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MyspaceSanta Barbarans owe a huge thank you to Coachella. This past weekend, our town’s music clubs pinched some of the top-notch talent swarming to Southern California’s now two-weekend-long festival, getting visits from music’s most innovative and beloved bands, including the bewitching Florence and the Machine.
Saturday night at the Bowl, under a rain-cleaned night sky, singer Florence Welch held the sold-out crowd spellbound from the moment she glided on stage in her black billowing cape. The mob quieted quickly when the singer hit the first crystalline notes of “Only If for a Night,” a song from Ceremonials, the band’s critically acclaimed sophomore album. On the heels of the opener came “What the Water Gave Me” and “Cosmic Love” before Welch addressed the audience. “Can you see the North Star?” the singer purred, pointing at the heavens. “Thank you so much for having us, Santa Barbara. As this is the first night of our U.S. tour, it has to be the best,” she said with a smile.
The 14-song set was a keenly visceral experience. Backed by an eight-piece band that included a harpist, two backup singers, and a keyboardist, Welch was a siren — soulful, rocking, heartbreaking, and hypnotic. The frontwoman commands attention, not only for her vocal sorcery but also for her physical presence; clad in a Renaissaince-inspired cat suit, the lithe and graceful singer twirled, skipped, and floated barefoot across the stage looking like a fierce fairy queen. And although it was the first show of the British band’s U.S. tour, for Saturday’s audience it will remain their best.
Set List:
1. “Only If for a Night”
2. “What the Water Gave Me”
3. “Cosmic Love”
4. “Between Two Lungs”
5. “Shake It Out”
6. “Dog Days Are Over”
7. “Heartlines”
8. “Leave My Body”
9. “Lover to Lover”
10. “You’ve Got the Love”
11. “Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)”
12. “Spectrum”
Encore
13. “Never Let Me Go”
14. “No Light, No Light”
Related Links
- Florence and the Machine: Ceremonials reviewed [ April 9, 2012 ]
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Comments
The concert was amazing! The crowd was shouting with joy. There were laughs,screams,tears,sweat etc. When Florence performed Never Let Me Go, that's when a lot of people got emotional. There was a couple right next to me and the boyfriend proposed to the girlfriend. The boyfriend somehow had a connection and had the song dedicated to his girlfriend and the spotlight was shined on them. The girlfriend was so emotional having her boyfriend propose to her and have 6,000 audience members eyes on them. So sweet. After the concert proceeded, there was a LOT of pot smoking. Gross! A lot of people were having a great time, but the pot heads didn't because they got their butts kicked right out of the amphitheater. I remember moments before the concert was winding down, Florence said, "How the f**kdoes smoking a joint make our concert better?! I thought you can here because we sounded great regardless. You might just want to get that s**t out of your mouth before you turn to s**t". Florence wasn't so happy with the pot heads, but she as blessed with the audience she had on her first concert of her US Tour!!!
Florenceandthemachine (anonymous profile)
May 14, 2012 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)