What: Florence and the Machine
Where: Shepherds Bush Empire
When: 27th September
Reviewed by: Irina Buznea

In a billowing white gown curiously teamed with robust gold shoulder plates, Florence Welch is met by shrill, deafening screams as she takes to the rose-strewn stage of Shepherds Bush Empire. Framed by a harp, lit birdcages and hanging flower garlands, the flame-haired Cleopatra raises the roof without delay as she opens with the classic anthem, ‘Kiss with a Fist’.

A blur of tousled cherry locks, Florence dances wildly against a vibrant backdrop reminiscent of a William Morris wallpaper, which aptly features a pair of glowing blue ‘lungs’ as its subject. Her so-named debut album topped the charts after its release in July and has undoubtedly been one of the best-received, most talked-about records of 2009. Centre-stage, exhibiting dazzling confidence and oozing soul, one forgets that Florence has risen from anonymity in just under a year. Tonight she paid tribute to these humble beginnings with an acapella rendition of Etta James’ ‘Something’s Got a Hold on Me’, showcasing her staggering vocal range. This song kick-started Florence’s career back in 2006, when she was overheard singing it drunk in a nightclub toilet - it is easy to see why…

After treating Shepherds Bush to a rare live performance of the enchanting B-side ‘Bird Song’, Florence deviates from her planned setlist and accidentally launches into another track. A flicker of panic behind the eyes gives the game away, and in a split-second, she transforms from a vision of Boudicca to timid, twiggy, 22 year-old Flo. She coyly apologises for her clumsiness and jokes, ‘Just great - our first mistake and it just happens to be the first London show!’ Whistles, whooping and a yelled proposal confirm that she is entirely forgiven, as the crowd laps up her endearing, ditzy charm.

Florence takes this opportunity to remove her intricately sequined piece of armour, admitting, ‘I sustain injuries from my outfits every night!’ Over the course of the show, this is one of several such glimpses of her humanity – a refreshing contrast to the invincibility and otherworldliness she emanates in performance. Having seen to the wardrobe malfunction, Flo reverts to femme fatale once more for the deliciously macabre ‘Girl with One Eye’. Only the likes of Florence could sing of mutilating a rival while retaining sensual soul and sophistication…!

Following with ‘Hurricane Drunk’, one would be forgiven for questioning whether Florence is primed with a little Dutch courage herself! Her vocal performance is entirely flawless, but with dance moves that wouldn’t look out of place in a Kate Bush video, captivated audience members are left thinking they wouldn’t mind a bit of whatever she’s on… And indeed, they could probably do with it. My only criticism of tonight’s concert is that the crowd really left something to be desired. Despite bursting with energy from Florence’s phenomenal performance, I felt constricted - obliged to refrain from dancing and singing along, amidst an all too sensible crowd. Fortunately though, Flo was able to prise a little life out of them as they dutifully followed her instruction to pogo through ‘Dog Days are Over’. Perhaps her earlier brandishing of a drumstick during ‘Drumming Song’ had something to do with that… Desperate times call for desperate measures!

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