Florence and the Machine @ Oslo Spektrum

How energetic, how painstakingly beautiful. On the nicely decorated leveled wooden stage, there she is, Florence Welch comes into night with the spotlight, barefoot, so calm, yet about to burst in a second.

On her tour for her latest album, «High as hope», Welch starts the show with the emotional June. Starting with minimalistic lights and still motion, she suddenly starts to jump on her feet and dance, giving it all with her energy. Going on right after with Hunger, the show mainly focus tracks from her latest album.

Amazing power

Welch isn’t very talkative in the beginning of the show. She even makes the remark herself saying that she’s not good at talking at first. However, throughout the show she isn’t afraid to make demands from the crowd, which includes asking them to put their «fucking phones away«. She also makes the crowd look and hug at each other, as well as making them tell eachother «I love you».  Before playing Queen of Peace she makes an honest speech about her alcohol problems and mentions the woman who helped her through everything in her life, who actually was from Norway.

As the show goes on, the stage starts becoming more and more interactive. Huge hanging curtains from the ceiling and glamorous light shows add so much to her amazing voice. Already after a couple of songs already she is all over the place, jumping around, dancing, singing her heart out, and swinging her hair. She is owning the whole show, and the entire audience is spellbound, cheering with her at almost every song. She has this amazing power that is transmissive, her energy was lucid and contagious, and everyone is dancing with along her.

One of the best shows of my life

Not to forget the song Patricia, Welch’s ode to the amazing star Patti Smith. ‘Every time I sing this song, she is with me, watching this show’, made us all feel her existence on herself too.

Its not all about the latest album. She also returns to her debut album from 10 years ago, playing Dog days are over and Between two lungs. The formerly non-talkative Welch is now saluting the crowd almost after every song, touching and caressing people in the front row while singing. She is also worried that it is all a dream and one day she’ll wake up to see that none of this has happened. Yet we were all there, proving her existence and witnessing this unforgettable night.

This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in my life, one of those that make you believe in humanity, and make you think that love can indeed change the world, as if it’s contagious. Moreover, if music will ever save the world from neverending wars, Florence Welch will be leading the big army of lovers!

Florence & The Machine @ Oslo Spektrum: 10/10