Vonnie and Elsa Band Together for Florence + The Machine in Antwerp

Welcome to Vonnie and Elsa Band Together, your recurrent rendezvous for music obsessed writers who attend more concerts than recommended.

Today, we are reviewing Florence + The Machine’s concert in Antwerp, Belgium that took place on Monday, February 23rd.

What were you most looking forward to before the concert?

VONNIE: I had been looking forward to seeing Florence since Dance Fever. That album meant a lot to me so getting to witness songs from that record was a highlight. Besides that, I was curious to see the stage design and choreography. I was also looking forward to Florence’s outfit – we ended up matching!

ELSA: I’ve been a huge fan of Florence since I was fifteen and some of her songs would definitely be included in the original soundtrack for my life. I feel a strong emotional bond with her music. As in most long-term relationships, I lost track of her career at some point. I’m really glad I’m back to following her closely with the release of Everybody Scream and this new tour. I was really looking forward to her live vocals and finally hearing some of my favorite songs live for the first time!

Which part of the performance did you enjoy the most?

VONNIE: “Daffodil” completely shook me. I listened to it so much and the way it was set for the stage was incredible. The flashing lights, the dancing, Florence going down to sing with the fans. I could feel the moment and the music in my chest.

In the overall performance, it was Florence herself that caught my attention. She has such a compelling stage presence that is almost hypnotic. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

ELSA: I really liked how well thought out the setlist was. The witchy vibe and female rage were really through the roof at the beginning of the set with songs like “Everybody Scream”, “Seven Devils” or “Which Witch”. The playlist before the show was very much matching this as well with some of my current favorites in dark pop. But I liked that, on the contrary, the mood was lighter at the end of the concert. It had a really hopeful vibe as she performed “Dog Days Are Over”, “Free” and “And Love”. Leaving while listening to her singing “Peace is coming” healed me a little bit.

Which song made you dance?

VONNIE: This is an obvious one, but “Dog Days Are Over” was such a fun one to experience in a venue of thousands of people.

ELSA: “Spectrum” was the song that made me get up from my seat and jump the most. What a banger!

Which song made you cry?

VONNIE: A more surprising one even for me – it was “King” that got the waterworks going. I mentioned before that Dance Fever was the album that impacted me the most. I wanted to see her so badly three years ago when she was touring that album, and I didn’t get the chance. Hearing “King” which opens Dance Fever reminded me how much I waited for this moment. I was grateful to be able to see Florence in the end.

ELSA: “Never Let Me Go” broke me. I feel strongly connected and at peace by the sea but it is also the place where I reflect the most and I often cry there— especially during tough times. This song is about suicide ideation by drowning. Florence herself explained that she hasn’t performed this song for nine years because it was too hard for her. I sobbed and she also cried a little bit at the end of the song as the crowd was singing the chorus back to her. I need to thank Vonnie for comforting me while I was going through it.

What surprised you the most?

VONNIE: The performance of the Witch Choir, Florence’s dancers. They were captivating as well and didn’t break character at all.

ELSA: How candid Florence’s commentaries were between songs— the way she introduced “Buckle” by talking about situationships and getting ghosted for example. It was very endearing and it made me love her even more.

What did you think of the opening act?

VONNIE: I saw Paris Paloma twice before this concert. I was happy to see her again as her music means a lot to me as well. Getting to hear “Good Girl” live was such a special moment that made me look forward to seeing Paloma again on a headline tour.

ELSA: I also saw Paris Paloma the last time she was in Brussels at Botanique. Back then, I thought she had great potential but was still lacking a bit of stage presence. Well, it was much better this time around and I can feel she is growing fast as an artist and a performer. “Good Boy” was my favorite song she performed. I can’t wait for her new album and I will definitely attend her next concert if she comes back to Belgium!

What was the vibe? How was the crowd?

VONNIE: I was afraid it wouldn’t be energetic. It didn’t seem like there were a lot of people who aligned with Florence’s current era, but everyone was respectful and danced along when it was the case. We were seated so we didn’t have the floor experience, but I could see from the screens how wholesome Florence’s interactions were with the fans in the front row.

ELSA: At first, I wondered what casual listeners were thinking of the performance because Florence selected a lot of b-sides and less known songs to perform on this tour and started with a darker vibe. It took a few songs for the crowd to warm up but after that, there was a really good energy. People were singing and dancing a lot and I was a bit jealous of the first row for getting to interact with Florence so much.

The only annoying thing was that a lot of people in our part of the arena came in late and were obstructing our view while looking for their seats.

Did you buy merch?

VONNIE: Yes, Elsa and I got the Witch Choir black crew neck. It has the title embroidered in red on the front and Florence + The Machine’s logo on the sleeve. It’s simple yet it conveys the energy of the album perfectly.

What were your overall thoughts?

VONNIE: Florence put on one hell of a show and proved that she genuinely is “one of the greats.” She was moving around so much which was captivating. Her vocals were flawless as well. The choreography, the dancers, the visuals and the stage design made me feel immersed in the world of Everybody Scream.

ELSA: I’m really glad I got to see Florence in the flesh and I’m eternally grateful for her music. I’m amazed by her incredible energy, how generous and raw she was on stage and how well she sang. Visually, it was also a very interesting show thanks to the choreography, the dancers, the lights and the way screens were used. I can say with confidence this is one of the best concerts I have ever been to!