Florence + the Machine w/ Holy Hail @ the TLA in Philadelphia 04/05/2010
Last night, Florence + the Machine put on a mind-blowing, goosebump-inducing concert at the TLA in Philadelphia. We were devastated when we found out that they weren’t coming to Montreal, but I got extremely lucky and was able to catch them on the first night of their US tour.
New York City’s Holy Hail opened the show with a catchy, dynamic set. Frontwoman Cat Hartwell led the group in a rousing performance that set the tone perfectly for the evening. With Kevin Cooke also on vocals, he and Hartwell played off of each other throughout the entire performance. The group sounded very promising, combining melodies reminiscent of early Arcade Fire with a sound all their own. Their next EP, The Dying (After) Party, comes out on April 13.
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After Holy Hail, there was about a 45 minute wait as the stage was set up with flower-covered equipment and a harp. The crowd grew restless, chanting for Florence. When the group finally took the stage, Flo walked out looking absolutely stunning, with the stage lights accenting her already bright red hair.
She opened with ‘Howl’, a powerful anthem that flooded the entire venue with sound. Instantaneously, it was evident that the crowd was floored by Florence’s voice. With unbelievable talent and stage presence, she led her band in a set off of 2009′s Lungs. As the show went on, she danced, twirled, and leaped across the stage. Her vocals were both strong and harmonious, powerful and emotive. When talking to the crowd, she was down to earth and clearly humbled by the huge amount of cheers and applause. Her sweet demeanor made the venue seem even more intimate.
After a relatively short set, Florence and the band left the stage, leaving the crowd wanting more. After a short wait, the audience was rewarded with two more songs, ‘You’ve Got the Love’ and ‘Rabbit Heart’. This favorite-filled encore was a fitting ending to the sublime show.
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + the Machine
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Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (The Lionheart Mix) – Florence + the Machine
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The Hardest Of Hearts (The Oddword Remix) – Florence + the Machine
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All photo credit and many thanks go to Tiffany Yoon.
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