MTV Review: Florence + The Machine Blows Our Mind At Alexandra Palace
Last night we were treated to some cosmic lovin'...
Mike PellTwelve hours on and we’re still buzzing with a warm, fuzzy feeling after witnessing Florence + The Machine’s stunning gig at Alexandra Palace last night (24th September).
In a setting fit for the queen and her machine, it was the third of four sold out shows for Flo at the illustrious Ally Pally, but she treated it just like her headline Glasto turn earlier this summer – full of fervour and majesty.
Asking us to be her 'choir', Florence, bare foot and donning a silk, white waistcoat, similar trousers and a blouse to match her fiery hair looked so free spirited as the crowd chanted 'Shake It Off' back to the album chart-topping star.
Gone mad within his suffering
Called out for relief
Someone cure him of his grief
His only son
Cut down, but the battle won
Oh, what is it worth
When all that's left is hurt?
Like the stars chase the sun
Over the glowing hill, I will conquer
Blood is running deep
Some things never sleep
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
Oh, the queen of peace
Always does her best to please
Is it any use?
Somebody's gotta lose
Like a long scream
Out there always echoing
Oh, what is it worth?
All that's left is hurt
Like the stars chase the sun
Over the glowing hill, I will conquer
Blood is running deep
Some things never sleep
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
And my love is no good
Against the fortress that it made of you
Blood is running deep
Sorrow that you keep
Suddenly I'm overcome
Dissolving like the setting sun
Like a boat into oblivion
'Cause you're driving me away
Now you have me on the run
The damage is already done
Come on, is this what you want?
'Cause you're driving me away
A set filled primarily with newer material from her latest How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful album, the newer tracks held their own against the crowd faves of 'You've Got The Love', 'Rabbit Heart' and 'Spectrum', but her stripped back version of 'Cosmic Love', set to just a guitar and her ethereal harp was a very special moment of the night. The fact she pre-empted it telling us she wrote it during one of the worst hangovers of her life and how it was a miracle she didn't puke that day (!) just made it all the more endearing.
https://twitter.com/MTVMusicUK/status/647178404219981824
In what felt like an age before she returned for an encore after sending the thousands in the Palace insane with 'Dog Days Are Over' (and encouraging us to strip off any unwanted clothing), Flo brought out the riff-fuelled 'What Kind Of Man' and the heart-thundering 'Drumming Song' to send us out into the night wishing we were cogs in her magical Machine.
A Florence + The Machine show is truly unmissable, If you haven’t seen this woman live yet, drop everything and do so NOW.
She played:
What The Water Gave Me
Ship To Wreck
Shake It Out
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Third Eye
Delilah
You've Got The Love
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Cosmic Love
Long & Lost
Mother
Queen Of Peace
Spectrum
Dog Days Are Over
What Kind Of Man
Drumming Song
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