Florence + The Machine – Vector Arena November 21, 2015

A rebellious Florence Welch and her machine raised up the roof for their final night of their How Big world tour.

While others endured the rain for Fleetwood Mac it was hotter than hell in Vector Arena, with Florence encouraging the crowd to strip off layers for an epic rendition of Dog Days Are Over. Kiwi crowds are usually a reserved bunch but her infectious spirit had us heaving and swinging shirts around like a football match.

The crowd had already been nicely warmed up from a short, sharp and rocking set from Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders. Who, with his wild hair and dark baritone musings, you can’t help but compare to fellow Aussie Nick Cave.

And Florence’s devoted fans weren’t kept waiting, as she bounded up the stairs bang on nine o’clock and cracked into What the Water Gave Me.

Their last stop touring off the successful album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, you’d be forgiven the group might be a bit tired and ready for bed – Florence even said her co-founder and keyboardist Isabella Summers had her PJ’s under her skirt.

But just like her last visit in 2012, Florence’s tall and lithe white-clad figure was galloping barefoot from one end of the stage to the other, showing no ill effects of the foot she broke at a concert earlier this year. She even got off the stage and did a lap up to the sound desk and back.

And getting the crowd de-clothed wasn’t her only rebellious act, as Florence soon got the crowd to raise up their girlfriends, boyfriends, sisters, brothers and mothers onto their shoulders for Rabbit Song (Raise it Up).

Her six-piece machine, along with five back-up singers, sounded fantastic. Tom Monger’s harp was sharp and clear, especially on the acoustic version of Cosmic Love with just Florence, the harp, a piano and a guitar. Three of the back-up singers doubled as the horn section too for a rocking version of Queen of Peace.

Florence said she’s always felt embraced coming to New Zealand (it’s her fourth visit) and you could feel the love in the room, especially when she asked us to turn to our neighbour and hug them.

In another touching moment she even got the crowd to put away their phones to ‘remember this with our ears and our eyes with each other’. The track was Third Eye, one my favourite tracks off How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful and a classic Florence song – uplifting, swirling, hopeful and something you can belt your heart out too.

All the new material from their third straight UK number one album was lapped up, and her distinctive and powerful voice never sounded better than on lead single What Kind of Man.

The crowd were in full voice too for the closing numbers, with Florence killing it with kisses with Dog Days Are Over and Spectrum (Say My Name). And after the clothes that had been thrown on the stage were cleared, they were back for a towering and thumping red-lit finale of Drumming Song.

A wet Auckland could do nothing to dampen the buzzing crowd, who hoped Florence and her machine get the big and beautiful rest they deserve.

Clayton Barnett

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Doug Peters @www.ambientlightblog.com:

 

Setlist
What the Water Gave Me
Ship to Wreck
Rabbit Heart (Raise it up)
Third Eye
Delilah
You’ve Got the Love
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Caught
Shake it Out
Cosmic Love (Acoustic)
Queen of Peace
What Kind of Man
Spectrum (Say My Name)
Dog Days Are Over
Encore:
Mother
Drumming Song