Reading 2008 review: Florence and the Machine

 

Name: Florence and the Machine

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Where and when: Festival Republic stage, 2.45pm, Reading

Dress code: Emerald robes and cape for the performer, variations of MGMT-style psychedelia (tie-dye, headbands) for the crowd

Who's watching: A rapidly expanding crowd.

In a nutshell: Resplendent in green, Florence Welch resembles a young Kate Bush with her tousled hair and honed wackiness. Opening songs Between Two Lungs and My Boy Builds Coffins demonstrate Welch has learned how to rein in her unbelievably powerful voice (to much more powerful effect). Instead of bellowing and yodelling her way into the audience's consciousness, the singer exudes confidence without being overpowering, flinging herself about in glee with the full support, and imitation, of the audience. Still, she's no show pony. "Take K!" she exclaims at one point, before yelling that Reading is the gig of her life and much better than Leeds, which she'll be playing on Saturday (what's the betting she says the opposite when she's up there?).

High point: Kiss With a Fist, before which Welch asks, "Do you watch Channel 4?" (it appeared on a glass-shattering T4 ident)

Low point: A cover of Hospital Beds by Cold War Kids. It's not bad, just a shame that a song by another band gets the most vocal response.

How hard does she rock?: Her rock score lies somewhere between between Bruce Springsteen and Kate Bush.

You’ve read it. Now review it.

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