Review + Photos: Florence and the Machine + Christine and the Queens at Concord Pavilion
Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine (photo: Ian Young) It might have been a blustery, late-season rainy Wednesday night, but that didn't stop scores of eager fans from packing into the Concord Pavilion to indulge in some anthemic tunes from two distinct voices in pop music. Supporting Florence and the Machine for the start of the fifth leg of the High As Hope tour, it was clear that Hélöise Letissier (Christine and the Queens) came armed and ready to unleash her carefully choreographed and ready-for-Broadway set of sparking pop tunes. After having to cancel an anticipated set at Coachella due [...]
Roman Gokhman’s favorite concerts of 2015
Welcome to my annual countdown of the most entertaining music experiences of the year. I only went to 41 concerts. Life commitments and a family took a higher priority. But then again, I enjoy profiling an artist over critiquing the music. I put more thought into the concerts I attended, so I think this compilation is still “deserving,” whatever that means. Still, some iconic and talented performers didn’t make my top 10: No Elton John or AC/DC, Royal Blood or Kacey Musgraves (who both came close), no Mumford and Sons or Duran Duran. Those of you who have read my previous [...]
Florence + the Machine: Bold and barefooted at the Greek
Florence + the Machine (photo: Jess Luoma) Florence Welch is a beautiful mess. Thursday night, the leading lady of Florence + the Machine, filled the epic Greek Theatre with her bold, barefooted and make-up free presence. A silhouetted machine lay a swelling bed of sound--harp, horns and harmonies--and an eager crowd roared as Florence made her first appearance. Her volcanic vocals remained polished throughout the course of the night, straying very little from the quality of her studio album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Florence threw caution and her tambourine to the wind as she sprinted across stage, untamed mane mimicking a fiery contrail [...]
Review: Florence and The Machine dazzles at the Masonic
Florence Welch (photo: Roman Gokhman) The time off between records and touring has done Florence Welch a lot of good. While Florence and the Machine’s sophomore effort, Ceremonials, directly followed the world tour for her debut, 2009’s Lungs, this time she had a chance to come off the road and live a normal life for a couple of years. The result is the forthcoming How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, which doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but finds its own identity. Florence and the Machine took the new material out for a test drive Wednesday at the Masonic; their first show in the U.S. [...]
Review & Video: Florence and the Machine @ Shoreline Amphitheatre, 10/5/12
Since 2010, Florence and the Machine have gone from selling out the Mezzanine, to the 2,800-seat Fox Theatre to nearly selling out the 22,000-capacity Shoreline Amphitheatre Friday. Now with two popular albums in her catalogue, Florence Welch is more than capable of drawing a crowd. What her songs lack in uniqueness – about halfway through the set you begin to notice the new material sounds very similar to the old – she more than makes up for with her enthusiasm and freshness. Welch has continued to tinker with the live performance over the course of her three American tours. Friday [...]