03-03-2010 Florence and The Machine

Supports: Anastacia Monno; Venue: Tavastia, Helsinki (Finland)
By: Sabine van Gameren

The British band Florence and The Machine was in Helsinki. After the success of their latest singles the evening was sold-out. There was suppose to be a support act, The Siam Alice Group, but unfortunately they had some troubles reaching the venue in time, so last minute the support came from Anastacia Monno.

20.30 half an hour after the venue opened, many people have gathered around the bar and enjoyed a drink. Florence herself mingled in between the people and had a chance to observe her audience way before the concert starts. Anastacia Monno, a singer/songwriter from Finland played about three songs only to warm up the audience. For a last minute support, it was very ok to see. Anastacia could not enthusiast me as much as the Finnish songwriter Sansa did a couple months ago.

Florence and The Machine entered the stage and there is something going on. Florence, with her wide dress contrasting with her hair starts the set with playing her drums, but the real big bang comes when she openes her mounth and sing. The lady has a typical Kate Bush attitude, swirling and twirling over the stage on bare feet. With none of the band members of The Machine but also with Florence there was a smile to discover for the first half of their set. Hardly no speaking with the audience, giving a somehow tired impression. But what a class from this band that they nevertheless play such a wonderful performance hardly letting the audience notice this. What very cool is in this act is the harp on the stage, an element that is seen way too less in nowadays pop music while it gives the sound something special.

But: No matter what the band would look like or do, for many people it is all about Florence and damn she has a voice that impresses. It’s pure and when hearing it live, you know that no producer tuned her voice to this but that this is actually what it is. It is to hear that sound technicians have a hard time deciding on the volume of her microphone. Florence has a lot of power in her voice and when she releases it, it is just too loud to keep the mic on the same level as when she sings calmer parts. This results in having a hard time to hear what she tells the audience in between the songs, because the volume is clearly turned down. When her biggest hits are played many people sing along and towards the end the band seem to enjoy their selves more as well. A great show that will stay in mind for long time. Very impressive, when you were not impressed by the singles be aware that a live performance of this band blows you away!