showcase the simple beauty of the song and her voice without the big flourish of the drums and the lights. I actually prefer the full band on this song like she did during the Glastonbury set. It seems more emotional to me - I love the horns, bass, and drums in that version.
She acknowledged the crowd, asking who has been with her since Lungs, then welcomes the new fans describing the difference in the albums - the early ones with more screaming compared to HBHBHB, in which she sings a bit more.
Delilah was intense – she ran throughout the song as if running to something or from someone, yellow gown flowing/rippling as she ran. It looks chaotic but Flo FEELS the music, the brass section arrangements, the drums, the bass, the background singing, every nuance of the music. What could be seen as frenetic dance movements are really just her mind, body and soul in tune with each movement of the song.
She slows it down a bit - going into an acoustic Sweet Nothing. There is just her and the harp but you can see her hands moving as if she’s conducting an invisible, internal orchestra while she sings.
Before breaking into HBHBHB - she asked we put away our phones to enjoy the moment and be present. To basically fall in love with the moment as she had fallen in love with everything around her inspiring HBHBHB. She pointed out that there is always one guy in the crowd that doesn’t put away their phone. She asked that no-one be that guy, and telling us she would know. From my vantage point 3 rows behind the GA mosh pit from what I could see the crowd complied. During the song the set was a luscious shimmering blue behind her as she twirls during the song. She looks over the audience as she sings the last few notes of the song. The lights dim. the backdrop is washed in blue and the spotlight silhouettes her from behind a she does the HBHBHB dance. After the song ended she admitted she was dizzy from hitting herself in the face; hard I could hear the smack of her fist in her hand all the way to my seat in the crowd! Her poor feet; they must also be tired after running up and down the venue for 2 hours!
For her prior tour dates up until tonight, Flo has included Various Storms & Saints. She tells us how personal it is to her, that it took a lot of persuading to add it to the record. She tells us she is ready to share it now. She sings alone, eyes closed throughout most of the song. It was very moving.
Then she returns to rock on with Mother, Queen of Peace, and Spectrum - at one point asking us if we are ready to dance. You know we were! One girl at the front gave Flo a flower crown which she wore. When the song was over she ran back to return it. It was so cute - the girl saying no, it’s for you and Flo saying it looks better on the girl. Of course Flo got her way and the girl was left with one heck of a souvenir!
During the beginning strains of You Got The Love - she implores us to take the love we have out into the world. To spread it to others. And again, when the first notes of Dog Days hit, the audience erupted - at this point she commanded that the audience turn to one another and embrace each other, touch each other’s faces. The older gentleman (had to be in his 60s), turned to my friend – smiled, threw up his hands, shrugged then hugged her! Flo asked the audience to take off an article of clothing and wave it over their heads for love and peace. The audience happily complied with many at the front of the stage showering her with clothes. She had a bunch of shirts in her arms and started waving them as she ran back and forth on the stage.
Too quickly we are at the encore: What Kind of Man followed by Drumming Song. Flo violently commits to this song with body and soul. Throwing herself backwards across the stage as the backup singers sing “back, back, back against the wall”. I don't know how she stayed on her feet. At the end of WKOM she collapses on the stage with such force one worries that she may have broken another bone, but as the stage turns a brilliant red she rises like a phoenix as the first beats of Drumming Song shake the theater. With each thump of the drum the lights flash a blood crimson red as the lighting turns the entire theater into a deep luscious red, pounding out a heartbeat as a background to Flo’s voice. At the end she runs and lunges toward the crowd with such intensity, she looked as though she would fall in.
I was worried that the crowd were not true FATM fans and wouldn't know the words. I didn’t want Flo to be disappointed by the US crowds. But they knew most of the words and sang along during the night. The biggest response was for Dog Days – a huge roar of recognition rose. I wish it had been that way for every song! I am disappointed I did not buy a general admission ticket to stand in the pit. I’m 5’2 and have a hard time seeing over people but the mosh pit group seemed very orderly and I think I would have been okay in there. The venue could improve upon the large video screens; they were very grainy. In this day of HD I don't think there is any excuse for not having those updated.
I knew I had to see this tour because of the lighting and how it interacts with the 3 foot mirrors that dangle behind the band. Renowned lighting designer, Rob Sinclair designed a 48ft by 28ft ‘kinetic wall’ that shimmers and is in constant motion. Words can’t describe the effect the lights have when they hit them - gives me shivers with every song. The set designer and lighting director really designed a beauty of a concert with the lighting matching the beat of the music, the crescendos, and Chris’ driving drum beats. I honestly don't think there has ever been a more potent combination of performer, band, songs, stage, lighting - I think this is a perfect storm of elements making this the perfect concert - just plain perfection.
Watching Flo and her command of the stage, it’s hard to believe this is only the 3rd album. She rules the stage (reminds me of Elvis back in the early 70’s). I could watch this particular set over and over. The crowd watches her every move, responding to her stage direction - soften our voices then build up as the tension of the music increase to a deafening crescendo. Watching this connection between the crowd and Florence, one sees the parallel to Florence’s song Conductor. From the Xfinity Center at least, we know that she is truly the conductor of this musical thrill ride.
Setlist
What The Water Gave Me
Ship To Wreck
Rabbit Heart
Shake It Out
Delilah
Sweet Nothing
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Cosmic Love
Various Storms & Saints
Mother
Queen of Peace
Spectrum
You've Got The Love
Dog Days Are Over
What Kind of Man
Drumming Song
Florence + the Machine Stun at War Child 2016 [Review]
The fan club review on Florence + the Machine’s stunning charity performance at War Child, at Hackney’s St. John’s church.
Florence + the Machine and churches have become somewhat synonymous; religious symbols feature heavily throughout their music and videos alike. Thus, when I discovered I'd be attending the intimate gig for charity War Child, hosted by O2 at St John's at Hackney, the offer was impossible to turn down. Ever since discovering her music in 2008, I've longed to see her perform in a church, and I'm glad I picked this one.
We arrived shortly after 4:30pm, which was disappointing because we quickly learnt that Florence had actually emerged to meet fans ten minutes before our arrival. We told ourselves it was for the best because one of us probably would've fainted (...I'm still not sure I believe myself), but the fans that did meet her did so deservedly. Some had been camping outside since 12pm, and it was a bitterly cold day. The first things that struck me were actually the shortness of the queue, and the fluffy white duvets that the first few people in the queue were snuggling under - it did make me quite envious!
The sun began to dissolve (casual Queen of Peace reference), and the queue grew longer and longer. We mingled with other fans, who chatted excitedly about everything from the last time they saw Florence + the Machine, to shared admiration for each others Paisley waistcoats; yep, this was definitely a Florence gig...but Florence + the Machine fans are definitely the nicest people to queue with.
Then suddenly, our of nowhere, the "O2 Angels", in an act of divinity, descended upon the crowds with the holy elixir that is commonly known as water, and pizza. Yes, freshly made pizza! The crowds attacked it like something from the Walking Dead (more of this later), and it tasted exceptionally good. Then, the huge doors to the magnificent church flew open, and we were allowed to trickle through to the main hall.
The hall itself was beautiful; an impressive organ stood at the back (I won't lie, I almost expected Isabella Summers to float down and kick off the show blasting the organ to the intro of Shake It Out but alas), and a bright "War Child" symbol was projected onto the ceiling. We secured a left-front position at the barrier and held on tightly. Before long, Florence and the band emerged from the side of the stage to an enormous roar, took their spots, and thus started the twinkling of the harp to cue Cosmic Love.
From the outset, people were screaming requests, from Hospital Beds, to Which Witch. "Which Witch?!" Florence exclaimed, "that's literally nothing but drums and trumpet. It would sound really, really weird acoustic...". In fact, the whole set was acoustic (or at least if you count drums too, although paradoxically Drumming Song was without), and it made the atmosphere twinkle with even more magic. It also allowed the sheer power of those lungs to shine brighter than ever before. The setlist was as follows:
Cosmic Love
St Jude
Drumming Song
Queen of Peace
Third Eye
Only if For a Night
Heartlines
Silver Springs [Fleetwood Mac Cover]
Long and Lost
Sweet Nothing
What Kind of Man
Ship to Wreck
Caught
Shake it Out
Dog Days are Over
Florence's voice was the best it has ever sounded, with soaring highs in Long and Lost, belts lasting fifteen seconds during Drumming Song, and flittering vocals for Caught. Heartlines and Only if For a Night made a welcome return to the setlist (I even was serenaded at one point during the former song, with Florence pointing right at me singing "in some way I'm there with you, up against the wall on a Wednesday afternoon". It was a Friday but I was willing to let that one go), and Ship to Wreck was by far the most energetic song of the night. It was slightly ruined by one girl screaming "TO WREEEECK" directly in my ear but I don't particularly blame her.
What was nice was that, despite it being a charity gig, lots of fans were present. People were singing along to almost every song, clapping to every beat, and even without the usual strip-request during Dog Days, people were still throwing flowers and coats at Florence.
Objects weren't the only things being thrown to the band; exclamations of "I LOVE YOU", "MARRY ME" and "HOW DO YOU SCREAM SO GOOD?!" were flying from all around the hall. After Sweet Nothing, the guy next to me caught Florence's attention for the third time that night by shouting "IT SOUNDS BETTER WITHOUT CALVIN". Florence shied behind her hand before replying "I won't tell!"
Florence's friends and family were also present (her dad's bright white hair shining like a beacon from the balcony above), with Florence stopping before "What Kind of Man" to explain that her dad has always wanted her to write happy songs, of which she has about 3 - "funnily enough, this next one is sad...like, REALLY sad". Nonetheless, it was beautiful to hear it acoustically. Oh, and this one's sad...and this one...and this one" was an interlude between each song, until finally "AH the one at the end is happy!"
Queen of Peace stole the show, however, with the ending blowing the audience - but not driving them - away. To much delight, Florence also covered Fleetwood Mac for the second time ever. "This is one we've never played live before", to which she added "it's not a new song...it's actually quite old" when fans started cheering at the prospect of new material. And I think that's the other aspect of this gig that was so special; despite Florence stating how intimidating small venues are, she was so interactive. She even threw a fan her water bottle when she shouted that she was really thirsty - "gotta stay hydrated to sing!" Another interaction came as a surprise, when a fan asked about a new tattoo he spotted. "OH, this!" she said, looking nervously at her wrist "it says "How Beautiful" - I got it to remind me that although I went through a really tough time, it all meant something, and it all turned out to be beautiful in a different way".
And that's exactly what this gig was, beautiful. As the energy of Dog Days faded with the last crashes of the drums, no one moved towards the door as the lights flicked on. "We want more, we want more...Florence, Florence, Florence" chanted the audience, holding position for 10 minutes longer, until there was a collective realisation that goodness can't last forever. Then returned the second The Walking Dead moment, as hands stretched like possessed zombies across the barriers to secure a setlist, a flower, or a guitar pick. When the crowd died down and the extent of the clear-up became apparent (a lot of people were drinking coca-cola...), we managed to catch Vladis the lone trumpet player, who was extremely lovely to us. I ended up following Rusty out of the venue (Isa was also there but wasn't performing on stage), and made my way home, reeling from the thought of how Florence + the Machine can turn such a mundane week into magic. Until next time...